{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/52-8.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/52-8.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/52-8.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/52-8.html"}],"law_id":55301,"edition_id":1,"section_id":55301,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8","catch_line":"Powers and duties to enforce criminal laws and investigate aircraft accidents","history":"1932, p. 617; 1934, p. 277; Michie Code 1942, \u00a7 2154(53); 1944, p. 204; R. P. 1948, \u00a7 52-8; 1968, c. 737.","full_text":"The Superintendent of State Police, his several assistants and police officers appointed by him are vested with the powers of a sheriff for the purpose of enforcing all the criminal laws of this Commonwealth and for investigating any aircraft accident which occurs in the Commonwealth, and it shall be the duty of the Superintendent, his several assistants and police officers appointed by him to use their best efforts to enforce the same.\n\t\tNothing in this section shall be construed as relieving any sheriff or sergeant, commissioner of the revenue, police officer, or any other official now or hereafter invested with police powers and duties, state or local, from the duty of aiding and assisting in the enforcement of such laws within the scope of his authority and duty.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":202821,"text":"The Superintendent of State Police, his several assistants and police officers appointed by him are vested with the powers of a sheriff for the purpose of enforcing all the criminal laws of this Commonwealth and for investigating any aircraft accident which occurs in the Commonwealth, and it shall be the duty of the Superintendent, his several assistants and police officers appointed by him to use their best efforts to enforce the same.\n\t\tNothing in this section shall be construed as relieving any sheriff or sergeant, commissioner of the revenue, police officer, or any other official now or hereafter invested with police powers and duties, state or local, from the duty of aiding and assisting in the enforcement of such laws within the scope of his authority and duty.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":12842,"edition_id":1,"name":"Department of State Police","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12841,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":237129,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12842,"identifier":"1","token":"52\/1","url":"\/52\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12841,"edition_id":1,"name":"Police (State)","identifier":"52","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":237127,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12841,"identifier":"52","token":"52","url":"\/52\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":53988,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-1","catch_line":"Establishment of Department headed by Superintendent; Bureau of Criminal Investigation and division of drug law enforcement and investigation within Department","url":"\/52-1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-1","metadata":false},{"id":78435,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-10","catch_line":"Fees and rewards","url":"\/52-10\/","token":"52\/1\/52-10","metadata":false},{"id":58622,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11","catch_line":"Defense of police officers","url":"\/52-11\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11","metadata":false},{"id":62756,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.1","catch_line":"State Health Commissioner to cooperate","url":"\/52-11.1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.1","metadata":false},{"id":54720,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.2","catch_line":"Services of State Police in areas of counties that have merged, consolidated or been annexed into cities","url":"\/52-11.2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.2","metadata":false},{"id":71329,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.3","catch_line":"Acquisition of military property","url":"\/52-11.3\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.3","metadata":false},{"id":85646,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.4","catch_line":"Disposal of unclaimed property in the possession of State Police; exemption from the Virginia Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act","url":"\/52-11.4\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.4","metadata":false},{"id":69293,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.5","catch_line":"Disposal of unclaimed firearms or other weapons in possession of the State Police","url":"\/52-11.5\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.5","metadata":false},{"id":85896,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.6","catch_line":"Arrest or summons quota prohibited","url":"\/52-11.6\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.6","metadata":false},{"id":84651,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-2","catch_line":"Appointment of Superintendent and term of office","url":"\/52-2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-2","metadata":false},{"id":67155,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-3","catch_line":"Oath, bond, and salary of Superintendent","url":"\/52-3\/","token":"52\/1\/52-3","metadata":false},{"id":69512,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4","catch_line":"Functions of Department","url":"\/52-4\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4","metadata":false},{"id":66390,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/52-4.1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4.1","metadata":false},{"id":70719,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4.2","catch_line":"Department of Motor Vehicles to publish statistical information, and conduct research and experiments; copies to be furnished by Department to Commonwealth's attorneys","url":"\/52-4.2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4.2","metadata":false},{"id":66900,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4.3","catch_line":"Drug Investigation Special Trust Account","url":"\/52-4.3\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4.3","metadata":false},{"id":86808,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4.4","catch_line":"Duties relating to criminal history record information checks required by licensed firearms dealers","url":"\/52-4.4\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4.4","metadata":false},{"id":62142,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4.5","catch_line":"(Effective until July 1, 2026) Facial recognition technology; authorized uses; Department to establish a State Police Model Facial Recognition Technology Policy; penalty","url":"\/52-4.5\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4.5","metadata":false},{"id":80206,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-5","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/52-5\/","token":"52\/1\/52-5","metadata":false},{"id":74557,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-6","catch_line":"Appointment of additional police officers","url":"\/52-6\/","token":"52\/1\/52-6","metadata":false},{"id":60004,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-6.1","catch_line":"Appointment of supervisory officers","url":"\/52-6.1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-6.1","metadata":false},{"id":72935,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-7","catch_line":"Bonds of police officers; liability insurance policies","url":"\/52-7\/","token":"52\/1\/52-7","metadata":false},{"id":55301,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8","catch_line":"Powers and duties to enforce criminal laws and investigate aircraft accidents","url":"\/52-8\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8","metadata":false},{"id":84077,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.1","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Bureau of Criminal Investigation","url":"\/52-8.1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.1","metadata":false},{"id":76643,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.1:1","catch_line":"Powers and duties of a drug law enforcement and investigation division","url":"\/52-8.1_1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":63803,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.2","catch_line":"Certain investigations of elected officials; immunity for witnesses","url":"\/52-8.2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.2","metadata":false},{"id":75655,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.3","catch_line":"Disclosure of criminal investigative records and reports; penalty","url":"\/52-8.3\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.3","metadata":false},{"id":68439,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.4","catch_line":"Powers and duties to promulgate regulations; inspection of certain records","url":"\/52-8.4\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.4","metadata":false},{"id":83212,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.4:1","catch_line":"Regulations for firearms shows","url":"\/52-8.4_1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.4_1","metadata":false},{"id":76234,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.4:2","catch_line":"Certain offenses to be considered traffic infractions","url":"\/52-8.4_2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.4_2","metadata":false},{"id":73991,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.5","catch_line":"Reporting hate crimes","url":"\/52-8.5\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.5","metadata":false},{"id":63033,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.6","catch_line":"Criminal street gang reporting","url":"\/52-8.6\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.6","metadata":false},{"id":82197,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-9","catch_line":"Administration of oaths; acknowledgments and affidavits; summoning witnesses in certain cases","url":"\/52-9\/","token":"52\/1\/52-9","metadata":false},{"id":61863,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-9.1","catch_line":"Distinctive uniform to be adopted for State police officers","url":"\/52-9.1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-9.1","metadata":false},{"id":84664,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-9.1:1","catch_line":"Retired and former law-enforcement officers; retention of badge","url":"\/52-9.1_1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-9.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":80886,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-9.2","catch_line":"Wearing of same or similar uniforms by other persons","url":"\/52-9.2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-9.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":72935,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-7","catch_line":"Bonds of police officers; liability insurance policies","url":"\/52-7\/","token":"52\/1\/52-7","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":84077,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.1","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Bureau of Criminal Investigation","url":"\/52-8.1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/52-8\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 1968, chapter 737.<\/p>","references":[{"id":55300,"section_number":"33.2-2205","catch_line":"Regulations of the Commission; enforcement","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-2205\/"},{"id":58810,"section_number":"62.1-132.12","catch_line":"Employment, jurisdiction, and power of special police officers","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-132.12\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":237215,"object_type":"law","relational_id":55301,"identifier":"52-8","token":"52\/1\/52-8","url":"\/52-8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/52-8\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8","dublin_core":{"Title":"Powers and duties to enforce criminal laws and investigate aircraft accidents","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 52-8","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>The Superintendent of State Police, his several assistants and police officers appointed by him are vested with the powers of a sheriff for the purpose of enforcing all the criminal <span class=\"dictionary\">laws<\/span> of this Commonwealth and for investigating any aircraft accident which occurs in the Commonwealth, and it shall be the duty of the Superintendent, his several assistants and police officers appointed by him to use their best efforts to enforce the same.\n\t\tNothing in this section shall be construed as relieving any sheriff or sergeant, commissioner of the revenue, police officer, or any other official now or hereafter invested with police powers and duties, state or local, from the duty of aiding and assisting in the enforcement of such <span class=\"dictionary\">laws<\/span> within the scope of his authority and duty.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOWERS AND DUTIES TO ENFORCE CRIMINAL LAWS AND INVESTIGATE AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS\n(\u00a7 52-8)\n\nThe Superintendent of State Police, his several assistants and police officers\nappointed by him are vested with the powers of a sheriff for the purpose of\nenforcing all the criminal laws of this Commonwealth and for investigating any\naircraft accident which occurs in the Commonwealth, and it shall be the duty of\nthe Superintendent, his several assistants and police officers appointed by him\nto use their best efforts to enforce the same.\n\t\tNothing in this section shall be construed as relieving any sheriff or\nsergeant, commissioner of the revenue, police officer, or any other official now\nor hereafter invested with police powers and duties, state or local, from the\nduty of aiding and assisting in the enforcement of such laws within the scope of\nhis authority and duty.\n\nHISTORY: 1932, p. 617; 1934, p. 277; Michie Code 1942, \u00a7 2154(53); 1944, p.\n204; R. P. 1948, \u00a7 52-8; 1968, c. 737.","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}}