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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 3. Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control
Agency 5. Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority
Chapter 50. Retail Operations
12/22/2024

3VAC5-50-70. Restrictions on construction, arrangement and lighting of licensed premises; inspections; obstruction; "reasonable hours".

A. The construction, arrangement and illumination of the dining areas and designated areas and the seating arrangements therein of a licensed establishment shall be such as to permit ready access and reasonable observation by law-enforcement officers and by special agents of the board. The interior lighting shall be sufficient to permit ready discernment of the appearance and conduct of patrons in all portions of such areas.

B. The board and its special agents shall be allowed free access during reasonable hours to every place in the Commonwealth where alcoholic beverages are manufactured, bottled, stored, offered for sale or sold, for the purpose of examining and inspecting such place.

C. In addition to special agents, other law-enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties shall be allowed free access to any retail licensed establishment for the purpose of observation of activities on those licensed premises during reasonable hours.

D. Any person who by use of threats, force or intimidation impedes or obstructs any special agent or other law-enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties from entering or remaining upon any licensed establishment shall be guilty of a violation of this regulation and shall be subject to the penalty prescribed by § 4.1-349 of the Code of Virginia.

E. For the purposes of this regulation, the term "reasonable hours" shall be deemed to include all business hours of operation and any other time at which there exists any indication of activity upon the licensed premises.

Statutory Authority

§§ 4.1-103, 4.1-111, 4.1-204, 4.1-222 and 4.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR125-01-5 § 7, eff. December 12, 1985; amended, Virginia Register Volume 4, Issue 6, January 21, 1988; Volume 5, Issue 2, eff. November 24, 1988; Volume 7, Issue 4, eff. December 19, 1990; Volume 8, Issue 6, eff. January 15, 1992; Volume 9, Issue 6, eff. January 13, 1993; Volume 10, Issue 11, eff. March 23, 1994.

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