Bill Text: VA HB5135 | 2020 | 1st Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Law-enforcement agencies; body-worn camera systems.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 11-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-11-09 - Left in Public Safety [HB5135 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HB5135-Introduced.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §15.2-1723.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§15.2-1723.1. Body-worn camera system.
A. For purposes of this section, "body-worn camera system" means an electronic system for creating, generating, sending, receiving, storing, displaying, and processing audiovisual recordings, including cameras or other devices capable of creating such recordings, that may be worn about the person.
B. No law-enforcement
agency having jurisdiction over criminal law enforcement or regulatory
violations shall purchase or deploy a body-worn camera system unless
such agency has adopted and established All
law-enforcement agencies having jurisdiction over criminal law enforcement or
regulatory violations shall implement and operate a body-worn camera system and
require all officers who are responsible for the prevention and detection of
crime and the enforcement of the penal, traffic, or highway laws of the
Commonwealth to be equipped with a body-worn camera system.
C. Prior
to implementation and operation of a
body-worn camera system, law-enforcement agencies shall establish
and adopt a written policy for the operation of a such
body-worn camera system. Such policy shall follow identified best practices and
be consistent with Virginia law and regulations, using as guidance the model
policy established by the Department of Criminal Justice Services. Such policy shall
require officers equipped with a body-worn camera system to activate such
system during every
law-enforcement-related encounter with
the public, call for service, investigative or
pedestrian stop, motor vehicle stop,
and any other law-enforcement-related
action or service,
provided that such activation does not interfere with officer
safety or the safety of others. Such policy shall also
require officers equipped with a body-worn
camera system to activate such system for tactical activities such as
searches of buildings and motor vehicles,
searches for suspects and missing persons, seizing and processing of evidence,
and building checks when security alarms are triggered. Prior to the adoption of a written policy for the
operation of a body-worn camera system, the agency shall make the policy
available for public comment and review.