OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Richmond, Va., City Code ch. 19, art. II

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-29 Refusal to aid officer in execution of the officer's duties.

Sec. 19-29. - Refusal to aid officer in execution of the officer's duties. If any person, on being required by any officer, refuses or neglects to assist the officer: (1) In the execution of the officer's duties in a criminal case; (2) In the preservation of the peace; (3) In the apprehending or securing of any person for a breach of the peace; or (4) In any case of escape or rescue; such person shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. (Code 1993, § 20-17; Code 2004, § 66-36; Code 2015, § 19-29; Code 2020, § 19-29)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-30 Obstruction of justice.

Sec. 19-30. - Obstruction of justice. (a) If any person without just cause knowingly obstructs a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, any law enforcement officer, or Animal Control Officer employed pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6555 in the performance of his duties as such or fails or refuses without just cause to cease such obstruction when requested to do so by such judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, law enforcement officer, or Animal Control Officer employed pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6555, he or she shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (b) Except as provided in Code of Virginia, § 18.2-460(C), any person who, by threats or force, knowingly attempts to intimidate or impede a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, any law enforcement officer, or an Animal Control Officer employed pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6555 lawfully engaged in his duties as such, or to obstruct or impede the administration of justice in any court, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (c) Any person who knowingly and willfully makes any materially false statement or representation to a law enforcement officer or an Animal Control Officer employed pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6555 who is in the course of conducting an investigation of a crime by another is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (Code 1993, § 20-18; Code 2004, § 66-37; Code 2015, § 19-30; Code 2020, § 19-30)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-31 Unlawful wearing of officer's uniform or insignia; unlawful use of vehicle with word "police" shown thereon.

Sec. 19-31. - Unlawful wearing of officer's uniform or insignia; unlawful use of vehicle with word "police" shown thereon. No person, not such an officer as is referred to in Code of Virginia, § 19.2-78, shall wear any such uniform as is designated pursuant to the provisions of such section or wear any other uniform of similar appearance bearing an insignia or markings containing the seal of the State or the insignia of any such officer's uniform, nor shall any person not such an officer or not authorized by such officer or not authorized by the military police of the Armed Forces or of the National Guard or not authorized by the military police of other governmental agencies use or cause to be used on the public roads or highways of this City any motor vehicle bearing markings with the word "police" shown thereon. However, the prohibition against wearing an insignia or markings containing the seal of the State shall not apply to any certified firefighter or to any certified or licensed emergency medical personnel. Any violation of this section shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor. (Code 1993, § 20-20; Code 2004, § 66-39; Code 2015, § 19-31; Code 2020, § 19-31)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-32 Calling or summoning ambulance or firefighting apparatus without just cause; maliciously activating fire alarms in public buildings.

Sec. 19-32. - Calling or summoning ambulance or firefighting apparatus without just cause; maliciously activating fire alarms in public buildings. (a) Any person who, without just cause therefor, calls or summons, by telephone or otherwise, any ambulance, or firefighting apparatus, or any person who maliciously activates a manual or automatic fire alarm in any building used for public assembly or for other public use, including, but not limited to, schools, theaters, stores, office buildings, shopping centers and malls, coliseums and arenas, regardless of whether fire apparatus responds or not, shall be deemed guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (b) A violation of this section may be prosecuted either if the call was made in the City or if the call or summons was received in the City. (Code 1993, § 10-32(b); Code 2004, § 66-40; Code 2015, § 19-32; Code 2020, § 19-32)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-33 Uniforms or badges for security guards, private investigators or special police officers.

Sec. 19-33. - Uniforms or badges for security guards, private investigators or special police officers. (a) All uniforms, badges and patches worn by or issued to security guards, private investigators or special police officers shall be approved by the Chief of Police prior to the wearing of such uniforms, badges and patches in the City. It shall be unlawful for any security, investigative or special police agency or individual to wear any uniform, badge or patch which has not been approved by the Chief of Police. No security, investigative or special police agency or individual shall copy any portion of the uniform, badge or patch used by the Department of Police, nor shall any such security, investigative or special police agency or individual wear the uniform, badge or patch used by the Department of Police. (b) No person engaged in security, investigative or special police work shall indicate in any manner, including, by way of illustration, the reproduction of the official seal of the City or the logo of the City, that it is in any manner affiliated with or a part of the Department of Police. (c) Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (Code 1993, § 20-21; Code 2004, § 66-41; Code 2015, § 19-33; Code 2020, § 19-33)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-34 Physicians and others rendering medical aid to report certain wounds.

Sec. 19-34. - Physicians and others rendering medical aid to report certain wounds. (a) Any physician or other person who renders any medical aid or treatment to any person for any wound which such physician or other person knows or has reason to believe is a wound inflicted by a weapon specified in Code of Virginia, § 18.2-308 and which wound such physician or other person believes or has reason to believe was not self-inflicted shall as soon as practicable report such fact, including the wounded person's name and address, if known, to the Sheriff or Chief of Police in which treatment is rendered. If such medical aid or treatment is rendered in a hospital or similar institution, such physician or other person rendering such medical aid or treatment shall immediately notify the person in charge of such hospital or similar institution, who shall make such report forthwith. (b) Any physician or other person failing to comply with this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. Any person participating in the making of a report pursuant to this section or participating in a judicial proceeding resulting therefrom shall be immune from any civil liability in connection therewith, unless it is proved that such person acted in bad faith or with malicious intent. (Code 1993, § 20-22; Code 2004, § 66-42; Code 2015, § 19-34; Code 2020, § 19-34)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-35 Report required of owner of motor vehicle in which is installed radio capable of being tuned to any Department of Police frequency.

Sec. 19-35. - Report required of owner of motor vehicle in which is installed radio capable of being tuned to any Department of Police frequency. The owner of every motor vehicle in which a radio, portable or otherwise, capable of being tuned to any frequency assigned to or used by the Department of Police is installed or used shall file a written report thereof with the Chief of Police within ten days of such installation or the commencement of such use. Such report shall be on a form approved by the Chief and shall include the name and address of the owner and the engine number, make, model and license number of the motor vehicle in which the radio is installed or used. Such report shall also state the purpose for having such receiver in the motor vehicle. Such owner shall immediately report to the Chief any change in the information required by this section. Any person who knowingly violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished as provided in Section 1-16. (Code 1993, § 20-23; Code 2004, § 66-43; Code 2015, § 19-35; Code 2020, § 19-35)

Source: City of Richmond, Virginia, Code (2026 recodification) and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICICO_CH19OFMIPR_ARTIIOFAGPUADFetched: 11/8/2026