Bill Text: VA HB1025 | 2024 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Deer, bear, turkey, or elk; claiming after struck by motor vehicle.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-03-14 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0083) [HB1025 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HB1025-Chaptered.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §29.1-539 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§29.1-539. Claiming deer, bear, turkey, or elk struck by motor vehicle.
A. Any person driving a motor vehicle who collides with
a deer or, bear, turkey, or elk or who discovers a deer, bear,
turkey, or elk that has been killed in a collision with a motor vehicle
may, upon compliance with the provisions of this section and at any time of
year, keep the deer or bear claim such animal for his own use
as if the animal had been killed by that person during hunting season for the
animal.
B. Any person so killing any deer or,
bear, turkey, or elk or who discovers a deer, bear, turkey, or elk that has
been killed in a collision with a motor vehicle shall immediately report
the accident to the a conservation police officer or other
law-enforcement officer of the county or city where the accident occurred. The
conservation police officer or other law-enforcement officer shall view the
deer or bear such animal and if he believes that the deer or bear
such animal was killed by the a collision with the
a motor vehicle or injured to such an extent as to require its death, he
shall award the animal to the person claiming the deer or bear, it
and shall give the person a certificate to that effect on forms furnished by
the Department call for service number or a report number.
C. If any person driving a motor vehicle who collides with a deer, bear, turkey, or elk, or person who discovers a deer, bear, turkey, or elk that has been killed in a collision with a motor vehicle, does not claim such animal, a conservation police officer or other law-enforcement officer may award such animal to any other person who wishes to claim it pursuant to this section.
