                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DISPOSAL OF UNCLAIMED FIREARMS, OTHER WEAPONS, OR OTHER UNCLAIMED PERSONAL
PROPERTY IN POSSESSION OF THE DIVISION OF CAPITOL POLICE (§ 30-34.2:2)

Subject to the provisions of § 19.2-386.29, the Division of Capitol Police may
destroy unclaimed firearms and other weapons, and may lawfully dispose of other
unclaimed personal property, that have been in the possession of the Division
for a period of more than 120 days. For the purposes of this section,
&#8220;unclaimed firearms and other weapons&#8221; means any firearm or other
weapon belonging to another that has been acquired by a law-enforcement officer
pursuant to his duties, that is not needed in any criminal prosecution, that has
not been claimed by its rightful owner, and that the State Treasurer has
indicated will be declined if remitted under the Virginia Disposition of
Unclaimed Property Act (§ 55.1-2500 et seq.), and &#8220;unclaimed personal
property&#8221; means any personal property belonging to another that has been
acquired by a law-enforcement officer pursuant to his duties, that is not needed
in any criminal prosecution, that has not been claimed by its rightful owner,
and that the State Treasurer has indicated will be declined if remitted under
the Virginia Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act (§ 55.1-2500 et seq.).
		At the discretion of the chief of police or his designee, the Division of
Capitol Police may destroy unclaimed firearms or other weapons by any means that
renders the firearms or other weapons permanently inoperable and may lawfully
dispose of other unclaimed personal property. Prior to the destruction of such
unclaimed firearms or other weapons or disposal of such other unclaimed personal
property, the chief of police or his designee shall (i) make reasonable attempts
to notify by mail the rightful owner of the property and (ii) obtain from the
attorney for the Commonwealth of the jurisdiction from which the unclaimed item
came into the possession of the Division of Capitol Police in writing a
statement advising that the item is not needed in any criminal prosecution. The
Division may dispose of an unclaimed bicycle, electric personal assistive
mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped in accordance with
the provisions of § 15.2-1720.
		In lieu of destroying any such unclaimed firearm, the chief of police or his
designee may donate the firearm to the Department of Forensic Science, upon
agreement of the Department.

HISTORY: 2012, c. 209; 2015, c. 220; 2018, c. 581.