                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

ESTABLISHING POLICE LINES, PERIMETERS, OR BARRICADES (§ 15.2-1714)

Whenever fires, accidents, wrecks, explosions, crimes, riots, or other emergency
situations where life, limb, or property may be endangered may cause persons to
collect on the public streets, alleys, highways, parking lots, or other public
area, the chief law-enforcement officer of any locality or that officer&#8217;s
authorized representative who is responsible for the security of the scene may
establish such areas, zones, or perimeters by the placement of police lines or
barricades as are reasonably necessary to (i) preserve the integrity of evidence
at such scenes, (ii) notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 46.2-888 through
46.2-891, facilitate the movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic into, out
of, and around the scene, (iii) permit firefighters, police officers, and
emergency medical services personnel to perform necessary operations unimpeded,
and (iv) protect persons and property.
		Any police line or barricade erected for these purposes shall be clearly
identified by wording such as &#8220;Police Line &#8212; DO NOT CROSS&#8221; or
other similar wording. If material or equipment is not available for identifying
the prohibited area, then a verbal warning by identifiable law-enforcement
officials positioned to indicate a location of a police line or barricade shall
be given to any person or persons attempting to cross police lines or barricades
without proper authorization.
		Such scene may be secured no longer than is reasonably necessary to effect the
above-described purposes. Nothing in this section shall limit or otherwise
affect the authority of, or be construed to deny access to such scene by, any
person charged by law with the responsibility of rendering assistance at or
investigating any such fires, accidents, wrecks, explosions, crimes or riots.
		Personnel from information services such as press, radio, and television, when
gathering news, shall be exempt from the provisions of this section except that
it shall be unlawful for such persons to obstruct the police, firefighters, or
emergency medical services personnel in the performance of their duties at such
scene. Such personnel shall proceed at their own risk.

HISTORY: 1984, c. 533, § 15.1-140.1; 1990, c. 327; 1997, c. 587; 2015, cc. 502,
503.