A. The Commissioner of Highways, through his duly authorized officers, agents, or employees, may enter upon any land in the Commonwealth for the purposes of making examination and survey thereof, including photographing; testing, including soil borings or testing for contamination; making appraisals; and taking such actions as may be necessary or desirable to determine its suitability for highway and other transportation purposes or for any other purpose incidental thereto. Such officers, agents, or servants shall exercise care to protect any improvements, growing crops, or timber in making such examination or survey.

B. Notice shall be sent to the owner by mail, at the address recorded in the tax records, not less than 15 days prior to the first date of the proposed entry. Notice of intent to enter shall be deemed made on the date of mailing.

C. The notice shall include the anticipated date such entry is proposed to be made and the purpose of such entry. Any entry authorized by this section shall be for the purposes of making examination and survey thereof, including photographing; testing, including soil borings or testing for contamination; making appraisals; and taking such other actions as may be necessary or desirable to determine the suitability of such property for highway and transportation purposes, and shall not be deemed a trespass.

D. Notwithstanding the provisions in subsections A and B, nothing shall preclude entry prior to the anticipated date of entry specified in the notice if the property owner or his designated representative agrees to or requests a date of entry prior to the date of entry specified in the notice.

E. The Commissioner of Highways, through his duly authorized officers, agents, or servants, shall make reimbursement for any actual damages to real or personal property resulting from entry upon the property. In any action filed under this section, the court may award the owner his reasonable attorney fees, court costs, and fees for no more than three expert witnesses testifying at trial if (i) the court finds that the Commissioner of Highways maliciously, willfully, or recklessly damaged the owner’s property and (ii) the court awards the owner actual damages in an amount 30 percent or more greater than the final written offer of the Commissioner of Highways made no later than 30 days after the filing of an answer in circuit court or the return date in general district court. A proceeding under this subsection shall not preclude the owner from pursuing any additional remedies available to the landowner.

History

Code 1950, § 33-57.2; 1960, c. 491; 1970, c. 322, § 33.1-94; 2007, c. 755; 2011, c. 60; 2014, c. 805.