Judge Payne Halts Virginia Officer Mask Ban Before July 1 Start as DOJ Cites Supremacy Clause
Updated
Updated · WTOP · Jul 1
Judge Payne Halts Virginia Officer Mask Ban Before July 1 Start as DOJ Cites Supremacy Clause
3 articles · Updated · WTOP · Jul 1
Summary
A federal injunction paused Virginia’s new ban on on-duty face coverings for officers just as the law was set to take effect July 1.
Judge Robert Payne sided with the Justice Department’s argument that Virginia cannot regulate federal agencies such as ICE, which says masks can protect agents from doxing and physical harm.
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones’ office said it strongly disagrees, while the underlying law still allows masks for disease, toxin exposure and some SWAT operations.
Separate July 1 Virginia laws still moved ahead, including a Clean Slate measure expected to automatically seal 100,000 misdemeanor records and a first-in-the-nation option to require speed-limiting devices for some 100-mph drivers.