                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

SEARCH AND SEIZURE OF CONVEYANCES OR VEHICLES USED IN VIOLATION OF LAW; ARRESTS
(§ 4.1-339)

A. When any officer charged with the enforcement of the alcoholic beverage
control laws of the Commonwealth has reason to believe that alcoholic beverages
illegally acquired, or being illegally transported, are in any conveyance or
vehicle of any kind, either on land or on water (except a conveyance or vehicle
owned or operated by a railroad, express, sleeping or parlor car or steamboat
company, other than barges, tugs or small craft), he shall obtain a search
warrant and search such conveyance or vehicle. If illegally acquired alcoholic
beverages or alcoholic beverages being illegally transported in amounts in
excess of one quart or one liter if in a metric-sized container are found, the
officer shall seize the alcoholic beverages, seize and take possession of such
conveyance or vehicle, and deliver them to the chief law-enforcement officer of
the locality in which such seizure was made, taking his receipt therefor in
duplicate.

B. The officer making such seizure shall also arrest all persons found in charge
of such conveyance or vehicle and shall forthwith report in writing such seizure
and arrest to the attorney for the Commonwealth for the county or city in which
seizure and arrest were made.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 4-56; 1954, c. 504; 1968, c. 763; 1971, Ex. Sess., c.
155; 1973, c. 16; 1978, cc. 434, 436; 1981, c. 365; 1983, c. 271; 1984, c. 52;
1993, c. 866.