Insights
General Assembly Limits Reasons to Pull You Over
Update: Governor Northam has submitted recommendations to the General Assembly prior to signing HB5058. These updates correct a drafting error, and would allow officers to pull over a vehicle with improper brake lights, or headlights (at night). The General Assembly...
Some Fairfax County Misdemeanors to be Prosecuted by Law Enforcement
Recently, it was announced that the Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney's Office would not be prosecuting certain Fairfax County misdemeanors. This new change is for several reasons, but a large one is that as body camera usage becomes more prevalent, prosecutors...
Virginia Paves Way For New Local Gun Laws
Background Until recently, local municipalities were largely forbidden to pass their own local gun laws. This preemption is related Virginia’s status as a Dillon Rule state, which restricts municipal power only to what is expressly granted by the Commonwealth....
ARL Now: Arlington Receives Grant for Jail-Alternative Mental Health Treatment Program
From Vernon Miles at Arlington Now: Arlington County has accepted a grant that will help expand the county’s Behavioral Health Docket program — a service that diverts people with mental illnesses into treatment rather into jail.The program accepts people who have...
RTD: Early Prison Releases Raise Concerns – as Does Covid-19 in Virginia Prisons
From Frank Green at the Richmond Times Dispatch: Early releases for some prison inmates by the Virginia Department of Corrections aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 behind bars is drawing concern and criticism from interested parties.Prosecutors would like input...
AP: Fairfax County Police move forward on body camera plan
From the Associated Press Virginia’s most populous county is moving ahead this week with its plan to outfit police officers with body-worn cameras.Fairfax Police Chief Edwin Roessler said the first phase of the three-year program to outfit officers with cameras begins...
Virginia’s “Anti-Mask” Law & Coronovirus
Virginia, like many states, has an "Anti- Mask Law". It shall be unlawful for any person over 16 years of age to, with the intent to conceal his identity, wear any mask, hood or other device whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered so as to...
ALX Now: Police Responding to Fewer Calls Amid Pandemic, Jail Population Down
From James Cullum at ALX Now: Alexandria Police have seen a 42% reduction in calls for service and a 91% decrease in traffic stops since the Governor announced his stay at home order on March 30.“Due to the inherent risk factor of COVID-19 exposure when you are near...
