{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-460.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-460.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-460.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-460.html"}],"law_id":56127,"edition_id":1,"section_id":56127,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-460","catch_line":"Obstructing justice; resisting arrest; fleeing from a law-enforcement officer; penalties","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-310; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1976, c. 269; 1984, c. 571; 1989, c. 506; 1993, c. 747; 1996, c. 718; 1999, cc. 770, 800; 2002, cc. 527, 810, 818; 2003, cc. 111, 149; 2004, cc. 396, 435; 2007, cc. 220, 282; 2009, c. 242; 2018, c. 417.","full_text":"A\n\nIf any person without just cause knowingly obstructs a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, any law-enforcement officer, or animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555 in the performance of his duties as such or fails or refuses without just cause to cease such obstruction when requested to do so by such judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, law-enforcement officer, or animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555, he is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.B\n\nExcept as provided in subsection C, any person who, by threats or force, knowingly attempts to intimidate or impede a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, any law-enforcement officer, or an animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555 lawfully engaged in his duties as such, or to obstruct or impede the administration of justice in any court, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.C\n\nIf any person by threats of bodily harm or force knowingly attempts to intimidate or impede a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, any law-enforcement officer, lawfully engaged in the discharge of his duty, or to obstruct or impede the administration of justice in any court relating to a violation of or conspiracy to violate § 18.2-248 or subdivision (a)(3), (b) or (c) of § 18.2-248.1, or § 18.2-46.2 or § 18.2-46.3, or relating to the violation of or conspiracy to violate any violent felony offense listed in subsection C of § 17.1-805, he is guilty of a Class 5 felony.D\n\nAny person who knowingly and willfully makes any materially false statement or representation to a law-enforcement officer or an animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555 who is in the course of conducting an investigation of a crime by another is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.E\n\nAny person who intentionally prevents or attempts to prevent a law-enforcement officer from lawfully arresting him, with or without a warrant, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this subsection, intentionally preventing or attempting to prevent a lawful arrest means fleeing from a law-enforcement officer when (i) the officer applies physical force to the person, or (ii) the officer communicates to the person that he is under arrest and (a) the officer has the legal authority and the immediate physical ability to place the person under arrest, and (b) a reasonable person who receives such communication knows or should know that he is not free to leave.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":205691,"text":"If any person without just cause knowingly obstructs a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, any law-enforcement officer, or animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555 in the performance of his duties as such or fails or refuses without just cause to cease such obstruction when requested to do so by such judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, law-enforcement officer, or animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555, he 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":205692,"text":"Except as provided in subsection C, any person who, by threats or force, knowingly attempts to intimidate or impede a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, any law-enforcement officer, or an animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555 lawfully engaged in his duties as such, or to obstruct or impede the administration of justice in any court, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":205693,"text":"If any person by threats of bodily harm or force knowingly attempts to intimidate or impede a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, any law-enforcement officer, lawfully engaged in the discharge of his duty, or to obstruct or impede the administration of justice in any court relating to a violation of or conspiracy to violate § 18.2-248 or subdivision (a)(3), (b) or (c) of § 18.2-248.1, or § 18.2-46.2 or § 18.2-46.3, or relating to the violation of or conspiracy to violate any violent felony offense listed in subsection C of § 17.1-805, he is guilty of a Class 5 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":205694,"text":"Any person who knowingly and willfully makes any materially false statement or representation to a law-enforcement officer or an animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555 who is in the course of conducting an investigation of a crime by another is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":205695,"text":"Any person who intentionally prevents or attempts to prevent a law-enforcement officer from lawfully arresting him, with or without a warrant, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this subsection, intentionally preventing or attempting to prevent a lawful arrest means fleeing from a law-enforcement officer when (i) the officer applies physical force to the person, or (ii) the officer communicates to the person that he is under arrest and (a) the officer has the legal authority and the immediate physical ability to place the person under arrest, and (b) a reasonable person who receives such communication knows or should know that he is not free to leave.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14374,"edition_id":1,"name":"Interference With Administration of Justice","identifier":"6","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13246,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:55","permalink":{"id":164349,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14374,"identifier":"6","token":"18.2\/10\/6","url":"\/18.2\/10\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13246,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Against the Administration of Justice","identifier":"10","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","permalink":{"id":164221,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13246,"identifier":"10","token":"18.2\/10","url":"\/18.2\/10\/","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":56127,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-460","catch_line":"Obstructing justice; resisting arrest; fleeing from a law-enforcement officer; penalties","url":"\/18.2-460\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-460","metadata":false},{"id":63578,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-460.1","catch_line":"Unlawful disclosure of existence of order authorizing wire or oral interception of communication","url":"\/18.2-460.1\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-460.1","metadata":false},{"id":79594,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-461","catch_line":"Falsely summoning or giving false reports to law-enforcement officials","url":"\/18.2-461\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-461","metadata":false},{"id":58515,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-461.1","catch_line":"False emergency communication to emergency personnel; penalties","url":"\/18.2-461.1\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-461.1","metadata":false},{"id":85622,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-462","catch_line":"Concealing or compounding offenses; penalties","url":"\/18.2-462\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-462","metadata":false},{"id":76069,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-462.1","catch_line":"Use of police radio during commission of crime","url":"\/18.2-462.1\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-462.1","metadata":false},{"id":61665,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-463","catch_line":"Refusal to aid officer in execution of his office","url":"\/18.2-463\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-463","metadata":false},{"id":56911,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-464","catch_line":"Failure to obey order of conservator of the peace","url":"\/18.2-464\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-464","metadata":false},{"id":73691,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-465","catch_line":"Officer summoning juror to act impartially","url":"\/18.2-465\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-465","metadata":false},{"id":55703,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-465.1","catch_line":"Penalizing employee for court appearance or service on jury panel","url":"\/18.2-465.1\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-465.1","metadata":false},{"id":62898,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-465.2","catch_line":"Contact with jurors after trial prohibited; penalty","url":"\/18.2-465.2\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-465.2","metadata":false},{"id":69049,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-466","catch_line":"Corruptly procuring juror to be summoned","url":"\/18.2-466\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-466","metadata":false},{"id":82079,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-467","catch_line":"Fraud in drawing jurors, etc","url":"\/18.2-467\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-467","metadata":false},{"id":69010,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-468","catch_line":"Making sound recordings of jury deliberations","url":"\/18.2-468\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-468","metadata":false},{"id":73495,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-469","catch_line":"Officer refusing, delaying, etc., to execute process for criminal","url":"\/18.2-469\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-469","metadata":false},{"id":59846,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-470","catch_line":"Extortion by officer","url":"\/18.2-470\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-470","metadata":false},{"id":76169,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-471","catch_line":"Fraudulent issue of fee bills","url":"\/18.2-471\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-471","metadata":false},{"id":69593,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-471.1","catch_line":"Destruction of human biological evidence; penalty","url":"\/18.2-471.1\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-471.1","metadata":false},{"id":73316,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-472","catch_line":"False entries or destruction of records by officers","url":"\/18.2-472\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-472","metadata":false},{"id":57746,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-472.1","catch_line":"Providing false information or failing to provide registration information; penalty; prima facie evidence","url":"\/18.2-472.1\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-472.1","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":63578,"structure_id":14374,"section_number":"18.2-460.1","catch_line":"Unlawful disclosure of existence of order authorizing wire or oral interception of communication","url":"\/18.2-460.1\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-460.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-460\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 14 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 1975, chapters 14 and 15; in 1976, chapter 269; in 1984, chapter 571; in 1989, chapter 506; in 1993, chapter 747; in 1996, chapter 718<\/a>; in 1999, chapters 770<\/a> and 800<\/a>; in 2002, chapters 527<\/a>, 810<\/a>, and 818<\/a>; in 2003, chapters 111<\/a> and 149<\/a>; in 2004, chapters 396<\/a> and 435<\/a>; in 2007, chapters 220<\/a> and 282<\/a>; in 2009, chapter 242<\/a>; in 2018, chapter 417<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":80246,"section_number":"17.1-805","catch_line":"Adoption of initial discretionary sentencing guideline midpoints","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-805\/"},{"id":68291,"section_number":"18.2-513","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-513\/"},{"id":77143,"section_number":"19.2-215.1","catch_line":"Functions of a multi-jurisdiction grand jury","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-215.1\/"},{"id":82522,"section_number":"19.2-271","catch_line":"Certain judicial officers incompetent to testify under certain circumstances; exceptions (Supreme Court Rule 2:605 derived from this section)","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-271\/"},{"id":72639,"section_number":"19.2-310.2","catch_line":"Blood, saliva, or tissue sample required for DNA analysis upon conviction of certain crimes; fee","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-310.2\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":80246,"section_number":"17.1-805","catch_line":"Adoption of initial discretionary sentencing guideline midpoints","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-805\/"},{"id":68693,"section_number":"18.2-248","catch_line":"Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance prohibited; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-248\/"},{"id":60632,"section_number":"18.2-248.1","catch_line":"Penalties for sale, gift, distribution or possession with intent to sell, give or distribute marijuana","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-248.1\/"},{"id":60069,"section_number":"18.2-46.2","catch_line":"Prohibited criminal street gang participation; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-46.2\/"},{"id":70242,"section_number":"18.2-46.3","catch_line":"Recruitment of persons for criminal street gang; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-46.3\/"},{"id":65545,"section_number":"3.2-6555","catch_line":"Position of animal control officer created","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6555\/"}],"permalink":{"id":164351,"object_type":"law","relational_id":56127,"identifier":"18.2-460","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-460","url":"\/18.2-460\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-460\/","token":"18.2\/10\/6\/18.2-460","dublin_core":{"Title":"Obstructing justice; resisting arrest; fleeing from a law-enforcement officer; penalties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-460","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> If any person without just cause knowingly obstructs a judge<\/span>, magistrate<\/span>, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness<\/span>, any law<\/span>-enforcement officer, or animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555<\/a> in the performance of his duties as such or fails or refuses without just cause to cease such obstruction when requested to do so by such judge<\/span>, magistrate<\/span>, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness<\/span>, law<\/span>-enforcement officer, or animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555<\/a>, he is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Except as provided in subsection C, any person who, by threats or force, knowingly attempts to intimidate or impede a judge<\/span>, magistrate<\/span>, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness<\/span>, any law<\/span>-enforcement officer, or an animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555<\/a> lawfully engaged in his duties as such, or to obstruct or impede the administration of justice in any court<\/span>, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> If any person by threats of bodily harm or force knowingly attempts to intimidate or impede a judge<\/span>, magistrate<\/span>, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness<\/span>, any law<\/span>-enforcement officer, lawfully engaged in the discharge of his duty, or to obstruct or impede the administration of justice in any court<\/span> relating to a violation of or conspiracy to violate § 18.2-248<\/a> or subdivision (a)(3), (b) or (c) of § 18.2-248.1<\/a>, or § 18.2-46.2<\/a> or § 18.2-46.3<\/a>, or relating to the violation of or conspiracy to violate any violent felony<\/span> offense<\/span> listed in subsection C of § 17.1-805<\/a>, he is guilty of a Class 5 felony<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Any person who knowingly and willfully makes any materially false statement or representation to a law<\/span>-enforcement officer or an animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555<\/a> who is in the course of conducting an investigation of a crime<\/span> by another is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Any person who intentionally prevents or attempts to prevent a law<\/span>-enforcement officer from lawfully arresting him, with or without a warrant, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. For purposes of this subsection, intentionally preventing or attempting to prevent a lawful arrest<\/span> means fleeing from a law<\/span>-enforcement officer when (i) the officer applies physical force to the person, or (ii) the officer communicates to the person that he is under arrest<\/span> and (a) the officer has the legal authority and the immediate physical ability to place the person under arrest<\/span>, and (b) a reasonable person who receives such communication knows or should know that he is not free to leave. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nOBSTRUCTING JUSTICE; RESISTING ARREST; FLEEING FROM A LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICER;\nPENALTIES (\u00a7 18.2-460)\n\nA. If any person without just cause knowingly obstructs a judge, magistrate,\njustice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, any law-enforcement\nofficer, or animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555 in the\nperformance of his duties as such or fails or refuses without just cause to\ncease such obstruction when requested to do so by such judge, magistrate,\njustice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, law-enforcement officer,\nor animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555, he is guilty of\na Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nB. Except as provided in subsection C, any person who, by threats or force,\nknowingly attempts to intimidate or impede a judge, magistrate, justice, juror,\nattorney for the Commonwealth, witness, any law-enforcement officer, or an\nanimal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555 lawfully engaged in\nhis duties as such, or to obstruct or impede the administration of justice in\nany court, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nC. If any person by threats of bodily harm or force knowingly attempts to\nintimidate or impede a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the\nCommonwealth, witness, any law-enforcement officer, lawfully engaged in the\ndischarge of his duty, or to obstruct or impede the administration of justice in\nany court relating to a violation of or conspiracy to violate § 18.2-248 or\nsubdivision (a)(3), (b) or (c) of § 18.2-248.1, or § 18.2-46.2 or\n§ 18.2-46.3, or relating to the violation of or conspiracy to violate any\nviolent felony offense listed in subsection C of § 17.1-805, he is guilty\nof a Class 5 felony.\n\nD. Any person who knowingly and willfully makes any materially false statement\nor representation to a law-enforcement officer or an animal control officer\nemployed pursuant to § 3.2-6555 who is in the course of conducting an\ninvestigation of a crime by another is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nE. Any person who intentionally prevents or attempts to prevent a\nlaw-enforcement officer from lawfully arresting him, with or without a warrant,\nis guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this subsection,\nintentionally preventing or attempting to prevent a lawful arrest means fleeing\nfrom a law-enforcement officer when (i) the officer applies physical force to\nthe person, or (ii) the officer communicates to the person that he is under\narrest and (a) the officer has the legal authority and the immediate physical\nability to place the person under arrest, and (b) a reasonable person who\nreceives such communication knows or should know that he is not free to leave.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-310; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1976, c. 269;\n1984, c. 571; 1989, c. 506; 1993, c. 747; 1996, c. 718; 1999, cc. 770, 800;\n2002, cc. 527, 810, 818; 2003, cc. 111, 149; 2004, cc. 396, 435; 2007, cc. 220,\n282; 2009, c. 242; 2018, c. 417.","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}}