New laws in effect July 1

The following was taken from an article written on the “Virginia Mercury” website.

https://www.virginiamercury.com/blog-va/police-reforms-go-into-effect-in-virginia/#:~:text=Banning%20police%20from%20executing%20no,first%20knocking%20and%20announcing%20themselves.

Summary:

Banning police from executing no-knock search warrants

Downgrading a handful of minor traffic violations to secondary offenses:

Offenses include: broken or loud exhaust system, tinted windows, objects dangling from a rearview mirror, smoking in a car with a minor present or a state inspection that is less than four months past its expiration date.

Prohibiting police from initiating searches based on the smell of marijuana

Mandating racial bias, de-escalation and crisis intervention training for police

Limiting when police can use chokeholds and requiring officers to intervene in excessive force

Imposing modest limits on military equipment available to law enforcement

Affirming that local prosecutors have the authority to dismiss whatever cases they want

Making it a hate crime to make false 911 calls motivated by race or other bias

Authorizing the attorney general to investigate local police departments

Authorizing the state to inspect ICE detention facilities in Virginia

Banning police officers from having sex with detainees