Bill Text: VA HB869 | 2024 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Unlawful picketing or parading to obstruct or influence justice; penalty.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-13 - Left in Courts of Justice [HB869 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HB869-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 4 of Chapter 9 of Title 18.2 a section numbered 18.2-419.1 as follows:
§18.2-419.1. Unlawful picketing or parading to obstruct or influence justice; penalty.
A. Any person who, with the intent of interfering with, obstructing, or impeding the administration of justice, or with the intent of influencing or intimidating in the discharge of his duty any judge, juror, witness, court officer, or court employee, of any court of the Commonwealth or any other state, the District of Columbia, or the United States or any territory thereof, pickets or parades in or near a residence occupied or used by such judge, juror, witness, court officer, or court employee, or any immediate family member of such judge, juror, witness, court officer, or court employee, or with such intent uses any sound truck, bullhorn, or similar device, or resorts to any other demonstration of any kind in or near any such residence, whether or not such residence is occupied or believed to be occupied at the time that the picket, parade, or other demonstration takes place, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
B. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the provisions of §19.2-74 shall not apply to any arrest of any person who violates this section in the presence of the arresting officer, or whom the arresting officer has reasonable grounds or probable cause to suspect of having violated this section not in the presence of the arresting officer.
