{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/59.1-196.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/59.1-196.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/59.1-196.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/59.1-196.html"}],"law_id":56198,"edition_id":1,"section_id":56198,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-196","catch_line":"Title","history":"1977, c. 635.","full_text":"This chapter may be cited as the Virginia Consumer Protection Act of 1977.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":205913,"text":"This chapter may be cited as the Virginia Consumer Protection Act of 1977.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13706,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Consumer Protection Act","identifier":"17","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12809,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:36","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:36","permalink":{"id":259775,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13706,"identifier":"17","token":"59.1\/17","url":"\/59.1\/17\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12809,"edition_id":1,"name":"Trade and Commerce","identifier":"59.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":259521,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12809,"identifier":"59.1","token":"59.1","url":"\/59.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":56198,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-196","catch_line":"Title","url":"\/59.1-196\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-196","metadata":false},{"id":73728,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-197","catch_line":"Intent","url":"\/59.1-197\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-197","metadata":false},{"id":70121,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-198","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/59.1-198\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-198","metadata":false},{"id":69020,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-199","catch_line":"Exclusions","url":"\/59.1-199\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-199","metadata":false},{"id":82977,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-200","catch_line":"Prohibited practices","url":"\/59.1-200\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-200","metadata":false},{"id":63532,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-200.1","catch_line":"Prohibited practices; foreclosure rescue","url":"\/59.1-200.1\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-200.1","metadata":false},{"id":72568,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-201","catch_line":"Civil investigative orders","url":"\/59.1-201\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-201","metadata":false},{"id":80041,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-201.1","catch_line":"Attorney General empowered to issue civil investigative demands","url":"\/59.1-201.1\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-201.1","metadata":false},{"id":54689,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-202","catch_line":"Assurances of voluntary compliance","url":"\/59.1-202\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-202","metadata":false},{"id":58087,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-203","catch_line":"Restraining prohibited acts","url":"\/59.1-203\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-203","metadata":false},{"id":78713,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-204","catch_line":"Individual action for damages or penalty","url":"\/59.1-204\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-204","metadata":false},{"id":64214,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-204.1","catch_line":"Tolling of limitation","url":"\/59.1-204.1\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-204.1","metadata":false},{"id":64777,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-205","catch_line":"Additional relief","url":"\/59.1-205\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-205","metadata":false},{"id":83374,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-206","catch_line":"Civil penalties; attorney fees","url":"\/59.1-206\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-206","metadata":false},{"id":85255,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-207","catch_line":"Unintentional violations","url":"\/59.1-207\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-207","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":73728,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-197","catch_line":"Intent","url":"\/59.1-197\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-197","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/59.1-196\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1977. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 635 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 1977 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online.<\/p>","references":[{"id":66246,"section_number":"18.2-239","catch_line":"Pyramid promotional schemes; misdemeanor; definitions; contracts void","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-239\/"},{"id":81485,"section_number":"2.2-2001.5","catch_line":"Assignment of right to receive veterans' benefits","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-2001.5\/"},{"id":55445,"section_number":"3.2-5630","catch_line":"Violations of pricing requirements","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-5630\/"},{"id":55461,"section_number":"3.2-6509","catch_line":"Misrepresentation of animal's condition; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6509\/"},{"id":72085,"section_number":"3.2-6512","catch_line":"Sale without pet dealer's animal history certificate violation of Consumer Protection Act; contents of certificate","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6512\/"},{"id":75230,"section_number":"3.2-6513","catch_line":"Inclusion of false or misleading statements in certificate violation of Consumer Protection Act","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6513\/"},{"id":60330,"section_number":"3.2-6513.1","catch_line":"Pet shops; 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