33.1-375.1 - Commissioner may enter into certain agreements; penalties.
§ 33.1-375.1. Commissioner may enter into certain agreements; penalties.
A. The Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner may enter into agreementswith the local governing body of Fairfax County authorizing locallaw-enforcement agencies or other local governmental entities to act asagents of the Commissioner for the purpose of (i) enforcing the provisions of§ 33.1-373 and (ii) collecting the penalties and costs provided for in thatsection. However, no local governing body shall enter into any such agreementuntil it has held a public hearing thereon.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 33.1-373, the penalties and costscollected under this section shall be paid to the affected locality.
C. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the followingsigns and advertising shall not be subject to the agreements provided for insubsection A:
1. Signs and advertising supporting an individual's candidacy for electedpublic office or other ballot issues, provided this exception shall notinclude signs and advertising in place more than three days after theelection to which they apply.
2. Signs and advertising promoting and/or providing directions to a specialevent to be held at a specified date stated on the sign or advertising,provided this exception shall not include special event signs in place morethan three days after the conclusion of the special event.
3. Other signs and advertising erected from Saturday through the followingMonday.
D. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the Commissionermay enter into agreements with the local governing bodies of localities towhich the foregoing provisions of this section do not apply to authorizethose governing bodies to act as agents of the Commissioner and theDepartment in enforcing the provisions of § 33.1-373. The limitationsapplicable to agreements entered into under subsections A through C shall notapply to agreements entered into under this subsection.
E. If a county acts as an agent of the Commissioner under this section, thecounty shall require each of its employees and any volunteers who areauthorized to act on behalf of the county to comply with the provisions ofthis section and any other applicable law. If a lawfully placed sign isconfiscated by an employee or volunteer authorized to act for the county inviolation of the authority granted under this section, the sign owner shallhave the right to reclaim the sign within five business days of the date ofsuch confiscation.
(1998, c. 835; 1999, c. 195; 2003, c. 311; 2010, cc. 497, 777, 832.)