{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-404.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-404.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-404.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-404.html"}],"law_id":58390,"edition_id":1,"section_id":58390,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-404","catch_line":"Obstructing free passage of others","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-254.01; 1968, c. 608; 1975, cc. 14, 15.","full_text":"Any person or persons who in any public place or on any private property open to the public unreasonably or unnecessarily obstructs the free passage of other persons to and from or within such place or property and who shall fail or refuse to cease such obstruction or move on when requested to do so by the owner or lessee or agent or employee of such owner or lessee or by a duly authorized law-enforcement officer shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit lawful picketing.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":213834,"text":"Any person or persons who in any public place or on any private property open to the public unreasonably or unnecessarily obstructs the free passage of other persons to and from or within such place or property and who shall fail or refuse to cease such obstruction or move on when requested to do so by the owner or lessee or agent or employee of such owner or lessee or by a duly authorized law-enforcement officer shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit lawful picketing.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15343,"edition_id":1,"name":"Riot and Unlawful Assembly","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14570,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:54:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:54:05","permalink":{"id":167997,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15343,"identifier":"1","token":"18.2\/9\/1","url":"\/18.2\/9\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14570,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Against Peace and Order","identifier":"9","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:42","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:42","permalink":{"id":167995,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14570,"identifier":"9","token":"18.2\/9","url":"\/18.2\/9\/","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":58390,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-404","catch_line":"Obstructing free passage of others","url":"\/18.2-404\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-404","metadata":false},{"id":66562,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-405","catch_line":"What constitutes a riot; punishment","url":"\/18.2-405\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-405","metadata":false},{"id":83452,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-406","catch_line":"What constitutes an unlawful assembly; punishment","url":"\/18.2-406\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-406","metadata":false},{"id":60408,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-407","catch_line":"Remaining at place of riot or unlawful assembly after warning to disperse","url":"\/18.2-407\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-407","metadata":false},{"id":79023,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-408","catch_line":"Conspiracy; incitement, etc., to riot","url":"\/18.2-408\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-408","metadata":false},{"id":67634,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-409","catch_line":"Resisting or obstructing execution of legal process","url":"\/18.2-409\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-409","metadata":false},{"id":83908,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-410","catch_line":"Power of Governor to summon law-enforcement agencies, national guard, etc., to execute process or preserve the peace","url":"\/18.2-410\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-410","metadata":false},{"id":62952,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-411","catch_line":"Dispersal of unlawful or riotous assemblies; duties of officers","url":"\/18.2-411\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-411","metadata":false},{"id":65439,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-412","catch_line":"Immunity of officers and others in quelling a riot or unlawful assembly","url":"\/18.2-412\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-412","metadata":false},{"id":86638,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-413","catch_line":"Commission of certain offenses in county, city or town declared by Governor to be in state of riot or insurrection","url":"\/18.2-413\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-413","metadata":false},{"id":82336,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-414","catch_line":"Injury to property or persons by persons unlawfully or riotously assembled","url":"\/18.2-414\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-414","metadata":false},{"id":61232,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-414.1","catch_line":"Obstructing emergency medical services agency personnel in performance of mission; penalty","url":"\/18.2-414.1\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-414.1","metadata":false},{"id":71247,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-414.2","catch_line":"Crossing established police lines, perimeters or barricades","url":"\/18.2-414.2\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-414.2","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":66562,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-405","catch_line":"What constitutes a riot; punishment","url":"\/18.2-405\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-405","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-404\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 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 1968, chapter 608; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15.<\/p>","references":[{"id":74621,"section_number":"19.2-151","catch_line":"Satisfaction and discharge of assault and similar charges","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-151\/"},{"id":56780,"section_number":"4.1-225","catch_line":"Grounds for which Board may suspend or revoke licenses; exception","order_by":null,"url":"\/4.1-225\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":167999,"object_type":"law","relational_id":58390,"identifier":"18.2-404","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-404","url":"\/18.2-404\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-404\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-404","dublin_core":{"Title":"Obstructing free passage of others","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-404","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>Any person or persons who in any public place or on any private property open to the public unreasonably or unnecessarily obstructs the free passage of other persons to and from or within such place or property and who shall fail or refuse to cease such obstruction or move on when requested to do so by the owner or lessee or agent or employee of such owner or lessee or by a duly authorized <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>-enforcement officer shall be guilty of a Class 1 <span class=\"dictionary\">misdemeanor<\/span>. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit lawful picketing.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nOBSTRUCTING FREE PASSAGE OF OTHERS (\u00a7 18.2-404)\n\nAny person or persons who in any public place or on any private property open to\nthe public unreasonably or unnecessarily obstructs the free passage of other\npersons to and from or within such place or property and who shall fail or\nrefuse to cease such obstruction or move on when requested to do so by the owner\nor lessee or agent or employee of such owner or lessee or by a duly authorized\nlaw-enforcement officer shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Nothing in\nthis section shall be construed to prohibit lawful picketing.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-254.01; 1968, c. 608; 1975, cc. 14, 15.","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}}