§ 19.2-53 What may be searched and seized
A. Search warrants may be issued for the search of or for specified places, things, or persons, and seizure therefrom of the following things as specified in the warrant:
1. Weapons or other objects used in the commission of crime;
2. Articles or things the sale or possession of which is unlawful;
4. Any object, thing, or person, including (i) documents, (ii) books, (iii) papers, (iv) records, (v) body fluids, or (vi) electronic records stored within or outside the Commonwealth of a commercial enterprise, whether a domestic corporation or a foreign corporation, that is transacting or has transacted any business in the Commonwealth, constituting evidence of the commission of crime; or
5. Any person to be arrested for whom a warrant or process for arrest has been issued. Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter to the contrary, no search warrant may be issued as a substitute for a witness subpoena.
B. Any search warrant issued for the search and seizure of a computer, computer network, or other device containing electronic or digital information shall be deemed to include the search and seizure of the physical components and the electronic or digital information contained in any such computer, computer network, or other device, except information for which a search warrant is prohibited by § 19.2-60.2.
C. Any search, including the search of the contents of any computer, computer network, or other device conducted pursuant to subsection B, may be conducted in any location and is not limited to the location where the evidence was seized.
History
The record of this law’s original creation isn’t available online. It has been modified 11 times. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1960, chapter 366; in 1962, chapter 519; in 1966, chapter 363; in 1970, chapter 650; in 1974, chapter 113; in 1975, chapter 495; in 1981, chapter 559; in 2015, chapter 501; in 2017, chapters 233 and 242; in 2024, chapters 523 and 571; in 2025, chapter 345.
Code 1950, § 19.1-84; 1960, c. 366; 1962, c. 519; 1966, c. 363; 1970, c. 650; 1974, c. 113; 1975, c. 495; 1981, c. 559; 2015, c. 501; 2017, cc. 233, 242; 2024, cc. 523, 571; 2025, c. 345.