19.2-267.1 - Authority of law-enforcement officer to issue summons to witness; failure to appear. - Virginia Statutes

§ 19.2-267.1. Authority of law-enforcement officer to issue summons towitness; failure to appear.

A summons may be issued by a law-enforcement officer during the course of hisimmediate investigation of an alleged misdemeanor for which an arrest warrantis not required pursuant to § 19.2-81 to any person he reasonably believeswas a witness to the offense. The summons shall command the person to appearand testify at the trial of any criminal charge brought against any person asthe result of the offense.

A summons issued pursuant to this section shall have the same force as ifissued by the court. The failure of any person so summoned to appear afterreceiving written notice of the date, time and place of the trial at leastfive days prior to the trial shall be punishable as contempt of the court inaccordance with § 18.2-456 (5).

(1983, c. 224.)