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Ex. DUT-WV-005 Standing duty Primary source read

W. Va. Code § 16-2-15

Obstructing local health officers and others in the enforcement of public health laws; other violations; penalties

West Virginia Legislature (codified statute) · West Virginia (State)

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The COVID Project

The record

Jurisdiction
West Virginia
Level
State
Authority
W. Va. Code § 16-2-15
Issued
2026-09-29 Sept. 29, 2026
Effective
In force throughout 2020 Q2 to 2021 Q3 (read as 2026-09-29)
End
standing
In force
Standing since Sept. 29, 2026 (a statutory duty; in force throughout the six quarters)
Quarters
2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3
Limitation types
Standing duty
Addressees
  • persons generally, including business owners and operators subject to a local health order
Character
order penalty
Collection
Standing duties: West Virginia DUT-WV

Operative words

Any person who willfully obstructs any local health officer... shall be punished by a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $500. Any person who willfully violates any of the provisions of this article, or any of the rules or orders adopted or issued pursuant to the provisions,... is guilty of a misdemeanor and... shall be punished by a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $1,000.

Penalty

Misdemeanor: $50 to $500 for willful obstruction; $200 to $1,000 for willful violation of the article or of any rule or order under it

What it required

Obedience by every person to the local boards' rules and orders and non-obstruction of health officers, sanitarians and 'any other person charged with the enforcement of any public health law,' with magistrates given concurrent jurisdiction.

Retrieval note

Recited verbatim in the Monongalia County Health Department order of July 14, 2020: 'Any person who willfully obstructs a local health officer... is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $500. WV Code 16-2-15' (Ex. WV-082).

A record of The COVID Project. The instrument's text is the source's; the summary fields are The COVID Project's reading of it. Not legal advice.