user
Accomplished Advocate
Yeah, boy, did YOU open a can of worms with this one!
As you read, there are two very opposite views on this, and in fact, I believe your observation of the stark difference between the Texas sign definition, and the fact that Virginia has NOTHING in the code about such signs is a clear indication that supports the "not force of law" viewpoint.
But we have agreed to disagree and still be friends... awaiting that court case that will never come to show which view is... well, which view matches the judge at the time.
TFred
ETA: Of course few of us are lawyers, and none of us give legal advice over the internet, but I suspect if you ignore policy signs (don't look for them, don't ask for them, don't stop to read them while in view of a security camera), be polite, leave if asked, and answer every question with "what sign?" you will probably be fairly safe. JMHO, of course.
I feel constrained to point out that the overwhelming bulk of Virginia law is not in the Code of Virginia. See Va. Code sxn 1-200 and 1-201 (and keep in mind that the fourth year of the reign of James I was 1607, the date of the founding of Jamestown). Virginia law is quite clear (again, don't rely on the Code for this) that signage does have the force of law. But it doesn't make entering private property posted with a "gunbusters" sign while carrying any kind of a "firearms offense". When you violate the terms that the person having an interest in the real property states as conditions upon which you are permitted to enter his property, that's trespassing, both civilly and, if communicated by a sign posted by the person in charge of the property, criminally.
I vote with my dollars. (Oh, and by the way, that principle doesn't stop with stores having objectionable signage. I try very hard not to do business with anyone located in Maryland, DC, Massachussetts, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Eastern Pennsylvania, California, or Hawaii.)
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