A. The circuit court of any county in which there is a toll bridge or its approaches, or the circuit court of any county in which lies any part of any toll bridge or bridges or their approaches belonging to the same proprietor, but which toll bridge or bridges or their approaches lie in more than one county, may, upon the application of the proprietor, appoint any employee of such proprietor, employed in the control or operation of such toll bridge or bridges and approaches, a special police officer. Such special police officer may exercise all the powers and duties imposed and conferred upon sheriffs in the Commonwealth, in criminal matters, upon any such toll bridge or bridges and their approaches. Such power shall extend throughout the Commonwealth when such special police officer is actually in pursuit of a person accused of crime or acting under authority of a warrant duly issued for the arrest of a person charged with a crime. However, no special policeman appointed under this section whose duties as such special policeman are merely incidental to such private employment shall be deemed to be an employee of the Commonwealth or county or counties within which such toll bridges and their approaches lie, within the meaning of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act (§ 65.2-100 et seq.).
B. Before any such appointment is made, the court shall be satisfied that such person has been a bona fide resident of the Commonwealth for more than one year immediately preceding such appointment and is of good moral character. Before any such person shall be permitted to discharge any of the duties of such special policeman, he shall take the oath required by law and shall give a bond payable to the Commonwealth in the penalty of not less than $500, conditioned for the faithful discharge of his official duties.
C. No salary shall be paid to any special police officer appointed under subsection A by the Commonwealth or county, or counties, in which such properties lie; nor shall he receive any fees for making any arrest, executing any warrant, summoning a witness, or carrying a person to or from jail.
Code 1950, §§ 33-218, 33-219, 33-220; 1970, c. 322, §§ 33.1-258, 33.1-259, 33.1-260; 2014, c. 805.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems
Chapter 6 - Ferries and Toll Facilities
§ 33.2-600. Acquisition or establishment of ferries
§ 33.2-601. Ferry across Corrotoman River
§ 33.2-602. Toll bridges; when privilege ceases
§ 33.2-603. Toll bridges not to obstruct navigation or fish
§ 33.2-604. How right to demand tolls ascertained and rates fixed or changed
§ 33.2-605. Special police officers in connection with toll bridges
§ 33.2-606. Permission required to erect or maintain toll bridges over navigable water
§ 33.2-607. Approval of plans by Board; inspection; costs
§ 33.2-608. Toll bridges may be purchased by Commonwealth
§ 33.2-609. Conveyance of toll bridge by Commonwealth
§ 33.2-610. Sections 33.2-606 through 33.2-609 not applicable to certain toll bridges
§ 33.2-611. Tolls may vary to encourage travel during off-peak hours
§ 33.2-613. Free use of toll facilities by certain state officers and employees; penalties
§ 33.2-615. Electronic notification of unpaid tolls
§ 33.2-616. Electronic toll collection device; DRIVE SMART Virginia Education Fund contribution