{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/28.2-106.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/28.2-106.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/28.2-106.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/28.2-106.html"}],"law_id":79876,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79876,"structure_id":14231,"section_number":"28.2-106","catch_line":"Virginia Marine Police; law-enforcement responsibilities; qualifications; oath","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 28-36; 1962, c. 406, \u00a7\u00a7 28.1-41, 28.1-42; 1964, c. 115; 1972, c. 824; 1973, c. 19; 1990, c. 521, \u00a7 28.1-45.1; 1991, c. 338, \u00a7 28.1-45.2; 1992, c. 836; 2001, c. 232; 2002, c. 789.","full_text":"A\n\nThe law-enforcement division of the Commission shall be designated as the Virginia Marine Police. It shall exercise such powers and duties as the General Assembly may confer upon it by law and as provided in regulations adopted pursuant to law, including but not limited to:1\n\nPatrolling the tidal waters and shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay, its tidal tributaries, and territorial sea;2\n\nEnforcing marine fishery and habitat conservation laws and regulations;3\n\nEnforcing health laws pertaining to the harvesting of seafood from condemned areas;4\n\nEnforcing or assisting other agencies in enforcing laws pertaining to the removal of obstructions and abandoned vessels from the water, to boating operation and navigation, and to larceny on the water;5\n\nProviding for water-borne safety;6\n\nConducting search and rescue activities; and7\n\nProtecting from terrorist attack federal and state water-related installations and other water-related locations within the tidal waters of the Commonwealth as may be designated by federal or state officials as important to national security.B\n\nOfficers of the Virginia Marine Police shall have the same powers as (i) sheriffs and other law-enforcement officers to enforce all of the criminal laws of the Commonwealth, and (ii) regular conservation police officers appointed pursuant to Chapter 2 (§ 29.1-200 et seq.) of Title 29.1.C\n\nA person shall be (i) at least twenty-one years old and (ii) a high school graduate or equivalent to qualify for appointment as an officer.D\n\nEach officer shall qualify before the clerk of the circuit court of the county or city in which he resides, or in which his district may be, by taking the oaths prescribed by law.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":286102,"text":"The law-enforcement division of the Commission shall be designated as the Virginia Marine Police. It shall exercise such powers and duties as the General Assembly may confer upon it by law and as provided in regulations adopted pursuant to law, including but not limited to:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":286103,"text":"Patrolling the tidal waters and shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay, its tidal tributaries, and territorial sea;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":286104,"text":"Enforcing marine fishery and habitat conservation laws and regulations;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":286105,"text":"Enforcing health laws pertaining to the harvesting of seafood from condemned areas;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":286106,"text":"Enforcing or assisting other agencies in enforcing laws pertaining to the removal of obstructions and abandoned vessels from the water, to boating operation and navigation, and to larceny on the water;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"A5"},"5":{"id":286107,"text":"Providing for water-borne safety;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"A5","prefix_anchor":"A5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"A6"},"6":{"id":286108,"text":"Conducting search and rescue activities; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"A6","prefix_anchor":"A6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A5","next_prefix":"A7"},"7":{"id":286109,"text":"Protecting from terrorist attack federal and state water-related installations and other water-related locations within the tidal waters of the Commonwealth as may be designated by federal or state officials as important to national security.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"A7","prefix_anchor":"A7","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A6","next_prefix":"B"},"8":{"id":286110,"text":"Officers of the Virginia Marine Police shall have the same powers as (i) sheriffs and other law-enforcement officers to enforce all of the criminal laws of the Commonwealth, and (ii) regular conservation police officers appointed pursuant to Chapter 2 (§ 29.1-200 et seq.) of Title 29.1.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A7","next_prefix":"C"},"9":{"id":286111,"text":"A person shall be (i) at least twenty-one years old and (ii) a high school graduate or equivalent to qualify for appointment as an officer.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"10":{"id":286112,"text":"Each officer shall qualify before the clerk of the circuit court of the county or city in which he resides, or in which his district may be, by taking the oaths prescribed by law.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14231,"edition_id":1,"name":"Support Activities","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12820,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:23","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:23","permalink":{"id":190629,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14231,"identifier":"2","token":"28.2\/I\/1\/2","url":"\/28.2\/I\/1\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12820,"edition_id":1,"name":"Administration","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12819,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":190593,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12820,"identifier":"1","token":"28.2\/I\/1","url":"\/28.2\/I\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12819,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions Relating to Marine Resources Commission","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12813,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":190591,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12819,"identifier":"I","token":"28.2\/I","url":"\/28.2\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12813,"edition_id":1,"name":"Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters","identifier":"28.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":190589,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12813,"identifier":"28.2","token":"28.2","url":"\/28.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":79876,"structure_id":14231,"section_number":"28.2-106","catch_line":"Virginia Marine Police; law-enforcement responsibilities; qualifications; oath","url":"\/28.2-106\/","token":"28.2\/I\/1\/2\/28.2-106","metadata":false},{"id":72614,"structure_id":14231,"section_number":"28.2-106.1","catch_line":"Patrol and enforcement of federal safety zones and restricted areas","url":"\/28.2-106.1\/","token":"28.2\/I\/1\/2\/28.2-106.1","metadata":false},{"id":75953,"structure_id":14231,"section_number":"28.2-106.2","catch_line":"Establishment, patrol, and enforcement of state water safety zones and restricted areas; penalty","url":"\/28.2-106.2\/","token":"28.2\/I\/1\/2\/28.2-106.2","metadata":false},{"id":62540,"structure_id":14231,"section_number":"28.2-107","catch_line":"Commission to implement radio system","url":"\/28.2-107\/","token":"28.2\/I\/1\/2\/28.2-107","metadata":false},{"id":78925,"structure_id":14231,"section_number":"28.2-108","catch_line":"Marine Patrols Fund continued","url":"\/28.2-108\/","token":"28.2\/I\/1\/2\/28.2-108","metadata":false},{"id":65360,"structure_id":14231,"section_number":"28.2-108.1","catch_line":"Virginia Waterway Maintenance Fund continued","url":"\/28.2-108.1\/","token":"28.2\/I\/1\/2\/28.2-108.1","metadata":false},{"id":55455,"structure_id":14231,"section_number":"28.2-108.2","catch_line":"Virginia Waterway Maintenance Grant Program","url":"\/28.2-108.2\/","token":"28.2\/I\/1\/2\/28.2-108.2","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":72614,"structure_id":14231,"section_number":"28.2-106.1","catch_line":"Patrol and enforcement of federal safety zones and restricted areas","url":"\/28.2-106.1\/","token":"28.2\/I\/1\/2\/28.2-106.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/28.2-106\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 9 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1962, chapter 406; in 1964, chapter 115; in 1972, chapter 824; in 1973, chapter 19; in 1990, chapter 521; in 1991, chapter 338; in 1992, chapter 836; in 2001, chapter 232<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 789<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":61271,"section_number":"29.1-200","catch_line":"Appointment of conservation police officers","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-200\/"}],"permalink":{"id":190631,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79876,"identifier":"28.2-106","token":"28.2\/I\/1\/2\/28.2-106","url":"\/28.2-106\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/28.2-106\/","token":"28.2\/I\/1\/2\/28.2-106","dublin_core":{"Title":"Virginia Marine Police; law-enforcement responsibilities; qualifications; oath","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 28.2-106","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The law<\/span>-enforcement division of the Commission<\/span> shall be designated as the Virginia Marine Police. It shall exercise such powers and duties as the General Assembly may confer upon it by law<\/span> and as provided in regulations adopted pursuant to law<\/span>, including but not limited to: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Patrolling the tidal waters and shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay, its tidal tributaries, and territorial sea<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Enforcing marine fishery and habitat<\/span> conservation laws<\/span> and regulations; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Enforcing health laws<\/span> pertaining to the harvesting of seafood from condemned areas; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Enforcing or assisting other agencies in enforcing laws<\/span> pertaining to the removal of obstructions and abandoned vessels from the water, to boating operation and navigation, and to larceny<\/span> on the water; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Providing for water-borne safety; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Conducting search and rescue activities; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Protecting from terrorist attack federal and state water-related installations and other water-related locations within the tidal waters of the Commonwealth as may be designated by federal or state officials as important to national security. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Officers<\/span> of the Virginia Marine Police shall have the same powers as (i) sheriffs and other law<\/span>-enforcement officers<\/span> to enforce all of the criminal laws<\/span> of the Commonwealth, and (ii) regular conservation police officers<\/span> appointed pursuant to Chapter 2 (§ 29.1-200<\/a> et seq.) of Title 29.1. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> A person shall be (i) at least twenty-one years old and (ii) a high school graduate or equivalent to qualify for appointment as an officer<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Each officer<\/span> shall qualify before the clerk of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of the county or city in which he resides, or in which his district may be, by taking the oaths<\/span> prescribed by law<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nVIRGINIA MARINE POLICE; LAW-ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES; QUALIFICATIONS; OATH\n(\u00a7 28.2-106)\n\nA. The law-enforcement division of the Commission shall be designated as the\nVirginia Marine Police. It shall exercise such powers and duties as the General\nAssembly may confer upon it by law and as provided in regulations adopted\npursuant to law, including but not limited to:\n\n 1. Patrolling the tidal waters and shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay, its tidal\n tributaries, and territorial sea;\n\n 2. Enforcing marine fishery and habitat conservation laws and regulations;\n\n 3. Enforcing health laws pertaining to the harvesting of seafood from\n condemned areas;\n\n 4. Enforcing or assisting other agencies in enforcing laws pertaining to the\n removal of obstructions and abandoned vessels from the water, to boating\n operation and navigation, and to larceny on the water;\n\n 5. Providing for water-borne safety;\n\n 6. Conducting search and rescue activities; and\n\n 7. Protecting from terrorist attack federal and state water-related\n installations and other water-related locations within the tidal waters of the\n Commonwealth as may be designated by federal or state officials as important\n to national security.\n\nB. Officers of the Virginia Marine Police shall have the same powers as (i)\nsheriffs and other law-enforcement officers to enforce all of the criminal laws\nof the Commonwealth, and (ii) regular conservation police officers appointed\npursuant to Chapter 2 (§ 29.1-200 et seq.) of Title 29.1.\n\nC. A person shall be (i) at least twenty-one years old and (ii) a high school\ngraduate or equivalent to qualify for appointment as an officer.\n\nD. Each officer shall qualify before the clerk of the circuit court of the\ncounty or city in which he resides, or in which his district may be, by taking\nthe oaths prescribed by law.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 28-36; 1962, c. 406, \u00a7\u00a7 28.1-41, 28.1-42; 1964, c. 115;\n1972, c. 824; 1973, c. 19; 1990, c. 521, \u00a7 28.1-45.1; 1991, c. 338, \u00a7\n28.1-45.2; 1992, c. 836; 2001, c. 232; 2002, c. 789.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}