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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>59033</law_id><section_number>56-550</section_number><catch_line>Police powers; violations of law</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="56">Public Service Companies</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="20">Virginia Highway Corporation Act of 1988</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">roadways</span> and <span class="dictionary">highways</span> constructed or operated under this chapter may be policed in whole or in part by officers of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of State Police, even though all or some portion of any such projects lie within the corporate limits of a <span class="dictionary">municipality</span> or other political subdivision, and just as if the <span class="dictionary">roadway</span> and <span class="dictionary">highway</span> were a part of the state <span class="dictionary">highway</span> system. The <span class="dictionary">operator</span> and the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of State Police shall agree upon reasonable terms and conditions pursuant to which the activities contemplated in this section may take place. Such officers shall be under the exclusive control and direction of the Superintendent of State Police and shall be responsible for the preservation of public peace, prevention of <span class="dictionary">crime</span>, apprehension of criminals, protection of the rights of <span class="dictionary">persons</span> and property, and enforcement of the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the Commonwealth, within the limits of any <span class="dictionary">highway</span> and <span class="dictionary">roadway</span>. All other police officers of the Commonwealth and of each county, city, town or other political subdivision of the Commonwealth through which any <span class="dictionary">roadway</span>, or portion thereof, extends shall have the same powers and <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> within the limits of such <span class="dictionary">roadways</span> and <span class="dictionary">highways</span> as they have beyond such limits and shall have access to the <span class="dictionary">highway</span> and <span class="dictionary">roadway</span> at any time for the purpose of exercising such powers and <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>. This authority does not extend to the private offices, buildings, garages and other improvements of the <span class="dictionary">operator</span> to any greater degree than the police power extends to any other private buildings and improvements. <a id="paragraph-216443" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-550/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The traffic and motor vehicle <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the Commonwealth shall apply to <span class="dictionary">persons</span> and motor vehicles on the <span class="dictionary">roadway</span> or <span class="dictionary">highway</span>, as shall Chapter 8 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definition" href="/33.2-800/">33.2-800</a> et seq.) of Title 33.2, and the powers of <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> of police officers shall be the same as those applying to conduct on the state <span class="dictionary">highway</span> system. Punishment for <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> shall be as prescribed by <span class="dictionary">law</span> for conduct occurring on the state <span class="dictionary">highway</span> system. <a id="paragraph-216444" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/56-550/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1988, c. 649.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
