{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-187.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-187.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-187.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-187.2.html"}],"law_id":72422,"edition_id":1,"section_id":72422,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-187.2","catch_line":"Audiovisual recording of motion pictures unlawful; penalty","history":"2004, c. 759.","full_text":"A\n\nIt shall be unlawful for any person to operate an audiovisual recording function of a device in a commercial theater, excluding the lobby and other common areas, to record a motion picture or any portion thereof without the consent of the owner or lessee of the theater. Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.B\n\nThe owner or lessee of a commercial theater where a motion picture is being exhibited, or his authorized agent or employee, who has probable cause to believe that a person has made a recording in violation of subsection A on the premises of the owner or lessee, may detain such person for a period not to exceed one hour pending arrival of a law-enforcement officer. Such owner, lessee, agent or employee shall not be held civilly liable for unlawful detention if such detention does not exceed one hour, slander, malicious prosecution, false imprisonment, false arrest, or assault and battery of the person so arrested or detained, whether such arrest or detention takes place on the premises of the owner or lessee or after close pursuit from such premises, provided that, in causing the arrest or detention of such person, the owner, lessee, agent or employee had at the time of such arrest or detention probable cause to believe the person was making or had made an illegal recording in violation of subsection A.C\n\nThis section shall not apply to any lawfully authorized investigative, law-enforcement, protective, or intelligence gathering activity by an agent or employee of the Commonwealth or the federal government.D\n\nThe term “audiovisual recording function” means that component of an analog or digital photographic or video camera or other device developed with the capability to record or transmit a motion picture or any part thereof.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":260835,"text":"It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an audiovisual recording function of a device in a commercial theater, excluding the lobby and other common areas, to record a motion picture or any portion thereof without the consent of the owner or lessee of the theater. Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":260836,"text":"The owner or lessee of a commercial theater where a motion picture is being exhibited, or his authorized agent or employee, who has probable cause to believe that a person has made a recording in violation of subsection A on the premises of the owner or lessee, may detain such person for a period not to exceed one hour pending arrival of a law-enforcement officer. Such owner, lessee, agent or employee shall not be held civilly liable for unlawful detention if such detention does not exceed one hour, slander, malicious prosecution, false imprisonment, false arrest, or assault and battery of the person so arrested or detained, whether such arrest or detention takes place on the premises of the owner or lessee or after close pursuit from such premises, provided that, in causing the arrest or detention of such person, the owner, lessee, agent or employee had at the time of such arrest or detention probable cause to believe the person was making or had made an illegal recording in violation of subsection A.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":260837,"text":"This section shall not apply to any lawfully authorized investigative, law-enforcement, protective, or intelligence gathering activity by an agent or employee of the Commonwealth or the federal government.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":260838,"text":"The term “audiovisual recording function” means that component of an analog or digital photographic or video camera or other device developed with the capability to record or transmit a motion picture or any part thereof.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14590,"edition_id":1,"name":"False Representations to Obtain Property or Credit","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13358,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:47","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:47","permalink":{"id":166089,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14590,"identifier":"5","token":"18.2\/6\/5","url":"\/18.2\/6\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13358,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Involving Fraud","identifier":"6","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:42","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:42","permalink":{"id":165933,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13358,"identifier":"6","token":"18.2\/6","url":"\/18.2\/6\/","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":70856,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186","catch_line":"False statements to obtain property or credit","url":"\/18.2-186\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186","metadata":false},{"id":70659,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-186.1\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.1","metadata":false},{"id":75819,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.2","catch_line":"False statements or failure to disclose material facts in order to obtain aid or benefits under any local, state or federal housing assistance program","url":"\/18.2-186.2\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.2","metadata":false},{"id":73403,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.3","catch_line":"Identity theft; penalty; restitution; victim assistance","url":"\/18.2-186.3\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.3","metadata":false},{"id":68386,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.3:1","catch_line":"Identity fraud; consumer reporting agencies; police reports","url":"\/18.2-186.3_1\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.3_1","metadata":false},{"id":86000,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.4","catch_line":"Use of a person's identity with the intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass; penalty","url":"\/18.2-186.4\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.4","metadata":false},{"id":74122,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.4:1","catch_line":"Internet publication of personal information of certain public officials","url":"\/18.2-186.4_1\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.4_1","metadata":false},{"id":63464,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.5","catch_line":"Expungement of false identity information from police and court records; Identity Theft Passport","url":"\/18.2-186.5\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.5","metadata":false},{"id":64651,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.6","catch_line":"Breach of personal information notification","url":"\/18.2-186.6\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.6","metadata":false},{"id":56090,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-187","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-187\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-187","metadata":false},{"id":64355,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-187.1","catch_line":"Obtaining or attempting to obtain oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service without payment; penalty; civil liability","url":"\/18.2-187.1\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-187.1","metadata":false},{"id":72422,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-187.2","catch_line":"Audiovisual recording of motion pictures unlawful; penalty","url":"\/18.2-187.2\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-187.2","metadata":false},{"id":64840,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-188","catch_line":"Defrauding hotels, motels, campgrounds, boardinghouses, etc","url":"\/18.2-188\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-188","metadata":false},{"id":61566,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-188.1","catch_line":"Defrauding person having a lien on an animal; penalty","url":"\/18.2-188.1\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-188.1","metadata":false},{"id":78241,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-189","catch_line":"Defrauding keeper of motor vehicles or watercraft","url":"\/18.2-189\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-189","metadata":false},{"id":76832,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-190","catch_line":"Fraudulent misrepresentation as to breed of bull or cattle","url":"\/18.2-190\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-190","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":64355,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-187.1","catch_line":"Obtaining or attempting to obtain oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service without payment; penalty; civil liability","url":"\/18.2-187.1\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-187.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":64840,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-188","catch_line":"Defrauding hotels, motels, campgrounds, boardinghouses, etc","url":"\/18.2-188\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-188","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-187.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2004. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 759<\/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":false,"permalink":{"id":166135,"object_type":"law","relational_id":72422,"identifier":"18.2-187.2","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-187.2","url":"\/18.2-187.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-187.2\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-187.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Audiovisual recording of motion pictures unlawful; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-187.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an audiovisual recording function<\/span> of a device in a commercial theater, excluding the lobby and other common areas, to record a motion<\/span> picture or any portion thereof without the consent of the owner or lessee of the theater. Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The owner or lessee of a commercial theater where a motion<\/span> picture is being exhibited, or his authorized agent or employee, who has probable cause<\/span> to believe that a person has made a recording in violation of subsection A on the premises of the owner or lessee, may detain<\/span> such person for a period not to exceed one hour pending arrival of a law<\/span>-enforcement officer. Such owner, lessee, agent or employee shall not be held civilly liable for unlawful detention if such detention does not exceed one hour, slander, malicious<\/span> prosecution<\/span>, false imprisonment, false arrest<\/span>, or assault<\/span> and battery<\/span> of the person so arrested or detained, whether such arrest or detention takes place on the premises of the owner or lessee or after close pursuit from such premises, provided that, in causing the arrest or detention of such person, the owner, lessee, agent or employee had at the time of such arrest or detention probable cause<\/span> to believe the person was making or had made an illegal recording in violation of subsection A. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> This section shall not apply to any lawfully authorized investigative, law<\/span>-enforcement, protective, or intelligence gathering activity by an agent or employee of the Commonwealth or the federal government. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The term “audiovisual recording function<\/span>” means that component of an analog or digital photographic or video camera or other device developed with the capability to record or transmit a motion<\/span> picture or any part thereof. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nAUDIOVISUAL RECORDING OF MOTION PICTURES UNLAWFUL; PENALTY (\u00a7 18.2-187.2)\n\nA. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an audiovisual recording\nfunction of a device in a commercial theater, excluding the lobby and other\ncommon areas, to record a motion picture or any portion thereof without the\nconsent of the owner or lessee of the theater. Any person who violates the\nprovisions of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nB. The owner or lessee of a commercial theater where a motion picture is being\nexhibited, or his authorized agent or employee, who has probable cause to\nbelieve that a person has made a recording in violation of subsection A on the\npremises of the owner or lessee, may detain such person for a period not to\nexceed one hour pending arrival of a law-enforcement officer. Such owner,\nlessee, agent or employee shall not be held civilly liable for unlawful\ndetention if such detention does not exceed one hour, slander, malicious\nprosecution, false imprisonment, false arrest, or assault and battery of the\nperson so arrested or detained, whether such arrest or detention takes place on\nthe premises of the owner or lessee or after close pursuit from such premises,\nprovided that, in causing the arrest or detention of such person, the owner,\nlessee, agent or employee had at the time of such arrest or detention probable\ncause to believe the person was making or had made an illegal recording in\nviolation of subsection A.\n\nC. This section shall not apply to any lawfully authorized investigative,\nlaw-enforcement, protective, or intelligence gathering activity by an agent or\nemployee of the Commonwealth or the federal government.\n\nD. The term “audiovisual recording function” means that component of\nan analog or digital photographic or video camera or other device developed with\nthe capability to record or transmit a motion picture or any part thereof.\n\nHISTORY: 2004, c. 759.","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}}