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§ 18.2-429 Causing a telephone, digital pager, or other device to ring or signal with intent to annoy; emergency communications; penalties

A. Any person who, with or without intent to communicate but with intent to annoy any other person, causes any telephone or digital pager, not his own, to ring or to otherwise signal, and any person who permits or condones the use of any telephone under his control for such purpose, is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent conviction under this subsection is punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor if such prior conviction occurred before the date of the offense charged.

B. Any person who, with or without intent to communicate but with intent to annoy, harass, hinder, or delay emergency personnel in the performance of their duties as such, causes a telephone to ring or other device to signal, which is owned or leased for the purpose of receiving communications by a public or private entity providing fire, police, or emergency medical services, and any person who knowingly permits the use of a telephone or other device under his control for such purpose, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

History

The record of this law’s original creation isn’t available online. It has been modified 7 times. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1962, chapter 495; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15; in 1989, chapter 59; in 1995, chapters 410, 478, and 791; in 2012, chapter 133; in 2015, chapters 502 and 503; in 2023, chapters 201 and 202.

Code 1950, § 18.1-238.2; 1962, c. 495; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1989, c. 59; 1995, cc. 410, 478, 791; 2012, c. 133; 2015, cc. 502, 503; 2023, cc. 201, 202.

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