Bill Text: VA HB1071 | 2020 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Profane swearing in public; removes the crime from Code.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2020-03-04 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0160) [HB1071 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2020-HB1071-Comm_Sub.html

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20106255D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1071 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the House Committee for Courts of Justice on January 22, 2020) (Patrons Prior to Substitute--Delegates Adams, D.M. and Webert [HB 132]) A BILL to amend and reenact §18.2-388 of the Code of Virginia, relating to profane swearing in public.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §18.2-388 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§18.2-388. Intoxication in public; penalty; transportation of public inebriates to detoxification center.

If any person profanely curses or swears or is intoxicated in public, whether such intoxication results from alcohol, narcotic drug, or other intoxicant or drug of whatever nature, he shall be deemed is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. In any area in which there is located a court-approved detoxification center, a law-enforcement officer may authorize the transportation, by police or otherwise, of public inebriates to such detoxification center in lieu of arrest; however, no person shall be involuntarily detained in such center.