Monday, September 8, 2008
The General Assembly is not in session.
Tracking Virginia’s General Assembly
since 2007.
HB2488: Civilian surveillance; Class 1 misdemeanor if person engages in without legal authority.
Patrons-- Bulova, Amundson, Callahan, Caputo, Ebbin, Marsden, Plum, Rust, Scott, J.M., Sickles and Watts; Senators: Ticer and Whipple
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 18.2-130.1 as follows:
§ 18.2-130.1. Civilian surveillance of a dwelling; penalty.
Any person who engages in civilian surveillance without legal authority is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
"Civilian surveillance" means either openly or clandestinely (i) intentionally aiming an unmanned still or video camera or recording device at the dwelling or the curtilage of the dwelling of another or (ii) intentionally photographing or video recording the dwelling or the curtilage of the dwelling of another when such photographing or video recording is for the purpose of intimidation or when the act reasonably results in the intimidation of another.
"Legal authority" includes that authority of (i) law-enforcement officers engaged in legally authorized surveillance, (ii) licensed private detectives engaged in legally authorized surveillance, (iii) any commercial enterprise photographing or video recording for a legitimate commercial purpose, or (iv) any person who has the permission of the owner of the property to photograph or video record the property.
Additional Data
Explanation
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