27-34.2 - Power to arrest, to procure and serve warrants and to issue summons; limitation on authority.
§ 27-34.2. Power to arrest, to procure and serve warrants and to issuesummons; limitation on authority.
In addition to such other duties as may be prescribed by law, the local firemarshal and his assistants appointed pursuant to § 27-36 shall, if authorizedby the governing body of the county, city or town appointing the local firemarshal, have the authority to arrest, to procure and serve warrants ofarrest and to issue summons in the manner authorized by general law forviolation of fire prevention and fire safety laws and related ordinances. Theauthority granted in this section shall not be exercised by any local firemarshal or assistant until such person has satisfactorily completed atraining course designed specifically for local fire marshals and theirassistants, which course shall be approved by the Virginia Fire ServicesBoard.
The Department of Fire Programs in cooperation with the Department ofCriminal Justice Services shall have the authority to design, establish andmaintain the required courses of instruction through such agencies andinstitutions as the Departments jointly may deem appropriate and to approvesuch other courses as such Departments determine appropriate.
The authority granted in this section shall not be construed to authorize afire marshal or his assistants to wear or carry firearms.
(1974, c. 334; 1975, c. 173; 1979, c. 402; 1984, c. 779; 1986, c. 60; 1988,c. 65; 1997, c. 436.)