Bill Text: VA SB712 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Hunting dogs; release on state or local roadway, penalties.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-02-12 - Chair votes No [SB712 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2024-SB712-Introduced.html

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24104947D
SENATE BILL NO. 712 Offered January 19, 2024 A BILL to amend and reenact §§18.2-132.1 and 46.2-889 of the Code of Virginia, relating to release of hunting dogs; state highway or right-of-way. ---------- Patron-- Marsden ---------- Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§18.2-132.1 and 46.2-889 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§18.2-132.1. Trespass by hunters using dogs on lands of another or state highway or right-of-way; penalties.

A. Any person who intentionally releases hunting dogs on the lands of another which that have been posted in accordance with the provisions of §18.2-134.1 to hunt without the consent of the landowner or his agent is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation of this section subsection within three years is a Class 1 misdemeanor and, upon conviction, the court shall revoke such person's hunting or trapping license for a period of one year. The fact that hunting dogs are present on the lands of another alone is not sufficient evidence to prove that the person acted intentionally.

B. Any person who intentionally releases hunting dogs on a Department of Transportation right-of-way or on a highway owned or maintained by the Department of Transportation to hunt deer without the consent of the Department is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. A second violation of this subsection is a Class 2 misdemeanor. A third or subsequent violation of this subsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor. The fact that hunting dogs are present on such right-of-way or highway alone is not sufficient evidence to prove that the person acted intentionally.

§46.2-889. Location of parked vehicles.

No vehicle shall be stopped except close to and parallel to the right edge of the curb or roadway, except that a vehicle may be stopped close to and parallel to the left curb or edge of the roadway on one-way streets or may be parked at an angle where permitted by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the Department, or local authorities with respect to highways under their jurisdiction.

Nothing in this section shall prevent the retrieval of a companion animal as defined in §3.2-6500 from a highway or area adjacent to a highway.