Virginia § 59.1-98 - Procedure when violation charged; awarding possession of property to owner

§ 59.1-98. Procedure when violation charged; awarding possession of property to owner

Whenever any person mentioned in § 59.1-94 or his agent shall make oath before any magistrate, or other officer empowered to issue criminal warrants, that he has reason to believe, and does believe, that within the city, town or county served by such magistrate or other officer, any of his bottles, boxes, siphons, siphon heads, crates, tins, kegs, or clean laundered or soiled articles mentioned in this chapter a description of the names, marks or devices whereon has been filed and published as aforesaid, are being unlawfully used or filled or had, by any person manufacturing or selling soda, mineral or aerated waters, cider, ginger ale, milk, cream, soft drinks or other beverages or medicines, medical preparations, perfumery, oils, compounds or mixtures, or that any junk dealer or dealer in secondhand articles, vendor of bottles, or any other person has any such bottles, boxes, siphons, siphon heads, crates, tins, kegs or clean laundered or soiled articles mentioned in this chapter in his possession or secreted in any place, the magistrate or other officer, before whom such oath is made must thereupon issue a search warrant to discover and obtain the same, and may also issue his warrant stating the offense charged, and cause to be brought before any general district court having jurisdiction the person in whose possession such bottles, boxes, siphons, siphon heads, crates, tins, kegs or clean laundered or soiled articles mentioned in this chapter may be found, and shall then inquire into the circumstances of such possession and if such general district court finds such person has been guilty of a violation of § 59.1-96, it must impose the punishment therein prescribed, and it shall award possession of the property taken upon such warrant to the owner thereof.

Code 1950, § 59-195; 1958, c. 579; 1968, c. 439; 2008, cc. 551, 691.