{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-85.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-85.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-85.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-85.html"}],"law_id":82444,"edition_id":1,"section_id":82444,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-85","catch_line":"Manufacture, possession, use, etc., of fire bombs or explosive materials or devices; penalties","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-78.6; 1968, c. 249; 1972, c. 126; 1975, cc. 14, 15, 497; 1976, c. 526; 1977, c. 326; 1990, cc. 644, 647; 1992, c. 540; 2000, cc. 951, 1065; 2002, cc. 588, 623; 2005, c. 204.","full_text":"For the purpose of this section:\n\t\t“Device” means any instrument, apparatus or contrivance, including its component parts, that is capable of producing or intended to produce an explosion but shall not include fireworks as defined in \u00a7 27-95.\n\t\t“Explosive material” means any chemical compound, mechanical mixture or device that is commonly used or can be used for the purpose of producing an explosion and which contains any oxidizing and combustive agents or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities or packaging that an ignition by fire, friction, concussion, percussion, detonation or by any part of the compound or mixture may cause a sudden generation of highly heated gases. These materials include, but are not limited to, gunpowder, powders for blasting, high explosives, blasting materials, fuses (other than electric circuit breakers), detonators, and other detonating agents and smokeless powder.\n\t\t“Fire bomb” means any container of a flammable material such as gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, or other chemical compound, having a wick composed of any material or a device or other substance which, if set or ignited, is capable of igniting such flammable material or chemical compound but does not include a similar device commercially manufactured and used solely for the purpose of illumination or cooking.\n\t\t“Hoax explosive device” means any device which by its design, construction, content or characteristics appears to be or to contain a bomb or other destructive device or explosive but which is an imitation of any such device or explosive.\n\t\tAny person who (i) possesses materials with which fire bombs or explosive materials or devices can be made with the intent to manufacture fire bombs or explosive materials or devices or, (ii) manufactures, transports, distributes, possesses or uses a fire bomb or explosive materials or devices shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony. Any person who constructs, uses, places, sends, or causes to be sent any hoax explosive device so as to intentionally cause another person to believe that such device is a bomb or explosive shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.\n\t\tNothing in this section shall prohibit the authorized manufacture, transportation, distribution, use or possession of any material, substance, or device by a member of the armed forces of the United States, fire fighters or law-enforcement officers, nor shall it prohibit the manufacture, transportation, distribution, use or possession of any material, substance or device to be used solely for scientific research, educational purposes or for any lawful purpose, subject to the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 27-97 and 27-97.2.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":295376,"text":"For the purpose of this section:\n\t\t“Device” means any instrument, apparatus or contrivance, including its component parts, that is capable of producing or intended to produce an explosion but shall not include fireworks as defined in \u00a7 27-95.\n\t\t“Explosive material” means any chemical compound, mechanical mixture or device that is commonly used or can be used for the purpose of producing an explosion and which contains any oxidizing and combustive agents or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities or packaging that an ignition by fire, friction, concussion, percussion, detonation or by any part of the compound or mixture may cause a sudden generation of highly heated gases. These materials include, but are not limited to, gunpowder, powders for blasting, high explosives, blasting materials, fuses (other than electric circuit breakers), detonators, and other detonating agents and smokeless powder.\n\t\t“Fire bomb” means any container of a flammable material such as gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, or other chemical compound, having a wick composed of any material or a device or other substance which, if set or ignited, is capable of igniting such flammable material or chemical compound but does not include a similar device commercially manufactured and used solely for the purpose of illumination or cooking.\n\t\t“Hoax explosive device” means any device which by its design, construction, content or characteristics appears to be or to contain a bomb or other destructive device or explosive but which is an imitation of any such device or explosive.\n\t\tAny person who (i) possesses materials with which fire bombs or explosive materials or devices can be made with the intent to manufacture fire bombs or explosive materials or devices or, (ii) manufactures, transports, distributes, possesses or uses a fire bomb or explosive materials or devices shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony. Any person who constructs, uses, places, sends, or causes to be sent any hoax explosive device so as to intentionally cause another person to believe that such device is a bomb or explosive shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.\n\t\tNothing in this section shall prohibit the authorized manufacture, transportation, distribution, use or possession of any material, substance, or device by a member of the armed forces of the United States, fire fighters or law-enforcement officers, nor shall it prohibit the manufacture, transportation, distribution, use or possession of any material, substance or device to be used solely for scientific research, educational purposes or for any lawful purpose, subject to the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 27-97 and 27-97.2.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13820,"edition_id":1,"name":"Arson and Related Crimes","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13243,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:59","permalink":{"id":165301,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13820,"identifier":"1","token":"18.2\/5\/1","url":"\/18.2\/5\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13243,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Against Property","identifier":"5","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":165299,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13243,"identifier":"5","token":"18.2\/5","url":"\/18.2\/5\/","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":62707,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-77","catch_line":"Burning or destroying dwelling house, etc","url":"\/18.2-77\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-77","metadata":false},{"id":57816,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-78","catch_line":"What not deemed dwelling house","url":"\/18.2-78\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-78","metadata":false},{"id":61666,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-79","catch_line":"Burning or destroying meeting house, etc","url":"\/18.2-79\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-79","metadata":false},{"id":54834,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-80","catch_line":"Burning or destroying any other building or structure","url":"\/18.2-80\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-80","metadata":false},{"id":65432,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-81","catch_line":"Burning or destroying personal property, standing grain, etc","url":"\/18.2-81\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-81","metadata":false},{"id":57865,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-82","catch_line":"Burning building or structure while in such building or structure with intent to commit felony","url":"\/18.2-82\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-82","metadata":false},{"id":65236,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-83","catch_line":"Threats to bomb, damage, or discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation; false information as to danger to such buildings, etc.; punishment; venue","url":"\/18.2-83\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-83","metadata":false},{"id":82342,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-84","catch_line":"Causing, inciting, etc., commission of act proscribed by \u00a7 18.2-83","url":"\/18.2-84\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-84","metadata":false},{"id":82444,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-85","catch_line":"Manufacture, possession, use, etc., of fire bombs or explosive materials or devices; penalties","url":"\/18.2-85\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-85","metadata":false},{"id":62664,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-86","catch_line":"Setting fire to woods, fences, grass, etc","url":"\/18.2-86\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-86","metadata":false},{"id":83992,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-87","catch_line":"Setting woods, etc., on fire intentionally whereby another is damaged or jeopardized","url":"\/18.2-87\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-87","metadata":false},{"id":78938,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-87.1","catch_line":"Setting off chemical bombs capable of producing smoke in certain public buildings","url":"\/18.2-87.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-87.1","metadata":false},{"id":76729,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-88","catch_line":"Carelessly damaging property by fire","url":"\/18.2-88\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-88","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":82342,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-84","catch_line":"Causing, inciting, etc., commission of act proscribed by \u00a7 18.2-83","url":"\/18.2-84\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-84","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":62664,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-86","catch_line":"Setting fire to woods, fences, grass, etc","url":"\/18.2-86\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-86","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-85\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 10 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 249; in 1972, chapter 126; in 1975, chapters 14, 15, and 497; in 1976, chapter 526; in 1977, chapter 326; in 1990, chapters 644 and 647; in 1992, chapter 540; in 2000, chapters 951<\/a> and 1065<\/a>; in 2002, chapters 588<\/a> and 623<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 204<\/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":76633,"section_number":"18.2-46.6","catch_line":"Possession, manufacture, distribution, etc., of weapon of terrorism or hoax device prohibited; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-46.6\/"},{"id":61280,"section_number":"19.2-392.02","catch_line":"National criminal background checks by businesses and organizations regarding employees or volunteers providing care to children or the elderly or disabled","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.02\/"},{"id":64442,"section_number":"22.1-279.3:1","catch_line":"Reports of certain acts to school authorities; reports of certain acts by school authorities to parents; reports of certain acts by school authorities to law enforcement","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-279.3_1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":85367,"section_number":"27-95","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/27-95\/"},{"id":68330,"section_number":"27-97","catch_line":"Adoption of Fire Prevention Code","order_by":null,"url":"\/27-97\/"},{"id":61409,"section_number":"27-97.2","catch_line":" Issuance of permit; background investigations","order_by":null,"url":"\/27-97.2\/"}],"permalink":{"id":165335,"object_type":"law","relational_id":82444,"identifier":"18.2-85","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-85","url":"\/18.2-85\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-85\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-85","dublin_core":{"Title":"Manufacture, possession, use, etc., of fire bombs or explosive materials or devices; penalties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-85","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

For the purpose of this section:\n\t\t“Device” means any instrument, apparatus or contrivance, including its component parts, that is capable of producing or intended to produce an explosion but shall not include fireworks as defined in \u00a7 27-95<\/a>.\n\t\t“Explosive material<\/span>” means any chemical compound, mechanical mixture or device that is commonly used or can be used for the purpose of producing an explosion and which contains any oxidizing and combustive agents or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities or packaging that an ignition by fire, friction, concussion, percussion, detonation or by any part of the compound or mixture may cause a sudden generation of highly heated gases. These materials include, but are not limited to, gunpowder, powders for blasting, high explosives, blasting materials, fuses (other than electric circuit<\/span> breakers), detonators, and other detonating agents and smokeless powder.\n\t\t“Fire bomb<\/span>” means any container of a flammable material such as gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, or other chemical compound, having a wick composed of any material or a device or other substance which, if set or ignited, is capable of igniting such flammable material or chemical compound but does not include a similar device commercially manufactured and used solely for the purpose of illumination or cooking.\n\t\t“Hoax explosive device<\/span>” means any device which by its design, construction, content or characteristics appears to be or to contain a bomb or other destructive device or explosive but which is an imitation of any such device or explosive.\n\t\tAny person who (i) possesses materials with which fire bombs<\/span> or explosive materials<\/span> or devices<\/span> can be made with the intent<\/span> to manufacture fire bombs<\/span> or explosive materials<\/span> or devices<\/span> or, (ii) manufactures, transports, distributes, possesses or uses a fire bomb<\/span> or explosive materials<\/span> or devices<\/span> shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony<\/span>. Any person who constructs, uses, places, sends, or causes to be sent any hoax explosive device<\/span> so as to intentionally cause another person to believe that such device is a bomb or explosive shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>.\n\t\tNothing in this section shall prohibit the authorized manufacture, transportation, distribution, use or possession<\/span> of any material, substance, or device by a member of the armed forces of the United States, fire fighters or law<\/span>-enforcement officers, nor shall it prohibit the manufacture, transportation, distribution, use or possession<\/span> of any material, substance or device to be used solely for scientific research, educational purposes or for any lawful purpose, subject to the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 27-97<\/a> and 27-97.2<\/a>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nMANUFACTURE, POSSESSION, USE, ETC., OF FIRE BOMBS OR EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS OR\nDEVICES; PENALTIES (\u00a7 18.2-85)\n\nFor the purpose of this section:\n\t\t“Device” means any instrument, apparatus or contrivance, including\nits component parts, that is capable of producing or intended to produce an\nexplosion but shall not include fireworks as defined in \u00a7 27-95.\n\t\t“Explosive material” means any chemical compound, mechanical\nmixture or device that is commonly used or can be used for the purpose of\nproducing an explosion and which contains any oxidizing and combustive agents or\nother ingredients in such proportions, quantities or packaging that an ignition\nby fire, friction, concussion, percussion, detonation or by any part of the\ncompound or mixture may cause a sudden generation of highly heated gases. These\nmaterials include, but are not limited to, gunpowder, powders for blasting, high\nexplosives, blasting materials, fuses (other than electric circuit breakers),\ndetonators, and other detonating agents and smokeless powder.\n\t\t“Fire bomb” means any container of a flammable material such as\ngasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, or other chemical compound, having a wick composed\nof any material or a device or other substance which, if set or ignited, is\ncapable of igniting such flammable material or chemical compound but does not\ninclude a similar device commercially manufactured and used solely for the\npurpose of illumination or cooking.\n\t\t“Hoax explosive device” means any device which by its design,\nconstruction, content or characteristics appears to be or to contain a bomb or\nother destructive device or explosive but which is an imitation of any such\ndevice or explosive.\n\t\tAny person who (i) possesses materials with which fire bombs or explosive\nmaterials or devices can be made with the intent to manufacture fire bombs or\nexplosive materials or devices or, (ii) manufactures, transports, distributes,\npossesses or uses a fire bomb or explosive materials or devices shall be guilty\nof a Class 5 felony. Any person who constructs, uses, places, sends, or causes\nto be sent any hoax explosive device so as to intentionally cause another person\nto believe that such device is a bomb or explosive shall be guilty of a Class 6\nfelony.\n\t\tNothing in this section shall prohibit the authorized manufacture,\ntransportation, distribution, use or possession of any material, substance, or\ndevice by a member of the armed forces of the United States, fire fighters or\nlaw-enforcement officers, nor shall it prohibit the manufacture, transportation,\ndistribution, use or possession of any material, substance or device to be used\nsolely for scientific research, educational purposes or for any lawful purpose,\nsubject to the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 27-97 and 27-97.2.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-78.6; 1968, c. 249; 1972, c. 126; 1975, cc. 14, 15,\n497; 1976, c. 526; 1977, c. 326; 1990, cc. 644, 647; 1992, c. 540; 2000, cc.\n951, 1065; 2002, cc. 588, 623; 2005, c. 204.","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}}