A. The Commissioner of Highways may enter into agreements with the local governing body of Fairfax County authorizing local law-enforcement agencies or other local governmental entities to act as agents of the Commissioner of Highways for the purpose of (i) enforcing the provisions of § 33.2-1224 and (ii) collecting the civil penalties and costs provided for in that section. However, the local governing body of Fairfax County shall not enter into any such agreement until it has held a public hearing thereon.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 33.2-1224, the penalties and costs collected under this section shall be paid to Fairfax County.

C. Notwithstanding subsections A and B, signs and advertising promoting or providing directions to a special event erected from Saturday through the following Monday shall not be subject to an agreement provided for in subsection A.

D. If Fairfax County acts as an agent of the Commissioner of Highways under this section, then it shall require each of its employees and any volunteers who are authorized to act on behalf of the County to comply with the provisions of this section and any other applicable law. If a lawfully placed sign is confiscated by an employee or volunteer authorized to act for the County in violation of the authority granted under this section, the sign owner shall have the right to reclaim the sign within five business days of the date of such confiscation.

1998, c. 835, § 33.1-375.1; 1999, c. 195; 2003, c. 311; 2010, cc. 497, 777, 832; 2012, c. 739; 2014, c. 805.