{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-371.4.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-371.4.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-371.4.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-371.4.html"}],"law_id":75915,"edition_id":1,"section_id":75915,"structure_id":14343,"section_number":"18.2-371.4","catch_line":"Prohibiting the sale of novelty lighters to juveniles","history":"2009, c. 668.","full_text":"A\n\n“Novelty lighter” means a mechanical or electrical device containing a combustible fuel typically used for lighting cigarettes, cigars, or pipes that is (i) designed to resemble a cartoon character, toy, gun, watch, musical instrument, vehicle, animal, food, or beverage, or (ii) a fanciful article that plays musical notes, has flashing lights, or has other entertaining features that are appealing to or intended for use by juveniles. A novelty lighter may operate on any fuel, including butane, isobutene, or liquid fuel.B\n\n“Novelty lighter” does not include (i) a lighter without fuel and that is incapable of being fueled, (ii) a lighter lacking a device necessary to produce combustion or a flame, (iii) a mechanical or electrical device primarily used to ignite fuel for fireplaces or for charcoal or gas grills, (iv) a lighter manufactured prior to 1980, or (v) a standard disposable lighter that is printed or decorated with logos, labels, decals, or artwork, or heat shrinkable sleeves.C\n\nNovelty lighters that are available for purchase at a retail establishment shall be located in a place that is not open to the general public.D\n\nAny individual who sells a novelty lighter to a person he knows or has reason to know is a juvenile is subject to a civil penalty of no more than $100.E\n\nThis section may be enforced by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, local fire marshals appointed pursuant to § 27-34.2 or 27-34.2:1, or law-enforcement officers.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":272556,"text":"“Novelty lighter” means a mechanical or electrical device containing a combustible fuel typically used for lighting cigarettes, cigars, or pipes that is (i) designed to resemble a cartoon character, toy, gun, watch, musical instrument, vehicle, animal, food, or beverage, or (ii) a fanciful article that plays musical notes, has flashing lights, or has other entertaining features that are appealing to or intended for use by juveniles. A novelty lighter may operate on any fuel, including butane, isobutene, or liquid fuel.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":272557,"text":"“Novelty lighter” does not include (i) a lighter without fuel and that is incapable of being fueled, (ii) a lighter lacking a device necessary to produce combustion or a flame, (iii) a mechanical or electrical device primarily used to ignite fuel for fireplaces or for charcoal or gas grills, (iv) a lighter manufactured prior to 1980, or (v) a standard disposable lighter that is printed or decorated with logos, labels, decals, or artwork, or heat shrinkable sleeves.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":272558,"text":"Novelty lighters that are available for purchase at a retail establishment shall be located in a place that is not open to the general public.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":272559,"text":"Any individual who sells a novelty lighter to a person he knows or has reason to know is a juvenile is subject to a civil penalty of no more than $100.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":272560,"text":"This section may be enforced by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, local fire marshals appointed pursuant to § 27-34.2 or 27-34.2:1, or law-enforcement officers.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14343,"edition_id":1,"name":"Family Offenses; Crimes Against Children, etc","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14022,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:49","permalink":{"id":167753,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14343,"identifier":"4","token":"18.2\/8\/4","url":"\/18.2\/8\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14022,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Involving Morals and Decency","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","permalink":{"id":167393,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14022,"identifier":"8","token":"18.2\/8","url":"\/18.2\/8\/","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":86356,"structure_id":14343,"section_number":"18.2-362","catch_line":"Person marrying when spouse is living; 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penalty; abandoned infant","url":"\/18.2-371\/","token":"18.2\/8\/4\/18.2-371","metadata":false},{"id":65049,"structure_id":14343,"section_number":"18.2-371.1","catch_line":"Abuse and neglect of children; penalties; abandoned infant","url":"\/18.2-371.1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/4\/18.2-371.1","metadata":false},{"id":68538,"structure_id":14343,"section_number":"18.2-371.2","catch_line":"Prohibiting sale or distribution, etc. of retail tobacco products and hemp products intended for smoking by persons under 21 years of age; civil penalties","url":"\/18.2-371.2\/","token":"18.2\/8\/4\/18.2-371.2","metadata":false},{"id":84277,"structure_id":14343,"section_number":"18.2-371.2:1","catch_line":"Prohibiting possession of retail tobacco products and hemp products intended for smoking by a person younger than 21 years of age; seizure","url":"\/18.2-371.2_1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/4\/18.2-371.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":57919,"structure_id":14343,"section_number":"18.2-371.3","catch_line":"Tattooing or body piercing of minors","url":"\/18.2-371.3\/","token":"18.2\/8\/4\/18.2-371.3","metadata":false},{"id":75915,"structure_id":14343,"section_number":"18.2-371.4","catch_line":"Prohibiting the sale of novelty lighters to juveniles","url":"\/18.2-371.4\/","token":"18.2\/8\/4\/18.2-371.4","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":57919,"structure_id":14343,"section_number":"18.2-371.3","catch_line":"Tattooing or body piercing of minors","url":"\/18.2-371.3\/","token":"18.2\/8\/4\/18.2-371.3","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-371.4\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2009. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 668<\/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":[{"id":74660,"section_number":"19.2-392.12","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of offenses resulting in a deferred and dismissed disposition or conviction by petition","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.12\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":73497,"section_number":"27-34.2","catch_line":"Power to arrest, to procure and serve warrants and to issue summons; limitation on authority","order_by":null,"url":"\/27-34.2\/"},{"id":66294,"section_number":"27-34.2:1","catch_line":"Police powers of fire marshals","order_by":null,"url":"\/27-34.2_1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":167839,"object_type":"law","relational_id":75915,"identifier":"18.2-371.4","token":"18.2\/8\/4\/18.2-371.4","url":"\/18.2-371.4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-371.4\/","token":"18.2\/8\/4\/18.2-371.4","dublin_core":{"Title":"Prohibiting the sale of novelty lighters to juveniles","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-371.4","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> “Novelty lighter<\/span>” means a mechanical or electrical device containing a combustible fuel typically used for lighting cigarettes, cigars, or pipes that is (i) designed to resemble a cartoon character, toy, gun, watch, musical instrument, vehicle, animal, food, or beverage, or (ii) a fanciful article that plays musical notes, has flashing lights, or has other entertaining features that are appealing to or intended for use by juveniles. A novelty lighter<\/span> may operate on any fuel, including butane, isobutene, or liquid fuel. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> “Novelty lighter<\/span>” does not include (i) a lighter without fuel and that is incapable of being fueled, (ii) a lighter lacking a device necessary to produce combustion or a flame, (iii) a mechanical or electrical device primarily used to ignite fuel for fireplaces or for charcoal or gas grills, (iv) a lighter manufactured prior to 1980, or (v) a standard disposable lighter that is printed or decorated with logos, labels, decals, or artwork, or heat shrinkable sleeves. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Novelty lighters<\/span> that are available for purchase at a retail establishment shall be located in a place that is not open to the general public. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Any individual who sells a novelty lighter<\/span> to a person he knows or has reason to know is a juvenile is subject to a civil penalty<\/span> of no more than $100. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> This section may be enforced by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, local fire marshals appointed pursuant to § 27-34.2<\/a> or 27-34.2:1<\/a>, or law<\/span>-enforcement officers. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROHIBITING THE SALE OF NOVELTY LIGHTERS TO JUVENILES (\u00a7 18.2-371.4)\n\nA. “Novelty lighter” means a mechanical or electrical device\ncontaining a combustible fuel typically used for lighting cigarettes, cigars, or\npipes that is (i) designed to resemble a cartoon character, toy, gun, watch,\nmusical instrument, vehicle, animal, food, or beverage, or (ii) a fanciful\narticle that plays musical notes, has flashing lights, or has other entertaining\nfeatures that are appealing to or intended for use by juveniles. A novelty\nlighter may operate on any fuel, including butane, isobutene, or liquid fuel.\n\nB. “Novelty lighter” does not include (i) a lighter without fuel and\nthat is incapable of being fueled, (ii) a lighter lacking a device necessary to\nproduce combustion or a flame, (iii) a mechanical or electrical device primarily\nused to ignite fuel for fireplaces or for charcoal or gas grills, (iv) a lighter\nmanufactured prior to 1980, or (v) a standard disposable lighter that is printed\nor decorated with logos, labels, decals, or artwork, or heat shrinkable sleeves.\n\nC. Novelty lighters that are available for purchase at a retail establishment\nshall be located in a place that is not open to the general public.\n\nD. Any individual who sells a novelty lighter to a person he knows or has reason\nto know is a juvenile is subject to a civil penalty of no more than $100.\n\nE. This section may be enforced by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, local\nfire marshals appointed pursuant to § 27-34.2 or 27-34.2:1, or\nlaw-enforcement officers.\n\nHISTORY: 2009, c. 668.","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}}