{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-96.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-96.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-96.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-96.1.html"}],"law_id":71563,"edition_id":1,"section_id":71563,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-96.1","catch_line":"Identification of certain personalty","history":"1981, c. 165; 1982, c. 382; 2018, cc. 764, 765; 2020, cc. 89, 401.","full_text":"A\n\nThe owner of personal property may permanently mark such property, including any part thereof, for the purpose of identification with the social security number of the owner, preceded by the letters “VA.”B\n\n[Repealed.]C\n\nIt shall be unlawful for any person to remove, alter, deface, destroy, conceal, or otherwise obscure the manufacturer’s serial number or marks, including personalty marked with a social security number preceded by the letters “VA,” from such personal property or any part thereof, without the consent of the owner, with intent to render it or other property unidentifiable.D\n\nIt shall be unlawful for any person to possess such personal property or any part thereof, without the consent of the owner, knowing that the manufacturer’s serial number or any other distinguishing identification number or mark, including personalty marked with a social security number preceded by the letters “VA,” has been removed, altered, defaced, destroyed, concealed, or otherwise obscured with the intent to violate the provisions of this section.E\n\nA person in possession of such property which is otherwise in violation of this section may apply in writing to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Virginia State Police, for assignment of a number for the personal property providing he can show that he is the lawful owner of the property. If a number is issued in conformity with the provisions of this section, then the person to whom it was issued and any person to whom the property is lawfully disposed of shall not be in violation of this section. This subsection shall apply only when the application has been filed by a person prior to arrest or authorization of a warrant of arrest for that person by a court.F\n\nAny person convicted of an offense under this section, when the value of the personalty is less than $1,000, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and, when the value of the personalty is $1,000 or more, shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":257956,"text":"The owner of personal property may permanently mark such property, including any part thereof, for the purpose of identification with the social security number of the owner, preceded by the letters “VA.”","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":257957,"text":"[Repealed.]","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":257958,"text":"It shall be unlawful for any person to remove, alter, deface, destroy, conceal, or otherwise obscure the manufacturer’s serial number or marks, including personalty marked with a social security number preceded by the letters “VA,” from such personal property or any part thereof, without the consent of the owner, with intent to render it or other property unidentifiable.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":257959,"text":"It shall be unlawful for any person to possess such personal property or any part thereof, without the consent of the owner, knowing that the manufacturer’s serial number or any other distinguishing identification number or mark, including personalty marked with a social security number preceded by the letters “VA,” has been removed, altered, defaced, destroyed, concealed, or otherwise obscured with the intent to violate the provisions of this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":257960,"text":"A person in possession of such property which is otherwise in violation of this section may apply in writing to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Virginia State Police, for assignment of a number for the personal property providing he can show that he is the lawful owner of the property. If a number is issued in conformity with the provisions of this section, then the person to whom it was issued and any person to whom the property is lawfully disposed of shall not be in violation of this section. This subsection shall apply only when the application has been filed by a person prior to arrest or authorization of a warrant of arrest for that person by a court.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":257961,"text":"Any person convicted of an offense under this section, when the value of the personalty is less than $1,000, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and, when the value of the personalty is $1,000 or more, shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13748,"edition_id":1,"name":"Larceny and Receiving Stolen Goods","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13243,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:46","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:46","permalink":{"id":165381,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13748,"identifier":"3","token":"18.2\/5\/3","url":"\/18.2\/5\/3\/","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":62699,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-100","catch_line":"Removal of crop by tenant before rents and advances are satisfied","url":"\/18.2-100\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-100","metadata":false},{"id":56952,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-101","catch_line":"Selling, etc., of goods distrained or levied on","url":"\/18.2-101\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-101","metadata":false},{"id":62517,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-102","catch_line":"Unauthorized use of animal, aircraft, vehicle or boat; consent; accessories or accomplices","url":"\/18.2-102\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-102","metadata":false},{"id":54920,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-102.1","catch_line":"Removal of shopping cart from store premises","url":"\/18.2-102.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-102.1","metadata":false},{"id":73217,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-102.2","catch_line":"Unauthorized use of dairy milk cases or milk crates; penalty","url":"\/18.2-102.2\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-102.2","metadata":false},{"id":67960,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-103","catch_line":"Concealing or taking possession of merchandise; altering price tags; transferring goods from one container to another; counseling, etc., another in performance of such acts","url":"\/18.2-103\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-103","metadata":false},{"id":74816,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-103.1","catch_line":"Organized retail theft; penalty","url":"\/18.2-103.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-103.1","metadata":false},{"id":85101,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-104","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-104\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-104","metadata":false},{"id":60229,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-104.1","catch_line":"Liability upon conviction under \u00a7 18.2-103","url":"\/18.2-104.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-104.1","metadata":false},{"id":83548,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-105","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-105\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-105","metadata":false},{"id":54750,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-105.1","catch_line":"Detention of suspected shoplifter","url":"\/18.2-105.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-105.1","metadata":false},{"id":85934,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-105.2","catch_line":"Manufacture, sale, etc., of devices to shield against electronic detection of shoplifting prohibited; penalty","url":"\/18.2-105.2\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-105.2","metadata":false},{"id":85827,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-106","catch_line":"\"Agents of the merchant\" defined","url":"\/18.2-106\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-106","metadata":false},{"id":86569,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-107","catch_line":"Theft or destruction of public records by others than officers","url":"\/18.2-107\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-107","metadata":false},{"id":78282,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-108","catch_line":"Receiving, etc., stolen goods","url":"\/18.2-108\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-108","metadata":false},{"id":54822,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-108.01","catch_line":"Larceny with intent to sell or distribute; sale of stolen property; penalty","url":"\/18.2-108.01\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-108.01","metadata":false},{"id":57561,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-108.1","catch_line":"Receipt of stolen firearm","url":"\/18.2-108.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-108.1","metadata":false},{"id":76334,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-109","catch_line":"Receipt or transfer of possession of stolen vehicle, aircraft or boat","url":"\/18.2-109\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-109","metadata":false},{"id":56172,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-110","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-110\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-110","metadata":false},{"id":57779,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-110.1","catch_line":"Mail theft; penalty","url":"\/18.2-110.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-110.1","metadata":false},{"id":78364,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-95","catch_line":"Grand larceny defined; how punished","url":"\/18.2-95\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-95","metadata":false},{"id":85076,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-96","catch_line":"Petit larceny defined; how punished","url":"\/18.2-96\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-96","metadata":false},{"id":71563,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-96.1","catch_line":"Identification of certain personalty","url":"\/18.2-96.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-96.1","metadata":false},{"id":63700,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-97","catch_line":"Larceny of certain animals and poultry","url":"\/18.2-97\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-97","metadata":false},{"id":77024,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-97.1","catch_line":"Removal of a transmitting device; penalty","url":"\/18.2-97.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-97.1","metadata":false},{"id":72452,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-98","catch_line":"Larceny of bank notes, checks, etc., or any book of accounts","url":"\/18.2-98\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-98","metadata":false},{"id":68304,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-98.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-98.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-98.1","metadata":false},{"id":79129,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-99","catch_line":"Larceny of things fixed to the freehold","url":"\/18.2-99\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-99","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":85076,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-96","catch_line":"Petit larceny defined; how punished","url":"\/18.2-96\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-96","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":63700,"structure_id":13748,"section_number":"18.2-97","catch_line":"Larceny of certain animals and poultry","url":"\/18.2-97\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-97","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-96.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1981. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 165 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1981 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 1982, chapter 382; in 2018, chapters 764<\/a> and 765<\/a>; in 2020, chapters 89<\/a> and 401<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":165471,"object_type":"law","relational_id":71563,"identifier":"18.2-96.1","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-96.1","url":"\/18.2-96.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-96.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/3\/18.2-96.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Identification of certain personalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-96.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The owner of personal property may permanently mark such property, including any part thereof, for the purpose of identification with the social security number of the owner, preceded by the letters “VA.” <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> [Repealed.] <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> It shall be unlawful for any person to remove, alter, deface, destroy, conceal, or otherwise obscure the manufacturer’s serial number or marks, including personalty marked with a social security number preceded by the letters “VA,” from such personal property or any part thereof, without the consent of the owner, with intent<\/span> to render it or other property unidentifiable. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> It shall be unlawful for any person to possess such personal property or any part thereof, without the consent of the owner, knowing that the manufacturer’s serial number or any other distinguishing identification number or mark, including personalty marked with a social security number preceded by the letters “VA,” has been removed, altered, defaced, destroyed, concealed, or otherwise obscured with the intent<\/span> to violate the provisions of this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> A person in possession<\/span> of such property which is otherwise in violation of this section may apply in writing to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Virginia State Police, for assignment of a number for the personal property providing he can show that he is the lawful owner of the property. If a number is issued in conformity with the provisions of this section, then the person to whom it was issued and any person to whom the property is lawfully disposed of shall not be in violation of this section. This subsection shall apply only when the application has been filed by a person prior to arrest or authorization of a warrant of arrest<\/span> for that person by a court<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> Any person convicted of an offense<\/span> under this section, when the value of the personalty is less than $1,000, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span> and, when the value of the personalty is $1,000 or more, shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nIDENTIFICATION OF CERTAIN PERSONALTY (\u00a7 18.2-96.1)\n\nA. The owner of personal property may permanently mark such property, including\nany part thereof, for the purpose of identification with the social security\nnumber of the owner, preceded by the letters “VA.”\n\nB. [Repealed.]\n\nC. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove, alter, deface, destroy,\nconceal, or otherwise obscure the manufacturer’s serial number or marks,\nincluding personalty marked with a social security number preceded by the\nletters “VA,” from such personal property or any part thereof,\nwithout the consent of the owner, with intent to render it or other property\nunidentifiable.\n\nD. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess such personal property or any\npart thereof, without the consent of the owner, knowing that the\nmanufacturer’s serial number or any other distinguishing identification\nnumber or mark, including personalty marked with a social security number\npreceded by the letters “VA,” has been removed, altered, defaced,\ndestroyed, concealed, or otherwise obscured with the intent to violate the\nprovisions of this section.\n\nE. A person in possession of such property which is otherwise in violation of\nthis section may apply in writing to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation,\nVirginia State Police, for assignment of a number for the personal property\nproviding he can show that he is the lawful owner of the property. If a number\nis issued in conformity with the provisions of this section, then the person to\nwhom it was issued and any person to whom the property is lawfully disposed of\nshall not be in violation of this section. This subsection shall apply only when\nthe application has been filed by a person prior to arrest or authorization of a\nwarrant of arrest for that person by a court.\n\nF. Any person convicted of an offense under this section, when the value of the\npersonalty is less than $1,000, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and,\nwhen the value of the personalty is $1,000 or more, shall be guilty of a Class 5\nfelony.\n\nHISTORY: 1981, c. 165; 1982, c. 382; 2018, cc. 764, 765; 2020, cc. 89, 401.","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}}