HD27 - Report of the Joint Subcommittee Studying the Legal Status of Fuller Road (Quantico, Virginia)

  • Published: 1983
  • Author: Joint Subcommittee Studying the Legal Status of Fuller Road (Quantico, Virginia)
  • Enabling Authority: House Joint Resolution 89 (Regular Session, 1982)

Executive Summary:
INTRODUCTION

By resolution sponsored by Delegate Floyd C. Bagley and passed during the 1982 Session, the General Assembly called for a general study of the legal status of Fuller Road (House Joint Resolution 89 - Appendix A). Specifically, the resolution called for the creation of a joint subcommittee to study the ownership and jurisdictional status of the road in conjunction with a study of the rights to use of the road vis-a-vis the U.S. Marine Corps and the residents of the town of Quantico, Virginia. Fuller Road is the only access road to the town.

The Chairman of the House Committee for Courts of Justice appointed Delegates Axselle, Moncure, Murphy and Rust to the subcommittee. Senators Bateman, Gartlan and E. M. Holland were appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice. Delegate Axselle was elected chairman of the subcommittee; Senator Gartlan was elected vice chairman.

Aware that the issues under study were of major importance to the residents of the town of Quantico, the subcommittee held their first meeting as a public hearing in Quantico on October 14, 1982. Various members of the public, including a number of residents of the town and representatives of the Marine Corps, addressed the subcommittee to express their views. A subsequent meeting was held in Richmond on December 3, 1982.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Following their investigation into the legal status of Fuller Road and possible solutions to the problems surrounding the placement of the marine guard checkpoint, the joint subcommittee makes the following findings and recommendations:

1. That an apparent fee simple title to the property comprising the U.S. Marine Corps Base at Quantico, Va., which now includes Fuller Road, was obtained by the United States by virtue of Federal Proclamation No. 1493, subject only to the public's right to use the road;

2. That exclusive jurisdiction over the road was apparently ceded to the United States by virtue of Chapter 382 of the 1918 Acts of Assembly subject only to limited exceptions regarding service of process;

3. That persons using Fuller Road as the only means of egress and ingress to the town of Quantico seek to do so freely and without unnecessary and unreasonable restraints imposed upon their travel by the U.S. Marine Corps;

4. That a proper balance must be reached between the interests of the U.S. Marine Corps in providing a secure military installation and the rights of the users of Fuller Road to be free from unreasonable restraints; and

5. That it appears the General Assembly is without jurisdiction over Fuller Road and therefore, this balance must be reached between the United States government and the town of Quantico upon a recognition of the rights and interests of each.