HB542: Wearing masks; unlawful for any person to wear with intent to conceal identity, penalty.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 18.2-422 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 18.2-422. Prohibition of wearing of masks in certain places; exceptions.
It shall be unlawful for any person over sixteen 16
years of age while wearing to, with the intent to conceal his
identity, wear any mask, hood or other device whereby a substantial portion
of the face is hidden or covered so as to conceal the identity of the wearer,
to be or appear in any public place, or upon any private property in this
Commonwealth without first having obtained from the owner or tenant thereof
consent to do so in writing. However, the provisions of this section shall not
apply to persons (i) wearing traditional holiday costumes; (ii) engaged in
professions, trades, employment or other activities and wearing protective
masks which are deemed necessary for the physical safety of the wearer or other
persons; (iii) engaged in any bona fide theatrical production or masquerade
ball; or (iv) wearing a mask, hood or other device for bona fide medical
reasons upon (a) the advice of a licensed physician or osteopath and carrying
on his person an affidavit from the physician or osteopath specifying the medical
necessity for wearing the device and the date on which the wearing of the
device will no longer be necessary and providing a brief description of the
device, or (b) the declaration of a disaster or state of emergency by the
Governor in response to a public health emergency where the emergency
declaration expressly waives this section, defines the mask appropriate for the
emergency, and provides for the duration of the waiver. The violation of any
provisions of this section shall constitute is a Class 6 felony.
HOUSE BILL NO. 542
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 18.2-422 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 18.2-422. Wearing of masks during commission of felony or Class 1 misdemeanor; penalty.
It shall be is unlawful for any person over sixteen years of age while wearing any to wear a mask, hood, or other device whereby
that hides or covers a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered so
as with the intent
to conceal the identity of the wearer, to be or appear in
any public place, or upon any private property in this Commonwealth without
first having obtained from the owner or tenant thereof consent to do so in
writing while committing or
attempting to commit a felony or a Class 1
misdemeanor. However, the
provisions of this section shall not apply to persons (i) wearing traditional
holiday costumes; (ii) engaged in professions, trades, employment or other
activities and wearing protective masks which are deemed necessary for the
physical safety of the wearer or other persons; (iii) engaged in any bona fide
theatrical production or masquerade ball; or (iv) wearing a mask, hood or other
device for bona fide medical reasons upon (a) the advice of a licensed
physician or osteopath and carrying on his person an affidavit from the
physician or osteopath specifying the medical necessity for wearing the device
and the date on which the wearing of the device will no longer be necessary and
providing a brief description of the device, or (b) the declaration of a
disaster or state of emergency by the Governor in response to a public health
emergency where the emergency declaration expressly waives this section,
defines the mask appropriate for the emergency, and provides for the duration
of the waiver. The violation of any Any person violating the
provisions of this section
shall constitute (i) while
committing or attempting to commit a felony is guilty of a
Class 6 felony or (ii)
while committing or attempting to commit a Class
1 misdemeanor is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
2. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities; therefore, Chapter 806 of the Acts of Assembly of 2013 requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact of $50,000. Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.