HOUSE BILL NO. 2899 Offered January 10, 2007 Prefiled January 10, 2007 A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 18.2-175, 46.2-1022, and 46.2-1023 of the Code of Virginia, relating to special conservators of the peace. ---------- Patron-- Phillips ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That §§ 18.2-175, 46.2-1022, and 46.2-1023 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 18.2-175. Unlawful wearing of officer's uniform or insignia; unlawful use of vehicle with word "police" shown thereon.

No person, not such an officer as is referred to in § 19.2-78, shall wear any such uniform as is designated pursuant to the provisions of such section or wear an insignia or markings containing the Seal of the Commonwealth or the insignia of any such officer's uniform, nor shall any person not such an officer, or not authorized by such officer, or not authorized by the military police of the armed forces or of the National Guard, or not authorized by the military police of other governmental agencies, use or cause to be used on the public roads or highways of this Commonwealth, any motor vehicle bearing markings with the word "police" shown thereon. However, the prohibition against wearing an insignia or markings containing the Seal of the Commonwealth shall not apply to any certified firefighter; or to  any certified or licensed emergency medical personnel; or any special conservator of the peace appointed pursuant to § 19.2-13 and employed by a county, city, or town. Any violation of this section shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor.

§ 46.2-1022. Flashing blue, red and blue, blue and white, or red, white and blue warning lights.

Certain Department of Military Affairs vehicles and certain Virginia National Guard vehicles designated by the Adjutant General, when used in state active duty to perform particular law-enforcement functions, Department of Corrections vehicles designated by the Director of the Department of Corrections, vehicles operated by special conservators of the peace appointed pursuant to § 19.2-13 and employed by a city, county, or town, and law-enforcement vehicles may be equipped with flashing, blinking, or alternating blue, blue and red, blue and white, or red, white, and blue combination warning lights of types approved by the Superintendent.

§ 46.2-1023. Flashing red or red and white warning lights.

Fire apparatus, forest warden vehicles, ambulances, rescue and life-saving vehicles, vehicles of the Department of Emergency Management, vehicles of the Department of Environmental Quality, vehicles of county, city, or town Departments of Emergency Management, vehicles of the Office of Emergency Medical Services, animal warden vehicles, and vehicles used by security personnel of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Bassett-Walker, Inc., Tultex Corporation, the Winchester Medical Center, and, within those areas specified in their orders of appointment, by special conservators of the peace and policemen for certain places appointed pursuant to §§ 19.2-13 and 19.2-17 and not covered under the provisions of § 46.2-1022 may be equipped with flashing, blinking, or alternating red or red and white combination warning lights of types approved by the Superintendent.

2.  That any special conservator of the peace with a valid order of appointment from a circuit court in effect on June 30, 2007, that authorizes the use of flashing lights pursuant to § 46.2-1023 of the Code of Virginia and that is employed by a city, county, or town shall be authorized to use flashing lights pursuant to § 46.2-1022 of the Code of Virginia for the remainder of his appointment period.