Section 20. Definitions

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Firework" means any combination of explosives and combustibles set off to generate colored lights, smoke, or noise.

"Law-enforcement officer" means any sworn law-enforcement officer who has the duty and obligation to enforce the penal or traffic laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, or any portion thereof, as certified by his appointing authority and including, but not limited to, any person appointed pursuant to §§ 4.1-100, 9.1-101, 15.2-1609, 15.2-1700, 23-232, 29.1-200, 30-34.2:1, 52-1, 53.1-1, 53.1-143, and 66-25.3 of the Code of Virginia; any attorney for the Commonwealth as provided in § 18.2-308 B 9 of the Code of Virginia; any conservator of the peace exempt from § 18.2-308 A of the Code of Virginia pursuant to § 18.2-308 C 4 of the Code of Virginia; and any sworn federal law-enforcement officer or agent and any law-enforcement agent of the armed forces of the United States who is authorized to carry a weapon by federal law and who is within his territorial jurisdiction or who is contracted with the university to provide services within the university's territorial jurisdiction and who is on duty or providing services to the university.

"University" means the University of Virginia, including its College at Wise and its Medical Center.

"University Medical Center" or "Medical Center" means the hospital and all other buildings that make up the Medical Center such as facilities used for administrative, clinical, or lab activities.

"University property" means any land, buildings, or vehicles that the university owns or leases or that is under its control.

"Weapon" means (i) any firearm including any pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, air-pistol, paintball gun, or other instrument designed or intended to propel a bullet, cartridge, or other missile of any kind including a bow or cross-bow; (ii) any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, butterfly knife, sword, machete, or other bladed weapon with a blade longer than four inches in length; (iii) any razor slingshot, spring stick, metal or lexan knucks, or blackjack; (iv) any flailing instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such manner as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as nun chahka, nun chuck, nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain; or (v) any disc, of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed blades that is designed to be thrown or propelled and that may be known as throwing star or oriental dart.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 28, Issue 07, eff. December 5, 2011.

Statutory Authority

§§ 23-76 of the Code of Virginia.