{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-152.5_1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-152.5_1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-152.5_1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-152.5_1.html"}],"law_id":82685,"edition_id":1,"section_id":82685,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.5:1","catch_line":"Using a computer to gather identifying information; penalties","history":"2005, cc. 747, 760, 761, 827, 837.","full_text":"A\n\nIt is unlawful for any person, other than a law-enforcement officer, as defined in &#xA7; 9.1-101, and acting in the performance of his official duties, to use a computer to obtain, access, or record, through the use of material artifice, trickery or deception, any identifying information, as defined in clauses (iii) through (xiii) of subsection C of &#xA7; 18.2-186.3. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 6 felony.B\n\nAny person who violates this section and sells or distributes such information to another is guilty of a Class 5 felony.C\n\nAny person who violates this section and uses such information in the commission of another crime is guilty of a Class 5 felony.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":296199,"text":"It is unlawful for any person, other than a law-enforcement officer, as defined in &#xA7; 9.1-101, and acting in the performance of his official duties, to use a computer to obtain, access, or record, through the use of material artifice, trickery or deception, any identifying information, as defined in clauses (iii) through (xiii) of subsection C of &#xA7; 18.2-186.3. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 6 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":296200,"text":"Any person who violates this section and sells or distributes such information to another is guilty of a Class 5 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":296201,"text":"Any person who violates this section and uses such information in the commission of another crime is guilty of a Class 5 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13888,"edition_id":1,"name":"Computer Crimes","identifier":"7.1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13243,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:11","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:11","permalink":{"id":165759,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13888,"identifier":"7.1","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1","url":"\/18.2\/5\/7.1\/","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":61215,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.1","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/18.2-152.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.1","metadata":false},{"id":67728,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.11","catch_line":"Article not exclusive","url":"\/18.2-152.11\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.11","metadata":false},{"id":67574,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.12","catch_line":"Civil relief; damages","url":"\/18.2-152.12\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.12","metadata":false},{"id":61553,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.13","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-152.13\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.13","metadata":false},{"id":75179,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.14","catch_line":"Computer as instrument of forgery","url":"\/18.2-152.14\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.14","metadata":false},{"id":61998,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.15","catch_line":"Encryption used in criminal activity","url":"\/18.2-152.15\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.15","metadata":false},{"id":69363,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.16","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-152.16\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.16","metadata":false},{"id":54922,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.2","catch_line":"Definitions; computer crimes","url":"\/18.2-152.2\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.2","metadata":false},{"id":55403,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.3","catch_line":"Computer fraud; penalty","url":"\/18.2-152.3\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.3","metadata":false},{"id":65981,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.3:1","catch_line":"Transmission of unsolicited commercial electronic mail (spam); penalty","url":"\/18.2-152.3_1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.3_1","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Jaynes v. Com.","case_number":"Record 062388.","citation":"666 S.E.2d 303","date":"2008-09-12","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058457\/jaynes-v-com\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 666 S.E.2d 303 (2008) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Jaynes v. Commonwealth","case_number":"Record 062388.","citation":"662 S.E.2d 502","date":"2008-05-19","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1208176\/jaynes-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 662 S.E.2d 502 (2008) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"2":{"name":"Jaynes v. Com.","case_number":"Record 062388.","citation":"657 S.E.2d 478","date":"2008-02-29","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1374657\/jaynes-v-com\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 657 S.E.2d 478 (2008) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"Jaynes v. Commonwealth","case_number":"1054054","citation":"634 S.E.2d 357","date":"2006-09-05","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1063170\/jaynes-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 634 S.E.2d 357 (2006) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"4":{"name":"Maxient, LLC v. Symplicity Corp.","case_number":"Civil Action No. 1:14-cv-1184 (AJT\/IDD)","citation":"63 F. Supp. 3d 592","date":"2014-10-23","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7310209\/maxient-llc-v-symplicity-corp\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. MEMORANDUM OPINION .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"5":{"name":"Aitken v. Communications Workers of America","case_number":"1:06cv1161","citation":"496 F. Supp. 2d 653","date":"2007-07-12","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2350492\/aitken-v-communications-workers-of-america\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 496 F.Supp.2d 653 (2007) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"}}}},{"id":86767,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.4","catch_line":"Computer trespass; penalty","url":"\/18.2-152.4\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.4","metadata":false},{"id":55981,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.5","catch_line":"Computer invasion of privacy; penalties","url":"\/18.2-152.5\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.5","metadata":false},{"id":82685,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.5:1","catch_line":"Using a computer to gather identifying information; penalties","url":"\/18.2-152.5_1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.5_1","metadata":false},{"id":61696,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.6","catch_line":"Theft of computer services; penalties","url":"\/18.2-152.6\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.6","metadata":false},{"id":81717,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.7","catch_line":"Personal trespass by computer; penalty","url":"\/18.2-152.7\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.7","metadata":false},{"id":66409,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.7:1","catch_line":"Harassment by computer; penalty","url":"\/18.2-152.7_1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.7_1","metadata":false},{"id":71533,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.7:2","catch_line":"Using computer to commit a scheme involving false representations; penalty","url":"\/18.2-152.7_2\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.7_2","metadata":false},{"id":86652,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.8","catch_line":"Property capable of embezzlement","url":"\/18.2-152.8\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.8","metadata":false},{"id":55168,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.9","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-152.9\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":55981,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.5","catch_line":"Computer invasion of privacy; penalties","url":"\/18.2-152.5\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.5","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":61696,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.6","catch_line":"Theft of computer services; penalties","url":"\/18.2-152.6\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.6","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-152.5:1\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 2005. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0747\">747<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0760\">760<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0761\">761<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0827\">827<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0837\">837<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":73403,"section_number":"18.2-186.3","catch_line":"Identity theft; penalty; restitution; victim assistance","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-186.3\/"},{"id":73488,"section_number":"9.1-101","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-101\/"}],"permalink":{"id":165809,"object_type":"law","relational_id":82685,"identifier":"18.2-152.5:1","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.5_1","url":"\/18.2-152.5_1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-152.5_1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.5_1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Using a computer to gather identifying information; penalties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-152.5:1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> It is unlawful for any <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span>, other than a <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>-enforcement officer, as defined in &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"(Effective July 1, 2026) Definitions\" href=\"\/9.1-101\/\">9.1-101<\/a>, and acting in the performance of his official duties, to use a <span class=\"dictionary\">computer<\/span> to obtain, access, or record, through the use of <span class=\"dictionary\">material<\/span> artifice, trickery or deception, any identifying information, as defined in clauses (iii) through (xiii) of subsection C of &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Identity theft; penalty; restitution; victim assistance\" href=\"\/18.2-186.3\/\">18.2-186.3<\/a>. Any <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> who violates this section is guilty of a Class 6 <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-296199\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-152.5_1\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> Any <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> who violates this section and sells or distributes such information to another is guilty of a Class 5 <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-296200\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-152.5_1\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"C\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">C.<\/span> Any <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> who violates this section and uses such information in the commission of another <span class=\"dictionary\">crime<\/span> is guilty of a Class 5 <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-296201\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-152.5_1\/#C\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nUSING A COMPUTER TO GATHER IDENTIFYING INFORMATION; PENALTIES (\u00a7 18.2-152.5:1)\n\nA. It is unlawful for any person, other than a law-enforcement officer, as\ndefined in &#xA7; 9.1-101, and acting in the performance of his official duties,\nto use a computer to obtain, access, or record, through the use of material\nartifice, trickery or deception, any identifying information, as defined in\nclauses (iii) through (xiii) of subsection C of &#xA7; 18.2-186.3. Any person\nwho violates this section is guilty of a Class 6 felony.\n\nB. Any person who violates this section and sells or distributes such\ninformation to another is guilty of a Class 5 felony.\n\nC. Any person who violates this section and uses such information in the\ncommission of another crime is guilty of a Class 5 felony.\n\nHISTORY: 2005, cc. 747, 760, 761, 827, 837.","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}}