{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-415.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-415.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-415.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-415.html"}],"law_id":56045,"edition_id":1,"section_id":56045,"structure_id":14571,"section_number":"18.2-415","catch_line":"Disorderly conduct in public places","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 18.1-239, 18.1-240, 18.1-253.1 through 18.1-253.3; 1960, c. 358; 1968, c. 639; 1969, Ex. Sess., c. 2; 1970, c. 374; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1976, c. 244; 1990, c. 627; 2006, c. 250; 2020, cc. 199, 355.","full_text":"A\n\nA person is guilty of disorderly conduct if, with the intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, he:1\n\nIn any street, highway, or public building, or while in or on a public conveyance, or while in a public place engages in conduct having a direct tendency to cause acts of violence by the person or persons at whom, individually, such conduct is directed;2\n\nWillfully or being intoxicated, whether willfully or not, and whether such intoxication results from self-administered alcohol or other drug of whatever nature, disrupts any funeral, memorial service, or meeting of the governing body of any political subdivision of this Commonwealth or a division or agency thereof, or of any school, literary society, or place of religious worship, if the disruption (i) prevents or interferes with the orderly conduct of the funeral, memorial service, or meeting or (ii) has a direct tendency to cause acts of violence by the person or persons at whom, individually, the disruption is directed; or3\n\nWillfully or while intoxicated, whether willfully or not, and whether such intoxication results from self-administered alcohol or other drug of whatever nature, disrupts the operation of any school or any activity conducted or sponsored by any school, if the disruption (i) prevents or interferes with the orderly conduct of the operation or activity or (ii) has a direct tendency to cause acts of violence by the person or persons at whom, individually, the disruption is directed.B\n\nThe conduct prohibited under subsection A shall not be deemed to include the utterance or display of any words or to include conduct otherwise made punishable under this title.C\n\nThe person in charge of any such building, place, conveyance, meeting, operation, or activity may eject therefrom any person who violates any provision of this section, with the aid, if necessary, of any persons who may be called upon for such purpose.D\n\nThe provisions of this section shall not apply to any elementary or secondary school student if the disorderly conduct occurred on the property of any elementary or secondary school, on a school bus as defined in § 46.2-100, or at any activity conducted or sponsored by any elementary or secondary school.E\n\nThe governing bodies of counties, cities, and towns are authorized to adopt ordinances prohibiting and punishing the acts and conduct prohibited by this section, provided that the punishment fixed therefor shall not exceed that prescribed for a Class 1 misdemeanor. A person violating any provision of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":205439,"text":"A person is guilty of disorderly conduct if, with the intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, he:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":205440,"text":"In any street, highway, or public building, or while in or on a public conveyance, or while in a public place engages in conduct having a direct tendency to cause acts of violence by the person or persons at whom, individually, such conduct is directed;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":205441,"text":"Willfully or being intoxicated, whether willfully or not, and whether such intoxication results from self-administered alcohol or other drug of whatever nature, disrupts any funeral, memorial service, or meeting of the governing body of any political subdivision of this Commonwealth or a division or agency thereof, or of any school, literary society, or place of religious worship, if the disruption (i) prevents or interferes with the orderly conduct of the funeral, memorial service, or meeting or (ii) has a direct tendency to cause acts of violence by the person or persons at whom, individually, the disruption is directed; or","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":205442,"text":"Willfully or while intoxicated, whether willfully or not, and whether such intoxication results from self-administered alcohol or other drug of whatever nature, disrupts the operation of any school or any activity conducted or sponsored by any school, if the disruption (i) prevents or interferes with the orderly conduct of the operation or activity or (ii) has a direct tendency to cause acts of violence by the person or persons at whom, individually, the disruption is directed.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"B"},"4":{"id":205443,"text":"The conduct prohibited under subsection A shall not be deemed to include the utterance or display of any words or to include conduct otherwise made punishable under this title.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"C"},"5":{"id":205444,"text":"The person in charge of any such building, place, conveyance, meeting, operation, or activity may eject therefrom any person who violates any provision of this section, with the aid, if necessary, of any persons who may be called upon for such purpose.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"6":{"id":205445,"text":"The provisions of this section shall not apply to any elementary or secondary school student if the disorderly conduct occurred on the property of any elementary or secondary school, on a school bus as defined in § 46.2-100, or at any activity conducted or sponsored by any elementary or secondary school.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"7":{"id":205446,"text":"The governing bodies of counties, cities, and towns are authorized to adopt ordinances prohibiting and punishing the acts and conduct prohibited by this section, provided that the punishment fixed therefor shall not exceed that prescribed for a Class 1 misdemeanor. A person violating any provision of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14571,"edition_id":1,"name":"Disorderly Conduct","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14570,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:42","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:42","permalink":{"id":168051,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14571,"identifier":"2","token":"18.2\/9\/2","url":"\/18.2\/9\/2\/","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":56045,"structure_id":14571,"section_number":"18.2-415","catch_line":"Disorderly conduct in public places","url":"\/18.2-415\/","token":"18.2\/9\/2\/18.2-415","metadata":false}],"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-415\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 8 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 1968, chapter 639; in 1970, chapter 374; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15; in 1976, chapter 244; in 1990, chapter 627; in 2006, chapter 250<\/a>; in 2020, chapters 199<\/a> and 355<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":81568,"section_number":"18.2-308.1:1","catch_line":"Purchase, possession, or transportation of firearms by persons acquitted by reason of insanity; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-308.1_1\/"},{"id":85695,"section_number":"19.2-169.1","catch_line":"Raising question of competency to stand trial or plead; evaluation and determination of competency","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-169.1\/"},{"id":66444,"section_number":"19.2-169.2","catch_line":"Disposition when defendant found incompetent","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-169.2\/"},{"id":80703,"section_number":"19.2-169.3","catch_line":"Disposition of the unrestorably incompetent defendant; aggravated murder charge; sexually violent offense charge","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-169.3\/"},{"id":58970,"section_number":"19.2-327.15","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-327.15\/"},{"id":76488,"section_number":"19.2-392.12:1","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of charges and convictions related to automatic sealing; petition","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.12_1\/"},{"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":[{"id":82691,"section_number":"46.2-100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-100\/"}],"permalink":{"id":168053,"object_type":"law","relational_id":56045,"identifier":"18.2-415","token":"18.2\/9\/2\/18.2-415","url":"\/18.2-415\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-415\/","token":"18.2\/9\/2\/18.2-415","dublin_core":{"Title":"Disorderly conduct in public places","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-415","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A person is guilty of disorderly conduct if, with the intent<\/span> to cause public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, he: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> In any street, highway, or public building, or while in or on a public conveyance, or while in a public place engages in conduct having a direct tendency to cause acts of violence by the person or persons at whom, individually, such conduct is directed; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Willfully or being intoxicated, whether willfully or not, and whether such intoxication results from self-administered alcohol or other drug of whatever nature, disrupts any funeral, memorial service, or meeting of the governing body of any political subdivision of this Commonwealth or a division or agency thereof, or of any school, literary society, or place of religious worship, if the disruption (i) prevents or interferes with the orderly conduct of the funeral, memorial service, or meeting or (ii) has a direct tendency to cause acts of violence by the person or persons at whom, individually, the disruption is directed; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Willfully or while intoxicated, whether willfully or not, and whether such intoxication results from self-administered alcohol or other drug of whatever nature, disrupts the operation of any school or any activity conducted or sponsored by any school, if the disruption (i) prevents or interferes with the orderly conduct of the operation or activity or (ii) has a direct tendency to cause acts of violence by the person or persons at whom, individually, the disruption is directed. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The conduct prohibited under subsection A shall not be deemed to include the utterance or display of any words or to include conduct otherwise made punishable under this title. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The person in charge of any such building, place, conveyance, meeting, operation, or activity may eject therefrom any person who violates any provision of this section, with the aid, if necessary, of any persons who may be called upon for such purpose. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The provisions of this section shall not apply to any elementary or secondary school student if the disorderly conduct occurred on the property of any elementary or secondary school, on a school bus as defined in § 46.2-100<\/a>, or at any activity conducted or sponsored by any elementary or secondary school. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The governing bodies of counties, cities, and towns are authorized to adopt ordinances<\/span> prohibiting and punishing the acts and conduct prohibited by this section, provided that the punishment fixed therefor shall not exceed that prescribed for a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. A person violating any provision of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDISORDERLY CONDUCT IN PUBLIC PLACES (\u00a7 18.2-415)\n\nA. A person is guilty of disorderly conduct if, with the intent to cause public\ninconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, he:\n\n 1. In any street, highway, or public building, or while in or on a public\n conveyance, or while in a public place engages in conduct having a direct\n tendency to cause acts of violence by the person or persons at whom,\n individually, such conduct is directed;\n\n 2. Willfully or being intoxicated, whether willfully or not, and whether such\n intoxication results from self-administered alcohol or other drug of whatever\n nature, disrupts any funeral, memorial service, or meeting of the governing\n body of any political subdivision of this Commonwealth or a division or agency\n thereof, or of any school, literary society, or place of religious worship, if\n the disruption (i) prevents or interferes with the orderly conduct of the\n funeral, memorial service, or meeting or (ii) has a direct tendency to cause\n acts of violence by the person or persons at whom, individually, the\n disruption is directed; or\n\n 3. Willfully or while intoxicated, whether willfully or not, and whether such\n intoxication results from self-administered alcohol or other drug of whatever\n nature, disrupts the operation of any school or any activity conducted or\n sponsored by any school, if the disruption (i) prevents or interferes with the\n orderly conduct of the operation or activity or (ii) has a direct tendency to\n cause acts of violence by the person or persons at whom, individually, the\n disruption is directed.\n\nB. The conduct prohibited under subsection A shall not be deemed to include the\nutterance or display of any words or to include conduct otherwise made\npunishable under this title.\n\nC. The person in charge of any such building, place, conveyance, meeting,\noperation, or activity may eject therefrom any person who violates any provision\nof this section, with the aid, if necessary, of any persons who may be called\nupon for such purpose.\n\nD. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any elementary or secondary\nschool student if the disorderly conduct occurred on the property of any\nelementary or secondary school, on a school bus as defined in § 46.2-100,\nor at any activity conducted or sponsored by any elementary or secondary school.\n\nE. The governing bodies of counties, cities, and towns are authorized to adopt\nordinances prohibiting and punishing the acts and conduct prohibited by this\nsection, provided that the punishment fixed therefor shall not exceed that\nprescribed for a Class 1 misdemeanor. A person violating any provision of this\nsection is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 18.1-239, 18.1-240, 18.1-253.1 through 18.1-253.3;\n1960, c. 358; 1968, c. 639; 1969, Ex. Sess., c. 2; 1970, c. 374; 1975, cc. 14,\n15; 1976, c. 244; 1990, c. 627; 2006, c. 250; 2020, cc. 199, 355.","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}}