{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/29.1-556.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/29.1-556.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/29.1-556.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/29.1-556.1.html"}],"law_id":57261,"edition_id":1,"section_id":57261,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-556.1","catch_line":"Release of certain balloons prohibited; civil penalty; community service","history":"1991, c. 607; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 420.","full_text":"A\n\nIt is unlawful for any individual 16 years of age or older or other person to intentionally release, discard, or cause to be released or discarded outdoors any balloon made of a nonbiodegradable or nonphotodegradable material or any material that requires more than five minutes’ contact with air or water to degrade. Any person convicted of a violation of this section is liable for a civil penalty of $25 per balloon released or discarded, which shall be paid into the Game Protection Fund established pursuant to § 29.1-101. If an individual under the age of 16 releases a balloon by arrangement with or at the instruction of an adult, the adult shall be liable for the civil penalty assessed.B\n\nThe provisions of this section shall not apply to any (i) balloon released (a) by or on behalf of any agency of the Commonwealth or the United States or (b) pursuant to a contract with the Commonwealth, the United States, or any other state, territory, or government for scientific or meteorological purposes or (ii) hot air balloon that is recovered after launch.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":209768,"text":"It is unlawful for any individual 16 years of age or older or other person to intentionally release, discard, or cause to be released or discarded outdoors any balloon made of a nonbiodegradable or nonphotodegradable material or any material that requires more than five minutes’ contact with air or water to degrade. Any person convicted of a violation of this section is liable for a civil penalty of $25 per balloon released or discarded, which shall be paid into the Game Protection Fund established pursuant to § 29.1-101. If an individual under the age of 16 releases a balloon by arrangement with or at the instruction of an adult, the adult shall be liable for the civil penalty assessed.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":209769,"text":"The provisions of this section shall not apply to any (i) balloon released (a) by or on behalf of any agency of the Commonwealth or the United States or (b) pursuant to a contract with the Commonwealth, the United States, or any other state, territory, or government for scientific or meteorological purposes or (ii) hot air balloon that is recovered after launch.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14126,"edition_id":1,"name":"Penalties in General","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13513,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:56","permalink":{"id":193243,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14126,"identifier":"5","token":"29.1\/5\/5","url":"\/29.1\/5\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13513,"edition_id":1,"name":"Wildlife and Fish Laws","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12934,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:06","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:06","permalink":{"id":192967,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13513,"identifier":"5","token":"29.1\/5","url":"\/29.1\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12934,"edition_id":1,"name":"Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating","identifier":"29.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":192277,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12934,"identifier":"29.1","token":"29.1","url":"\/29.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":77599,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-546","catch_line":"General penalty","url":"\/29.1-546\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-546","metadata":false},{"id":69204,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-547","catch_line":"Trapping, selling, purchasing, etc., migratory game birds","url":"\/29.1-547\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-547","metadata":false},{"id":56728,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-548","catch_line":"Killing deer illegally","url":"\/29.1-548\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-548","metadata":false},{"id":83897,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-549","catch_line":"Hunting deer from watercraft","url":"\/29.1-549\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-549","metadata":false},{"id":56875,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-550","catch_line":"Taking game or fish during closed season or exceeding bag limit","url":"\/29.1-550\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-550","metadata":false},{"id":71853,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-551","catch_line":"Assessment of value of game or fish unlawfully taken","url":"\/29.1-551\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-551","metadata":false},{"id":70078,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-552","catch_line":"Killing wild turkey during closed season","url":"\/29.1-552\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-552","metadata":false},{"id":81525,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-553","catch_line":"Selling or offering for sale; penalty","url":"\/29.1-553\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-553","metadata":false},{"id":65084,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-553.1","catch_line":"Penalty for wanton waste","url":"\/29.1-553.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-553.1","metadata":false},{"id":62488,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-554","catch_line":"Violation of sanctuaries, refuges, preserves and water used for propagation","url":"\/29.1-554\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-554","metadata":false},{"id":83505,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-554.1","catch_line":"Impeding lawful fishing in inland waters; penalty","url":"\/29.1-554.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-554.1","metadata":false},{"id":55264,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-555","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/29.1-555\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-555","metadata":false},{"id":84106,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-556","catch_line":"Unlawful devices to be destroyed","url":"\/29.1-556\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-556","metadata":false},{"id":57261,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-556.1","catch_line":"Release of certain balloons prohibited; civil penalty; community service","url":"\/29.1-556.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-556.1","metadata":false},{"id":70113,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-557","catch_line":"Confiscation of wild birds and animals under certain circumstances; disposition","url":"\/29.1-557\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-557","metadata":false},{"id":74019,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-558","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/29.1-558\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-558","metadata":false},{"id":60769,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-561","catch_line":"Self-incrimination","url":"\/29.1-561\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-561","metadata":false},{"id":57759,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-562","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/29.1-562\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-562","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":84106,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-556","catch_line":"Unlawful devices to be destroyed","url":"\/29.1-556\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-556","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":70113,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-557","catch_line":"Confiscation of wild birds and animals under certain circumstances; disposition","url":"\/29.1-557\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-557","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/29.1-556.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1991. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 607 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 1991 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":57034,"section_number":"29.1-101","catch_line":"Game Protection Fund","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-101\/"}],"permalink":{"id":193297,"object_type":"law","relational_id":57261,"identifier":"29.1-556.1","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-556.1","url":"\/29.1-556.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/29.1-556.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-556.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Release of certain balloons prohibited; civil penalty; community service","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 29.1-556.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It is unlawful for any individual 16 years of age or older or other person to intentionally release, discard, or cause to be released or discarded outdoors any balloon made of a nonbiodegradable or nonphotodegradable material<\/span> or any material<\/span> that requires more than five minutes’ contact with air or water to degrade. Any person convicted of a violation of this section is liable for a civil penalty<\/span> of $25 per balloon released or discarded, which shall be paid into the Game<\/span> Protection Fund established pursuant to § 29.1-101<\/a>. If an individual under the age of 16 releases a balloon by arrangement with or at the instruction of an adult, the adult shall be liable for the civil penalty<\/span> assessed. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The provisions of this section shall not apply to any (i) balloon released (a) by or on behalf of any agency of the Commonwealth or the United States or (b) pursuant to a contract<\/span> with the Commonwealth, the United States, or any other state, territory, or government for scientific or meteorological purposes or (ii) hot air balloon that is recovered after launch. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nRELEASE OF CERTAIN BALLOONS PROHIBITED; CIVIL PENALTY; COMMUNITY SERVICE (\u00a7\n29.1-556.1)\n\nA. It is unlawful for any individual 16 years of age or older or other person to\nintentionally release, discard, or cause to be released or discarded outdoors\nany balloon made of a nonbiodegradable or nonphotodegradable material or any\nmaterial that requires more than five minutes’ contact with air or water\nto degrade. Any person convicted of a violation of this section is liable for a\ncivil penalty of $25 per balloon released or discarded, which shall be paid into\nthe Game Protection Fund established pursuant to § 29.1-101. If an\nindividual under the age of 16 releases a balloon by arrangement with or at the\ninstruction of an adult, the adult shall be liable for the civil penalty\nassessed.\n\nB. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any (i) balloon released\n(a) by or on behalf of any agency of the Commonwealth or the United States or\n(b) pursuant to a contract with the Commonwealth, the United States, or any\nother state, territory, or government for scientific or meteorological purposes\nor (ii) hot air balloon that is recovered after launch.\n\nHISTORY: 1991, c. 607; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 420.","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}}