CODE OF VIRGINIA

ENFORCEMENT OF § 18.2-331 BY GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL (§ 18.2-338)

If it shall come to the knowledge of the Governor that § 18.2-331 is not being
enforced in any county, city or town, the Governor may call upon the Attorney
General to direct its enforcement in such county, city or town, and thereupon
the Attorney General may instruct the attorney for the Commonwealth, sheriff and
chief of police, if any, of such county, or the attorney for the Commonwealth
and chief of police of such city, or the attorney for the Commonwealth of the
county in which such town is located and the chief of police or sergeant of such
town, to take such steps as may be necessary to insure the enforcement of such
section in such county, city or town, and if any such officers, after receiving
such instructions, shall thereafter fail or refuse to exercise diligence in the
enforcement of § 18.2-331, the Attorney General shall make report thereof in
writing to the Governor and to the judge of the circuit court having
jurisdiction over the acts thereby prohibited, and thereupon the Attorney
General upon being directed so to do by the Governor, shall take such steps as
he may deem proper in directing the institution and prosecution of criminal
proceedings, to secure the enforcement of § 18.2-331.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 18.1-334; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15.