                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

REGULATION, ETC., OF ASSEMBLIES OR MOVEMENT OF PERSONS OR VEHICLES UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES; CURFEW; PENALTY (§ 15.2-925)

A. Any locality may empower the chief law-enforcement officer to regulate,
restrict, or prohibit any assembly of persons or the movement of persons or
vehicles if there exists an imminent threat of any civil commotion or
disturbance in the nature of a riot which constitutes a clear and present
danger. In such circumstances the governing body may convene immediately in a
special meeting and enact an emergency ordinance or ordinances for such
purposes, notwithstanding any contrary provisions in any charter or under the
general law.

B. Any such action may include a curfew issued by the chief law-enforcement
officer, but in cities, such action shall be in concurrence with the city
manager and the mayor. Such curfew shall include the following elements:

   1. Shall specify the hours of the curfew and the geographic area to which the
   curfew applies.

   2. Shall contain exceptions for:
   				a. Any person traveling to or from home, work, or a place of worship;
   				b. Medical personnel;
   				c. Members of the press;
   				d. Federal, state, and local employees and volunteers engaged in official
   business, including emergency response;
   				e. Military personnel, including but not limited to National Guard troops;
   				f. Travel to or from public meetings of the local governing body;
   				g. Persons seeking emergency services or fleeing any emergency or danger
   or acting to save other persons from an emergency or danger; and
   				h. Persons who are incapacitated or who are seeking medical care for
   themselves or others.
   				The action authorizing the curfew shall provide for reasonable efforts to
   inform the public in advance of the curfew, which shall be valid for no more
   than 24 hours. The curfew shall not be extended or renewed unless by recorded
   vote of the local governing body or by judicial order.
   				In such circumstances the governing body may convene immediately in a
   special meeting and enact an emergency ordinance or ordinances, including an
   extension or renewal of a curfew, for such purposes, notwithstanding any
   contrary provisions in any charter or under the general law.

C. Any violation of a regulation, restriction, or curfew imposed hereunder shall
be a Class 1 misdemeanor.

HISTORY: 1968, c. 459, § 15.1-514.1; 1997, c. 587; 2023, c. 360.