{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-146.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-146.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-146.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-146.html"}],"law_id":86932,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86932,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-146","catch_line":"Breaking, injuring, defacing, destroying, or preventing the operation of vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel; penalties","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-166; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 2022, cc. 664, 665; 2023, cc. 90, 91.","full_text":"Any person who shall individually or in association with one or more others willfully break, injure, tamper with, or remove any part or parts of any vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel for the purpose of injuring, defacing, or destroying said vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel, or temporarily or permanently preventing its useful operation, or for any purpose against the will or without the consent of the owner of such vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel, or who shall in any other manner willfully or maliciously interfere with or prevent the running or operation of such vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, unless such violation of this section involves the breaking, injuring, tampering with, or removal of a catalytic converter or the parts thereof, then he is guilty of a Class 6 felony. A prosecution or proceeding for a felony under this section is a bar to a prosecution or proceeding under \u00a7 18.2-137 for the same act.\n\t\tA judge or jury may make a permissive inference that a person who is in possession of a catalytic converter that has been removed from a motor vehicle to have obtained the catalytic converter in violation of this section unless the person is (i) an authorized agent or employee acting in the performance of his official duties for a motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle garage or repair shop, or salvage yard that is licensed or registered by the Commonwealth; (ii) a scrap metal purchaser that has adhered to the compliance provisions of subdivisions B 1 or 2 of \u00a7 59.1-136.3; or (iii) a person who possesses vehicle registration documentation indicating that the catalytic converter in the person’s possession is the result of a replacement of a catalytic converter from a vehicle registered in that person’s name.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":311248,"text":"Any person who shall individually or in association with one or more others willfully break, injure, tamper with, or remove any part or parts of any vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel for the purpose of injuring, defacing, or destroying said vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel, or temporarily or permanently preventing its useful operation, or for any purpose against the will or without the consent of the owner of such vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel, or who shall in any other manner willfully or maliciously interfere with or prevent the running or operation of such vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, unless such violation of this section involves the breaking, injuring, tampering with, or removal of a catalytic converter or the parts thereof, then he is guilty of a Class 6 felony. A prosecution or proceeding for a felony under this section is a bar to a prosecution or proceeding under \u00a7 18.2-137 for the same act.\n\t\tA judge or jury may make a permissive inference that a person who is in possession of a catalytic converter that has been removed from a motor vehicle to have obtained the catalytic converter in violation of this section unless the person is (i) an authorized agent or employee acting in the performance of his official duties for a motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle garage or repair shop, or salvage yard that is licensed or registered by the Commonwealth; (ii) a scrap metal purchaser that has adhered to the compliance provisions of subdivisions B 1 or 2 of \u00a7 59.1-136.3; or (iii) a person who possesses vehicle registration documentation indicating that the catalytic converter in the person’s possession is the result of a replacement of a catalytic converter from a vehicle registered in that person’s name.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15189,"edition_id":1,"name":"Damage to and Tampering With Property","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13243,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:50","permalink":{"id":165689,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15189,"identifier":"7","token":"18.2\/5\/7","url":"\/18.2\/5\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13243,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Against Property","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","permalink":{"id":165299,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13243,"identifier":"5","token":"18.2\/5","url":"\/18.2\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":78164,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-144","catch_line":"Maiming, killing or poisoning animals, fowl, etc","url":"\/18.2-144\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-144","metadata":false},{"id":60313,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-144.1","catch_line":"Prohibition against killing or injuring police animals; penalty","url":"\/18.2-144.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-144.1","metadata":false},{"id":72037,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-144.2","catch_line":"Prohibition against making a false representation of ownership of an animal to a public or private animal shelter; penalty","url":"\/18.2-144.2\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-144.2","metadata":false},{"id":77132,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-145","catch_line":"Protection of homing pigeons","url":"\/18.2-145\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-145","metadata":false},{"id":75547,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-145.1","catch_line":"Damaging or destroying research farm product; penalty; restitution","url":"\/18.2-145.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-145.1","metadata":false},{"id":86932,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-146","catch_line":"Breaking, injuring, defacing, destroying, or preventing the operation of vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel; penalties","url":"\/18.2-146\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-146","metadata":false},{"id":63489,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-146.1","catch_line":"Unlawful purchase or sale of a catalytic converter from a motor vehicle exhaust system that has been detached from a motor vehicle; penalty","url":"\/18.2-146.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-146.1","metadata":false},{"id":72149,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-146.2","catch_line":"Interference with commercial fishing vessels or activity; penalty","url":"\/18.2-146.2\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-146.2","metadata":false},{"id":85279,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-147","catch_line":"Entering or setting in motion, vehicle, aircraft, boat, locomotive or rolling stock of railroad; exceptions","url":"\/18.2-147\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-147","metadata":false},{"id":63279,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-147.1","catch_line":"Breaking and entering into railroad cars, motortrucks, aircraft, etc., or pipeline systems","url":"\/18.2-147.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-147.1","metadata":false},{"id":59751,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-147.2","catch_line":"Devices for puncturing motor vehicle tires","url":"\/18.2-147.2\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-147.2","metadata":false},{"id":57844,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-148","catch_line":"Bona fide repossession under lien","url":"\/18.2-148\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-148","metadata":false},{"id":72256,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-149","catch_line":"Injury to hired animal, aircraft, vehicle or boat","url":"\/18.2-149\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-149","metadata":false},{"id":60012,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-150","catch_line":"Willfully destroying vessel, etc","url":"\/18.2-150\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-150","metadata":false},{"id":80083,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-151","catch_line":"Opening or carrying away pumps, etc., used for dispensing gasoline, etc","url":"\/18.2-151\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-151","metadata":false},{"id":63718,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-151.1","catch_line":"Injuring, destroying, removing, or tampering with firefighting equipment; penalty","url":"\/18.2-151.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-151.1","metadata":false},{"id":66527,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-152","catch_line":"Stealing from or tampering with parking meter, vending machine, pay telephone, etc","url":"\/18.2-152\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-152","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":75547,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-145.1","catch_line":"Damaging or destroying research farm product; penalty; restitution","url":"\/18.2-145.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-145.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":63489,"structure_id":15189,"section_number":"18.2-146.1","catch_line":"Unlawful purchase or sale of a catalytic converter from a motor vehicle exhaust system that has been detached from a motor vehicle; penalty","url":"\/18.2-146.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-146.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-146\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1960, chapter 358; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15; in 2022, chapters 664<\/a> and 665<\/a>; in 2023, chapters 90<\/a> and 91<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":62824,"section_number":"16.1-278.8","catch_line":"Delinquent juveniles","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-278.8\/"},{"id":78050,"section_number":"18.2-121.3","catch_line":"Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-121.3\/"},{"id":57844,"section_number":"18.2-148","catch_line":"Bona fide repossession under lien","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-148\/"},{"id":86583,"section_number":"18.2-46.1","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-46.1\/"},{"id":58970,"section_number":"19.2-327.15","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-327.15\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":83724,"section_number":"18.2-137","catch_line":"Injuring, etc., any property, monument, etc","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-137\/"},{"id":86130,"section_number":"59.1-136.3","catch_line":"Purchases of nonferrous scrap, metal articles, and proprietary articles","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-136.3\/"}],"permalink":{"id":165711,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86932,"identifier":"18.2-146","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-146","url":"\/18.2-146\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-146\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7\/18.2-146","dublin_core":{"Title":"Breaking, injuring, defacing, destroying, or preventing the operation of vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel; penalties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-146","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Any person who shall individually or in association with one or more others willfully break, injure, tamper with, or remove any part or parts of any vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel for the purpose of injuring, defacing, or destroying said vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel, or temporarily or permanently preventing its useful operation, or for any purpose against the will or without the consent of the owner of such vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel, or who shall in any other manner willfully or maliciously interfere with or prevent the running or operation of such vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>, unless such violation of this section involves the breaking, injuring, tampering with, or removal of a catalytic converter or the parts thereof, then he is guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>. A prosecution<\/span> or proceeding for a felony<\/span> under this section is a bar to a prosecution<\/span> or proceeding under \u00a7 18.2-137<\/a> for the same act.\n\t\tA judge<\/span> or jury<\/span> may make a permissive inference that a person who is in possession<\/span> of a catalytic converter that has been removed from a motor vehicle to have obtained the catalytic converter in violation of this section unless the person is (i) an authorized agent or employee acting in the performance of his official duties for a motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle garage or repair shop, or salvage yard that is licensed or registered by the Commonwealth; (ii) a scrap metal purchaser that has adhered to the compliance provisions of subdivisions B 1 or 2 of \u00a7 59.1-136.3<\/a>; or (iii) a person who possesses vehicle registration documentation indicating that the catalytic converter in the person’s possession<\/span> is the result of a replacement of a catalytic converter from a vehicle registered in that person’s name.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nBREAKING, INJURING, DEFACING, DESTROYING, OR PREVENTING THE OPERATION OF\nVEHICLE, AIRCRAFT, BOAT, OR VESSEL; PENALTIES (\u00a7 18.2-146)\n\nAny person who shall individually or in association with one or more others\nwillfully break, injure, tamper with, or remove any part or parts of any\nvehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel for the purpose of injuring, defacing, or\ndestroying said vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel, or temporarily or\npermanently preventing its useful operation, or for any purpose against the will\nor without the consent of the owner of such vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel,\nor who shall in any other manner willfully or maliciously interfere with or\nprevent the running or operation of such vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel, is\nguilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, unless such violation of this section involves\nthe breaking, injuring, tampering with, or removal of a catalytic converter or\nthe parts thereof, then he is guilty of a Class 6 felony. A prosecution or\nproceeding for a felony under this section is a bar to a prosecution or\nproceeding under \u00a7 18.2-137 for the same act.\n\t\tA judge or jury may make a permissive inference that a person who is in\npossession of a catalytic converter that has been removed from a motor vehicle\nto have obtained the catalytic converter in violation of this section unless the\nperson is (i) an authorized agent or employee acting in the performance of his\nofficial duties for a motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle garage or repair shop,\nor salvage yard that is licensed or registered by the Commonwealth; (ii) a scrap\nmetal purchaser that has adhered to the compliance provisions of subdivisions B\n1 or 2 of \u00a7 59.1-136.3; or (iii) a person who possesses vehicle registration\ndocumentation indicating that the catalytic converter in the person’s\npossession is the result of a replacement of a catalytic converter from a\nvehicle registered in that person’s name.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-166; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 2022, cc. 664,\n665; 2023, cc. 90, 91.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}