Code of Virginia
Title 18.2. Crimes and Offenses Generally
Title 18.2. Crimes and Offenses Generally
7/16/2026
Title 18.2. Crimes and Offenses Generally (2026 Updates)
- Chapter 1. In General
- Article 3. Classification of Criminal Offenses and Punishment Therefor
- § 18.2-16.1
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Common-law crime of suicide abolished
- Chapter 4. Crimes Against the Person
- Article 2.1. Crimes by Gangs
- § 18.2-46.1
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Definitions
- § 18.2-46.1
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Definitions.
- Article 4. Assaults and Bodily Woundings
- § 18.2-57
- Assault and battery; penalty
- Article 6. Extortion and Other Threats
- § 18.2-59.1
- Sexual extortion; penalty
- § 18.2-60.3
- Stalking; penalty
- Chapter 5. Crimes Against Property
- Article 8. Offenses Relating to Railroads and Other Utilities
- § 18.2-160.2
- Trespassing on public transportation or emergency vehicle; penalty
- § 18.2-162
- Damage or trespass to public services or utilities or critical infrastructure; penalties
- Chapter 6. Crimes Involving Fraud
- Article 2. Impersonation
- § 18.2-174
- Impersonating law-enforcement officer; penalties
- § 18.2-174.2
- Impersonating any local, town, city, or county elected official; penalty
- Article 6. Offenses Relating to Credit Cards and Gift Cards
- § 18.2-191
- Definitions
- § 18.2-192
- Credit card or gift card theft; penalty
- § 18.2-193
- Credit card and gift card forgery; penalty
- § 18.2-195
- Credit card or gift card fraud; conspiracy; penalties
- § 18.2-197
- Criminally receiving goods and services fraudulently obtained; penalty
- § 18.2-198
- Obtaining airline, railroad, steamship, etc., ticket at discount price
- § 18.2-198.1
- Venue
- Article 10. Cigarette Delivery Sale Requirements
- § 18.2-246.8
- (Effective October 1, 2026) Age verification requirements
- § 18.2-246.8
- (Effective until October 1, 2026) Age verification requirements
- Chapter 7. Crimes Involving Health and Safety
- Article 1. Drugs
- § 18.2-247
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Use of terms "controlled substances," "Schedules I, II, III, IV, V, and VI," "imitation controlled substance," and "counterfeit controlled substance" in Title 18.2
- § 18.2-247
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Use of terms "controlled substances," "marijuana," "Schedules I, II, III, IV, V, and VI," "imitation controlled substance," and "counterfeit controlled substance" in Title 18.2.
- § 18.2-248
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance prohibited; penalties
- § 18.2-248
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance prohibited; penalties.
- § 18.2-248.01
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Transporting controlled substances into the Commonwealth; penalty.
- § 18.2-248.01
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Transporting controlled substances into the Commonwealth; penalty
- § 18.2-248.1
- (Repeal effective July 1, 2027) Penalties for sale, gift, distribution or possession with intent to sell, give or distribute marijuana.
- § 18.2-251
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Persons charged with first offense may be placed on probation; conditions; substance abuse screening, assessment treatment and education programs or services; drug tests; costs and fees; violations; discharge
- § 18.2-251
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Persons charged with first offense may be placed on probation; conditions; substance abuse screening, assessment treatment and education programs or services; drug tests; costs and fees; violations; discharge.
- § 18.2-251.03
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Arrest and prosecution when experiencing or reporting an overdose or act of sexual violence
- § 18.2-251.03
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Arrest and prosecution when experiencing or reporting an overdose or act of sexual violence.
- § 18.2-251.1
- (Repeal effective July 1, 2027) Possession or distribution of marijuana for medical purposes permitted.
- § 18.2-251.1:1
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Possession or distribution of cannabis oil; public schools
- § 18.2-251.1:1
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Possession or distribution of cannabis oil; public schools.
- § 18.2-251.1:2
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Possession or distribution of medical cannabis; hospitals, nursing homes, and certified nursing facilities; hospice and hospice facilities; assisted living facilities
- § 18.2-251.1:2
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Possession or distribution of medical cannabis; hospitals, nursing homes, and certified nursing facilities; hospice and hospice facilities; assisted living facilities.
- § 18.2-251.1:3
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Possession or distribution of cannabis oil, or industrial hemp; laboratories; Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Department of Law employees
- § 18.2-251.1:3
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Possession or distribution of cannabis oil, or industrial hemp; laboratories; Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Department of Law employees.
- § 18.2-251.5
- Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing medetomidine or xylazine; penalties
- § 18.2-251.6
- Selling, giving, or distributing tianeptine product; civil penalty
- § 18.2-252
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Suspended sentence conditioned upon substance abuse screening, assessment, testing, and treatment or education
- § 18.2-252
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Suspended sentence conditioned upon substance abuse screening, assessment, testing, and treatment or education.
- § 18.2-255
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Distribution of certain drugs to persons under 18 prohibited; penalty
- § 18.2-255
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Distribution of certain drugs to persons under 18 prohibited; penalty.
- § 18.2-255.1
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Distribution, sale or display of printed material advertising instruments for use in administering marijuana or controlled substances to minors; penalty.
- § 18.2-255.1
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Distribution, sale or display of printed material advertising instruments for use in administering controlled substances to minors; penalty
- § 18.2-255.2
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Prohibiting the sale or manufacture of drugs on or near certain properties; penalty
- § 18.2-255.2
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Prohibiting the sale or manufacture of drugs on or near certain properties; penalty.
- § 18.2-258
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Certain premises deemed common nuisance; penalty
- § 18.2-258
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Certain premises deemed common nuisance; penalty.
- § 18.2-258.02
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Maintaining a fortified drug house; penalty
- § 18.2-258.02
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Maintaining a fortified drug house; penalty.
- § 18.2-258.1
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Obtaining drugs, procuring administration of controlled substances, etc., by fraud, deceit or forgery
- § 18.2-258.1
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Obtaining drugs, procuring administration of controlled substances, etc., by fraud, deceit or forgery.
- § 18.2-264
- Inhaling drugs or other noxious chemical substances or causing, etc. others to do so prohibited; sale, distribution, etc. of nitrous oxide prohibited; penalties
- Article 1.1. Drug Paraphernalia
- § 18.2-265.1
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Definition
- § 18.2-265.1
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Definition.
- § 18.2-265.2
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Evidence to be considered in cases under this article
- § 18.2-265.2
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Evidence to be considered in cases under this article.
- § 18.2-265.3
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Penalties for sale, etc., of drug paraphernalia
- § 18.2-265.3
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Penalties for sale, etc., of drug paraphernalia.
- Article 2. Driving Motor Vehicle, Etc., While Intoxicated
- § 18.2-266.1
- Persons younger than 21 years of age driving after illegally consuming alcohol; penalty
- § 18.2-268.3
- Refusal of tests; penalties; procedures
- § 18.2-270.1
- Ignition interlock systems; penalty
- § 18.2-270.2
- Repealed
- § 18.2-271
- Forfeiture of driver's license for driving while intoxicated
- § 18.2-271.1
- Probation, education, and rehabilitation of person charged or convicted; person convicted under law of another state or federal law
- § 18.2-271.2
- Repealed
- § 18.2-271.4
- Repealed
- § 18.2-271.5
- Restricted permits to operate a motor vehicle; ignition interlock systems
- Article 2.1. Commission on the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (Vasap)
- § 18.2-273.1
- Definitions
- § 18.2-273.2
- Commission on VASAP; purpose; membership; terms; meetings; staffing; compensation and expenses; chair's executive summary
- § 18.2-273.3
- Additional powers and duties of the Commission
- § 18.2-273.4
- Local alcohol safety action programs
- § 18.2-273.5
- Powers and duties of the local independent policy board
- § 18.2-273.6
- (Effective January 1, 2028) Fiscal agent locality
- § 18.2-273.7
- Procedure when suspension, revocation, etc., of certification of local ASAP
- § 18.2-273.8
- Requirements of employees of local ASAPs
- § 18.2-273.9
- Ignition interlock system and remote alcohol monitoring device; certification by Commission on VASAP; regulations; sale or lease; monitoring use; reports; penalty
- Article 4. Dangerous Use of Firearms or Other Weapons
- § 18.2-283.2
- Carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square and the surrounding area, into a building owned or leased by the Commonwealth, etc.; penalty
- § 18.2-283.3
- Possession of a weapon in a hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services prohibited; penalty
- § 18.2-287.2
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Wearing of body armor while committing a crime; penalty
- § 18.2-287.2
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Wearing of body armor while committing a crime; penalty.
- § 18.2-287.4
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Carrying loaded firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty
- § 18.2-287.4
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Carrying loaded firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty.
- § 18.2-287.4:1
- Importation, sale, manufacture, etc., of assault firearms prohibited; penalty
- Article 6.1. Concealed Weapons and Concealed Handgun Permits
- § 18.2-308.014
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Reciprocity
- § 18.2-308.014
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity
- § 18.2-308.02
- Application for a concealed handgun permit; Virginia resident or domiciliary
- § 18.2-308.09
- Disqualifications for a concealed handgun permit
- Article 7. Other Illegal Weapons
- § 18.2-308.1:4
- Purchase or transportation of firearm by persons subject to protective orders; penalties
- § 18.2-308.1:8
- Purchase, possession, or transportation of firearm following an assault and battery of a family or household member; penalty
- § 18.2-308.1:9
- Purchase, possession, or transportation of firearm following conviction for importation, sale, possession, etc., of assault firearm; penalty
- § 18.2-308.2
- Possession or transportation of firearms, firearms ammunition, stun weapons, explosives or concealed weapons by convicted felons; penalties; petition for restoration order; when issued
- § 18.2-308.2:1
- Prohibiting the selling, etc., of firearms to certain persons; penalties
- § 18.2-308.2:2
- Criminal history record information check required for the transfer of certain firearms
- § 18.2-308.2:3
- Criminal background check required for employees of a gun dealer to transfer firearms; exemptions; penalties
- § 18.2-308.2:5
- Criminal history record information check required to sell firearm; penalties
- § 18.2-308.4
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Possession of firearms while in possession of certain substances
- § 18.2-308.4
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Possession of firearms while in possession of certain substances.
- § 18.2-308.5
- Manufacture, assembly, importation, etc., of plastic or other nondetectable firearm prohibited; penalty
- § 18.2-308.5:2
- (Effective January 1, 2027) Prohibition on unfinished frames or receivers and unserialized firearms; penalties
- § 18.2-308.7
- Possession, transportation, or purchase of certain firearms by certain persons; penalty
- § 18.2-308.7:1
- Storage of firearms; penalty
- § 18.2-308.7:2
- Firearm in unattended motor vehicle; penalty
- § 18.2-309.1
- Sale, transfer, etc., of certain firearms magazines prohibited; penalty
- Chapter 8. Crimes Involving Morals and Decency
- Article 1.1:1. Charitable Gaming
- § 18.2-340.16
- Definitions
- § 18.2-340.19
- Regulations of the Department
- § 18.2-340.20
- Denial, suspension, or revocation of permit; hearings and appeals
- § 18.2-340.28:2
- Conduct of Texas Hold'em poker tournaments by qualified organizations; limitation of operator fee; conditions
- Article 3. Commercial Sex Trafficking, Prostitution, Etc
- § 18.2-361.1
- Victims of sex trafficking; affirmative defense; immunity for minors
- Article 4. Family Offenses; Crimes Against Children, Etc
- § 18.2-370.2
- Sex offenses prohibiting proximity to children; penalty
- § 18.2-371
- Causing or encouraging acts rendering children delinquent, abused, etc.; penalty; abandoned infant
- § 18.2-371.1
- Abuse and neglect of children; penalties; abandoned infant
- § 18.2-371.2
- (Effective until October 1, 2026) Prohibiting purchase or possession of retail tobacco products and hemp products intended for smoking by a person under 21 years of age or sale of retail tobacco products and hemp products intended for smoking to persons under 21 years of age; civil penalties
- § 18.2-371.2
- (Effective October 1, 2026) Prohibiting sale or distribution, etc. of tobacco and hemp products intended for smoking by persons under 21 years of age; civil penalties
- § 18.2-371.2:1
- (Effective until October 1, 2026) Prohibiting possession of retail tobacco products and hemp products intended for smoking by a person younger than 21 years of age; seizure
- § 18.2-371.2:1
- (Effective October 1, 2026) Prohibiting possession of hemp products intended for smoking by a person younger than 21 years of age; seizure
- Article 5. Obscenity and Related Offenses
- § 18.2-374.4
- Display of obscene material, child pornography, or grooming video or materials to a child unlawful; penalty
- § 18.2-386.1
- Unlawful creation of image of another; penalty
- Article 6. Prohibited Sales and Loans to Juveniles
- § 18.2-391
- (Effective until October 1, 2026) Unlawful acts; penalties
- § 18.2-391
- (Effective October 1, 2026) Unlawful acts; penalties
- Chapter 9. Crimes Against Peace and Order
- Article 1. Riot and Unlawful Assembly
- § 18.2-404.1
- Obstructing reproductive health care facility; penalties
- Article 5. Activities Tending to Cause Violence
- § 18.2-422
- Prohibition of wearing of masks in certain places; exceptions; penalty
- Chapter 10. Crimes Against the Administration of Justice
- Article 5. Contempt of Court
- § 18.2-456
- Cases in which courts and judges may punish summarily for contempt
- Article 7. Escape of, Communications with and Deliveries to Prisoners
- § 18.2-474.1
- (Effective July 1, 2027) Delivery of drugs, firearms, explosives, etc., to prisoners or committed persons
- § 18.2-474.1
- (Effective until July 1, 2027) Delivery of drugs, firearms, explosives, etc., to prisoners or committed persons.
- Chapter 13. Virginia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act
- § 18.2-516
- Prohibition of illegal money transmitting
