                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

PROCEDURE WHEN VIOLATION CHARGED; AWARDING POSSESSION OF PROPERTY TO OWNER (§
59.1-98)

Whenever any person mentioned in § 59.1-94 or his agent shall make oath before
any magistrate, or other officer empowered to issue criminal warrants, that he
has reason to believe, and does believe, that within the city, town or county
served by such magistrate or other officer, any of his bottles, boxes, siphons,
siphon heads, crates, tins, kegs, or clean laundered or soiled articles
mentioned in this chapter a description of the names, marks or devices whereon
has been filed and published as aforesaid, are being unlawfully used or filled
or had, by any person manufacturing or selling soda, mineral or aerated waters,
cider, ginger ale, milk, cream, soft drinks or other beverages or medicines,
medical preparations, perfumery, oils, compounds or mixtures, or that any junk
dealer or dealer in secondhand articles, vendor of bottles, or any other person
has any such bottles, boxes, siphons, siphon heads, crates, tins, kegs or clean
laundered or soiled articles mentioned in this chapter in his possession or
secreted in any place, the magistrate or other officer, before whom such oath is
made must thereupon issue a search warrant to discover and obtain the same, and
may also issue his warrant stating the offense charged, and cause to be brought
before any general district court having jurisdiction the person in whose
possession such bottles, boxes, siphons, siphon heads, crates, tins, kegs or
clean laundered or soiled articles mentioned in this chapter may be found, and
shall then inquire into the circumstances of such possession and if such general
district court finds such person has been guilty of a violation of § 59.1-96,
it must impose the punishment therein prescribed, and it shall award possession
of the property taken upon such warrant to the owner thereof.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 59-195; 1958, c. 579; 1968, c. 439; 2008, cc. 551, 691.