2006 Code of Virginia § 10.1-1159 - Upon proclamation of Governor certain acts made unlawful where extraordinary fire hazards exist; cl...

10.1-1159. Upon proclamation of Governor certain acts made unlawful whereextraordinary fire hazards exist; closing of hunting and fishing seasons.

Upon proclamation of the Governor, it shall be unlawful, when theforestlands, brushlands and fields in the Commonwealth or any part thereofhave become so dry as to create an extraordinary fire hazard endangeringlives and property, for any person, except the owner, tenant or owner'sauthorized agent, persons regularly engaged in cutting, processing, or movingforest products, or person on official duty, to enter or travel in any state,county, municipal or private forestlands, brushlands, marshland, fields oridle or abandoned lands in the area so affected except on public highways orwell-defined private roads. During such period hunting and fishing seasonsshall be closed, except hunting of migratory waterfowl and fishing ashereinafter provided, on all land and water within the Commonwealth or anygeographical part thereof affected by proclamation. It shall further beunlawful during such periods for any person to hunt or fish except ashereinafter provided, smoke, burn leaves, grass, brush or debris of any typeor to ignite or maintain any open fire nearer than 300 feet from any suchforestlands, brushlands or fields containing inflammable vegetation ormarshland adjoining such forestlands, brushlands, fields or idle or abandonedlands.

It shall not be unlawful to fish or hunt migratory waterfowl from a boat, orfrom a blind entirely surrounded by water and reached by a boat, or onnonforested islands at least 300 feet from the mainland shore and reached bya boat, when the boat embarks from and lands at established boat landings,and at no other time touches shore nearer than 300 feet from any forestlands,brushlands, or fields containing inflammable vegetation or marshlandadjoining such areas.

It shall be the duty of all authorized law-enforcement officers of theCommonwealth, counties and municipalities to enforce the provisions of thissection.

Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of aClass 2 misdemeanor for each separate offense.

(1954, c. 134, 27-54.1; 1964, c. 65; 1966, c. 302; 1986, c. 188; 1988, c.891.)