19VAC30. Department of State Police
VAC AGENCY NO. 30
DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE
AGENCY SUMMARY
The Department of State Police has adopted Public Participation Guidelines as required by the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia). The Superintendent of State Police is authorized by Chapter 1 (§ 52-1 et seq.) of Title 52 of the Code of Virginia, with the cooperation of such other agencies of the Commonwealth as may be necessary, to adopt and promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to commercial motor vehicle safety pursuant to the United States Motor Carrier Act of 1984 that set forth criteria relating to driver, vehicle, and cargo safety inspections with which motor carrier and transport vehicles must comply.
The Department of State Police and the Superintendent of State Police are authorized by Chapters 8 (§ 46.2-800 et seq.) and 10 (§ 46.2-1000 et seq.) of Title 46.2 of the Code of Virginia to prescribe standards and specifications for motor vehicle equipment, for size and placement of local license stickers, and for certain safety equipment for motorcycles and operators and sale or use of certain equipment is subject to the department's approval. Pursuant to Article 21 (§ 46.2-1157 et seq.) of Chapter 10 of the Code of Virginia, the department has authority to designate official inspection stations and to make regulations governing the making of inspections.
The department is authorized by Chapter 40 (§ 54.1-4000 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia to make regulations specifying certain matters to be recorded by pawnbrokers. All machine guns are required to be registered with the department pursuant to Article 5 (§ 18.2-288 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia. The department is responsible for the operation of (i) the Central Criminal Records Exchange, the central repository for criminal history record information in the Commonwealth; (ii) the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry, the central repository for the purpose of assisting the efforts of law-enforcement agencies to protect their communities from repeat sex offenders and protect children from becoming victims of criminal offenders who target children; and (iii) the Protective Order Registry, the central repository of information regarding outstanding, valid protective orders pursuant to Chapter 9 (§ 9.1-900 et seq.) of Title 9.1 and Chapter 23 (§ 19.2-387 et seq.) of Title 19.2 of the Code of Virginia.
The department is responsible for promulgating regulations for (i) the operation of a basic coordinating police communications system in the Commonwealth pursuant to Chapter 2 (§ 52-12 et seq.) of Title 52 of the Code of Virginia; (ii) the operation of a uniform crime reporting system in the Commonwealth pursuant to Chapter 6 (§ 52-25 et seq.) of Title 52 of the Code of Virginia; (iii) the reporting and return of firearms confiscated or recovered by law-enforcement agencies pursuant to Chapter 6 (§ 52-25 et seq.) of Title 52 of the Code of Virginia; (iv) the establishment and operation of the Missing Children Information Clearinghouse in the Commonwealth pursuant to Chapter 7 (§ 52-31 et seq.) of Title 52 of the Code of Virginia; and (v) the operation of a witness protection program pursuant to Chapter 8 (§ 52-35 et seq.) of Title 52 of the Code of Virginia; (vi) the collection, analysis, and publication of data under the Virginia Community Policing Act pursuant to Chapter 6.1 (§ 52-30.1 et seq.) of Title 52 of the Code of Virginia; and (vii) the development of policies and procedures for the sealing of certain criminal records pursuant to Chapter 23.2 (§ 19.2-387 et seq.) of Title 19.2 of the Code of Virginia.
The department is responsible for providing criminal history record information via a toll-free telephone number to Virginia firearms dealers before a dealer may transfer firearms pursuant to Article 7 (§ 18.2-308.1 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 and Chapter 1 (§ 52-1 et seq.) of Title 52 of the Code of Virginia. The agency is also responsible for providing firearms dealers with transaction forms for gathering and retaining certain information concerning firearms transactions and for providing notice to the department by a promoter of a firearms show pursuant to Chapter 42 (§ 54.1-4200 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia. The department issues nonresident concealed handgun carry permits and has adopted regulations to govern that process pursuant to Article 7 (§ 18.2-308.1 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia.
The department is the coordinating agency for the Virginia Methamphetamine Precursor Information System for the reporting and tracking of pseudoephedrine sales in the Commonwealth pursuant to Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia. The department oversees the Virginia Methamphetamine Precursor Information System, a web-accessed database available at no charge to pharmacies and retailers, pursuant to the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 (CMEA) (Title VII of PL 109-177). Pharmacies and retailers are currently required to capture certain data regarding ephedrine or pseudoephedrine products (PSE) sales. Section 18.2-265.8 of the Code of Virginia requires all pharmacies and retailers in the Commonwealth of Virginia that sell over-the-counter cold and allergy medications containing PSE products to report sales.
The department operates under the supervision of the Secretary of Public Safety. Regulations are available for inspection or copying at State Police Administrative Headquarters at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, P.O. Box 27472, Richmond, VA 23261; copies in limited quantities are obtainable at the same place. The department's website can be found at www.vsp.virginia.gov.
Rev. 07/2024