{"data":{"id":"us-va/va.-code-46.2-939","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"Va. Code § 46.2-939","heading":"Authority of law-enforcement officers to issue subpoenas","body":"Local law-enforcement officers and state police officers, in the course of their duties in the investigation of any accident involving a motor vehicle or vehicles, may, at the scene of any such accident, issue a subpoena to any witness to appear in court and testify with respect to any criminal charge brought against any person as a result of such accident. State police officers, additionally, may issue such subpoenas at any other location within seventy-two hours of the time of such accident, with the return of service thereof made to the appropriate court clerk within forty-eight hours after such service. A subpoena so issued shall have the same force and effect as if issued by the court.Any person failing to appear in response to a subpoena issued as provided in this section shall be punished as provided by law.1975, c. 138, § 46.1-178.2; 1986, c. 40; 1989, c. 727.","path":["Title 46.2. MOTOR VEHICLES","Subtitle III. OPERATION","Chapter 8. REGULATION OF TRAFFIC","Article 17. LEGAL PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/46.2-939/","current_through":"9/4/2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:16:39Z","sha256":"ed61462f745c66fe16875bcbd789c164bf1e452dfc336f38eacb78cc167dd8f4","source_id":"us-va","stale":true,"prev":"us-va/va.-code-46.2-938","next":"us-va/va.-code-46.2-940"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}