§ 23-7. Misleading, obstructing, etc., city officers.  


Latest version.
  • (a)

    If any person without just cause knowingly obstructs a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, witness, any law enforcement officer or animal control officer 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, witness, law enforcement officer or animal control officer, he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

    (b)

    If any person, by threats or force, knowingly attempts to intimidate or impede a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, witness, any law enforcement officer or animal control officer, lawfully engaged in his duties as such, or to obstruct or impede the administration of justice in any court, he shall be deemed to be 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 animal control officer who is in the course of conducting an investigation of a crime by another is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

    (d)

    Any person or persons who unreasonably or unnecessarily obstruct a member or members of an emergency medical services agency, whether governmental, private or volunteer, or who shall fail or refuse to cease such obstruction or move on when requested to do so by a member of an emergency medical services agency going to or at the site at which emergency medical services are required shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

    (Code 1965, § 23-37; Ord. No. 1267, 4-26-82; Ord. No. 1465, 7-2-84; Ord. No. 1893, 7-10-89; Ord. No. 2230, 6-8-93; Ord. No. 2398, 6-25-96; Ord. No. 2707, 6-25-02; Ord. No. 2771, 6-24-03; Ord. No. 3094, 6-23-09; Ord. No. 3432, 11-17-15)

    Cross reference— Interfering with firefighters, § 12-28; obstructing or interfering with enforcement of housing code, § 16-8; interference with police animals, § 27-7.

    State Law reference— Obstructing justice, Code of Virginia, § 18.2-460.

(Code 1965, § 23-37; Ord. No. 1267, 4-26-82; Ord. No. 1465, 7-2-84; Ord. No. 1893, 7-10-89; Ord. No. 2230, 6-8-93; Ord. No. 2398, 6-25-96; Ord. No. 2707, 6-25-02; Ord. No. 2771, 6-24-03; Ord. No. 3094, 6-23-09; Ord. No. 3432, 11-17-15)

State law reference

Obstructing justice, Code of Virginia, § 18.2-460.

Cross reference

Interfering with firefighters, § 12-28; obstructing or interfering with enforcement of housing code, § 16-8; interference with police animals, § 27-7.