{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-429.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-429.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-429.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-429.html"}],"law_id":77553,"edition_id":1,"section_id":77553,"structure_id":14837,"section_number":"18.2-429","catch_line":"Causing a telephone, digital pager, or other device to ring or signal with intent to annoy; emergency communications; penalties","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-238.2; 1962, c. 495; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1989, c. 59; 1995, cc. 410, 478, 791; 2012, c. 133; 2015, cc. 502, 503; 2023, cc. 201, 202.","full_text":"A\n\nAny person who, with or without intent to communicate but with intent to annoy any other person, causes any telephone or digital pager, not his own, to ring or to otherwise signal, and any person who permits or condones the use of any telephone under his control for such purpose, is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent conviction under this subsection is punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor if such prior conviction occurred before the date of the offense charged.B\n\nAny person who, with or without intent to communicate but with intent to annoy, harass, hinder, or delay emergency personnel in the performance of their duties as such, causes a telephone to ring or other device to signal, which is owned or leased for the purpose of receiving communications by a public or private entity providing fire, police, or emergency medical services, and any person who knowingly permits the use of a telephone or other device under his control for such purpose, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":278211,"text":"Any person who, with or without intent to communicate but with intent to annoy any other person, causes any telephone or digital pager, not his own, to ring or to otherwise signal, and any person who permits or condones the use of any telephone under his control for such purpose, is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent conviction under this subsection is punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor if such prior conviction occurred before the date of the offense charged.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":278212,"text":"Any person who, with or without intent to communicate but with intent to annoy, harass, hinder, or delay emergency personnel in the performance of their duties as such, causes a telephone to ring or other device to signal, which is owned or leased for the purpose of receiving communications by a public or private entity providing fire, police, or emergency medical services, and any person who knowingly permits the use of a telephone or other device under his control for such purpose, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14837,"edition_id":1,"name":"Unlawful Use of Telephones","identifier":"6","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14570,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:50:17","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:50:17","permalink":{"id":168107,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14837,"identifier":"6","token":"18.2\/9\/6","url":"\/18.2\/9\/6\/","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":71628,"structure_id":14837,"section_number":"18.2-424","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-424\/","token":"18.2\/9\/6\/18.2-424","metadata":false},{"id":56725,"structure_id":14837,"section_number":"18.2-425.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-425.1\/","token":"18.2\/9\/6\/18.2-425.1","metadata":false},{"id":56806,"structure_id":14837,"section_number":"18.2-426","catch_line":"\"Emergency call\" and \"emergency personnel\" defined","url":"\/18.2-426\/","token":"18.2\/9\/6\/18.2-426","metadata":false},{"id":61013,"structure_id":14837,"section_number":"18.2-427","catch_line":"Use of profane, threatening, or indecent language over public airways or by other methods","url":"\/18.2-427\/","token":"18.2\/9\/6\/18.2-427","metadata":false},{"id":79700,"structure_id":14837,"section_number":"18.2-428","catch_line":"Giving certain false information to another by telephone","url":"\/18.2-428\/","token":"18.2\/9\/6\/18.2-428","metadata":false},{"id":77553,"structure_id":14837,"section_number":"18.2-429","catch_line":"Causing a telephone, digital pager, or other device to ring or signal with intent to annoy; emergency communications; penalties","url":"\/18.2-429\/","token":"18.2\/9\/6\/18.2-429","metadata":false},{"id":62009,"structure_id":14837,"section_number":"18.2-429.1","catch_line":"False caller identification information; penalty","url":"\/18.2-429.1\/","token":"18.2\/9\/6\/18.2-429.1","metadata":false},{"id":64613,"structure_id":14837,"section_number":"18.2-430","catch_line":"Venue for offenses under this article","url":"\/18.2-430\/","token":"18.2\/9\/6\/18.2-430","metadata":false},{"id":76798,"structure_id":14837,"section_number":"18.2-431","catch_line":"Duty of telephone companies; notices in directories","url":"\/18.2-431\/","token":"18.2\/9\/6\/18.2-431","metadata":false},{"id":79843,"structure_id":14837,"section_number":"18.2-431.1","catch_line":"Illegal conveyance or possession of cellular telephone or other wireless telecommunications device by prisoner or committed person; penalty","url":"\/18.2-431.1\/","token":"18.2\/9\/6\/18.2-431.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":79700,"structure_id":14837,"section_number":"18.2-428","catch_line":"Giving certain false information to another by telephone","url":"\/18.2-428\/","token":"18.2\/9\/6\/18.2-428","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":62009,"structure_id":14837,"section_number":"18.2-429.1","catch_line":"False caller identification information; penalty","url":"\/18.2-429.1\/","token":"18.2\/9\/6\/18.2-429.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-429\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 7 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 1962, chapter 495; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15; in 1989, chapter 59; in 1995, chapters 410<\/a>, 478<\/a>, and 791<\/a>; in 2012, chapter 133<\/a>; in 2015, chapters 502<\/a> and 503<\/a>; in 2023, chapters 201<\/a> and 202<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":168129,"object_type":"law","relational_id":77553,"identifier":"18.2-429","token":"18.2\/9\/6\/18.2-429","url":"\/18.2-429\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-429\/","token":"18.2\/9\/6\/18.2-429","dublin_core":{"Title":"Causing a telephone, digital pager, or other device to ring or signal with intent to annoy; emergency communications; penalties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-429","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any person who, with or without intent<\/span> to communicate but with intent<\/span> to annoy any other person, causes any telephone or digital pager, not his own, to ring or to otherwise signal, and any person who permits or condones the use of any telephone under his control for such purpose, is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor<\/span>. A second or subsequent conviction<\/span> under this subsection is punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor<\/span> if such prior conviction<\/span> occurred before the date of the offense<\/span> charged. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any person who, with or without intent<\/span> to communicate but with intent<\/span> to annoy, harass, hinder, or delay emergency personnel<\/span> in the performance of their duties as such, causes a telephone to ring or other device to signal, which is owned or leased for the purpose of receiving communications by a public or private entity providing fire, police, or emergency medical services, and any person who knowingly permits the use of a telephone or other device under his control for such purpose, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCAUSING A TELEPHONE, DIGITAL PAGER, OR OTHER DEVICE TO RING OR SIGNAL WITH\nINTENT TO ANNOY; EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS; PENALTIES (\u00a7 18.2-429)\n\nA. Any person who, with or without intent to communicate but with intent to\nannoy any other person, causes any telephone or digital pager, not his own, to\nring or to otherwise signal, and any person who permits or condones the use of\nany telephone under his control for such purpose, is guilty of a Class 3\nmisdemeanor. A second or subsequent conviction under this subsection is\npunishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor if such prior conviction occurred before the\ndate of the offense charged.\n\nB. Any person who, with or without intent to communicate but with intent to\nannoy, harass, hinder, or delay emergency personnel in the performance of their\nduties as such, causes a telephone to ring or other device to signal, which is\nowned or leased for the purpose of receiving communications by a public or\nprivate entity providing fire, police, or emergency medical services, and any\nperson who knowingly permits the use of a telephone or other device under his\ncontrol for such purpose, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-238.2; 1962, c. 495; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1989, c. 59;\n1995, cc. 410, 478, 791; 2012, c. 133; 2015, cc. 502, 503; 2023, cc. 201, 202.","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}}