CODE OF VIRGINIA

PENALTIES; AUTHORITY OF CONSERVATION POLICE OFFICERS AND POLICE OFFICERS;
DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY SEIZED (§ 29.1-567)

A. Any person who violates the provisions of § 29.1-564 or § 29.1-566, or any
regulations issued pursuant to these sections, or whoever violates any
regulation or permit issued under § 29.1-568 shall be guilty of a Class 1
misdemeanor; however, the sale, offering for sale, purchasing or offering to
purchase within the Commonwealth of any fish or wildlife appearing on a list of
threatened or endangered species as prohibited by § 29.1-564 shall be
punishable as provided in § 29.1-553.

B. Any judicial officer or other officer authorized to issue criminal warrants
shall have authority to issue a warrant for the search and seizure of any goods,
business records, merchandise or fish or wildlife taken, employed or used in
connection with a violation of any provision of this article. All such search
warrants shall be issued and executed pursuant to Chapter 5 (§ 19.2-52 et seq.)
of Title 19.2.

C. Goods, merchandise, fish or wildlife or records seized under the provisions
of subsection B of this section shall be held by an officer or agent of the
Department at the direction of the judge or court pending disposition of court
proceedings, and thereafter be forfeited to the Commonwealth for destruction or
disposition as the Director may deem appropriate. However, prior to forfeiture,
the Director may direct the transfer of fish or wildlife so seized to a
qualified zoological, educational, or scientific institution for safekeeping,
with costs assessable to the defendant. The Board is authorized to issue
regulations to implement this section.

HISTORY: 1972, c. 329, § 29-235; 1987, c. 488; 1990, c. 123; 1994, c. 848.