{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/59.1-203.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/59.1-203.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/59.1-203.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/59.1-203.html"}],"law_id":58087,"edition_id":1,"section_id":58087,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-203","catch_line":"Restraining prohibited acts","history":"1977, c. 635; 1982, c. 13; 1988, c. 485; 2008, c. 485; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2023, cc. 744, 794.","full_text":"A\n\nNotwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the Attorney General, any attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for any city, county, or town may cause an action to be brought in the appropriate circuit court in the name of the Commonwealth, or of the county, city, or town to enjoin any violation of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1. The circuit court having jurisdiction may enjoin such violations notwithstanding the existence of an adequate remedy at law. In any action under this section, it shall not be necessary that damages be proved.B\n\nUnless the Attorney General, any attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for any county, city, or town determines that a person subject to the provisions of this chapter intends to depart from this Commonwealth or to remove his property herefrom, or to conceal himself or his property herein, or on a reasonable determination that irreparable harm may occur if immediate action is not taken, he shall, before initiating any legal proceedings as provided in this section, give notice in writing that such proceedings are contemplated, and allow such person a reasonable opportunity to appear before said attorney and show that a violation did not occur or execute an assurance of voluntary compliance, as provided in § 59.1-202.C\n\nThe circuit courts are authorized to issue temporary or permanent injunctions to restrain and prevent violations of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1.D\n\nThe Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, or his duly authorized representative, shall have the power to inquire into possible violations of subdivisions A 18, 28, 29, 31, 39, 41, as it relates to motor fuels, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74 of § 59.1-200 and § 59.1-335.12, and, if necessary, to request, but not to require, an appropriate legal official to bring an action to enjoin such violation.E\n\nThe Board of Directors of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, or its duly authorized representative, shall, upon the referral or request of the Attorney General or the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, have the power to inquire into possible violations of subdivisions A 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74 of § 59.1-200 and, if necessary, to request, but not require, an appropriate legal official to bring an action to enjoin such violation.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":212806,"text":"Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the Attorney General, any attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for any city, county, or town may cause an action to be brought in the appropriate circuit court in the name of the Commonwealth, or of the county, city, or town to enjoin any violation of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1. The circuit court having jurisdiction may enjoin such violations notwithstanding the existence of an adequate remedy at law. In any action under this section, it shall not be necessary that damages be proved.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":212807,"text":"Unless the Attorney General, any attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for any county, city, or town determines that a person subject to the provisions of this chapter intends to depart from this Commonwealth or to remove his property herefrom, or to conceal himself or his property herein, or on a reasonable determination that irreparable harm may occur if immediate action is not taken, he shall, before initiating any legal proceedings as provided in this section, give notice in writing that such proceedings are contemplated, and allow such person a reasonable opportunity to appear before said attorney and show that a violation did not occur or execute an assurance of voluntary compliance, as provided in § 59.1-202.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":212808,"text":"The circuit courts are authorized to issue temporary or permanent injunctions to restrain and prevent violations of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":212809,"text":"The Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, or his duly authorized representative, shall have the power to inquire into possible violations of subdivisions A 18, 28, 29, 31, 39, 41, as it relates to motor fuels, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74 of § 59.1-200 and § 59.1-335.12, and, if necessary, to request, but not to require, an appropriate legal official to bring an action to enjoin such violation.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":212810,"text":"The Board of Directors of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, or its duly authorized representative, shall, upon the referral or request of the Attorney General or the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, have the power to inquire into possible violations of subdivisions A 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74 of § 59.1-200 and, if necessary, to request, but not require, an appropriate legal official to bring an action to enjoin such violation.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"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}],"previous_section":{"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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/59.1-203\/","history_text":"

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. It has been modified 5 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 13; in 1988, chapter 485; in 2008, chapter 485<\/a>; in 2012, chapters 803<\/a> and 835<\/a>; in 2023, chapters 744<\/a> and 794<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":83374,"section_number":"59.1-206","catch_line":"Civil penalties; attorney fees","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-206\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":82977,"section_number":"59.1-200","catch_line":"Prohibited practices","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-200\/"},{"id":63532,"section_number":"59.1-200.1","catch_line":"Prohibited practices; foreclosure rescue","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-200.1\/"},{"id":72551,"section_number":"59.1-335.12","catch_line":"Violations of chapter; enforcement","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-335.12\/"}],"permalink":{"id":259813,"object_type":"law","relational_id":58087,"identifier":"59.1-203","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-203","url":"\/59.1-203\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/59.1-203\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-203","dublin_core":{"Title":"Restraining prohibited acts","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 59.1-203","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Notwithstanding any other provisions of law<\/span> to the contrary, the Attorney General<\/span>, any attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for any city, county, or town may cause an action to be brought in the appropriate circuit<\/span> court<\/span> in the name of the Commonwealth, or of the county, city, or town to enjoin any violation of § 59.1-200<\/a> or 59.1-200.1<\/a>. The circuit<\/span> court<\/span> having jurisdiction<\/span> may enjoin such violations notwithstanding the existence of an adequate remedy at law<\/span>. In any action under this section, it shall not be necessary that damages<\/span> be proved. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Unless the Attorney General<\/span>, any attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for any county, city, or town determines that a person<\/span> subject to the provisions of this chapter intends to depart from this Commonwealth or to remove his property herefrom, or to conceal himself or his property herein, or on a reasonable determination that irreparable harm may occur if immediate action is not taken, he shall, before initiating any legal proceedings as provided in this section, give notice in writing that such proceedings are contemplated, and allow such person<\/span> a reasonable opportunity to appear before said attorney and show that a violation did not occur or execute an assurance of voluntary compliance, as provided in § 59.1-202<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The circuit<\/span> courts<\/span> are authorized to issue<\/span> temporary or permanent injunctions<\/span> to restrain and prevent violations of § 59.1-200<\/a> or 59.1-200.1<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services<\/span>, or his duly authorized representative, shall have the power to inquire into possible violations of subdivisions A 18, 28, 29, 31, 39, 41, as it relates to motor fuels, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74 of § 59.1-200<\/a> and § 59.1-335.12<\/a>, and, if necessary, to request, but not to require, an appropriate legal official to bring an action to enjoin such violation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The Board of Directors of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, or its duly authorized representative, shall, upon the referral or request of the Attorney General<\/span> or the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services<\/span>, have the power to inquire into possible violations of subdivisions A 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74 of § 59.1-200<\/a> and, if necessary, to request, but not require, an appropriate legal official to bring an action to enjoin such violation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nRESTRAINING PROHIBITED ACTS (\u00a7 59.1-203)\n\nA. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the Attorney\nGeneral, any attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for any city,\ncounty, or town may cause an action to be brought in the appropriate circuit\ncourt in the name of the Commonwealth, or of the county, city, or town to enjoin\nany violation of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1. The circuit court having\njurisdiction may enjoin such violations notwithstanding the existence of an\nadequate remedy at law. In any action under this section, it shall not be\nnecessary that damages be proved.\n\nB. Unless the Attorney General, any attorney for the Commonwealth, or the\nattorney for any county, city, or town determines that a person subject to the\nprovisions of this chapter intends to depart from this Commonwealth or to remove\nhis property herefrom, or to conceal himself or his property herein, or on a\nreasonable determination that irreparable harm may occur if immediate action is\nnot taken, he shall, before initiating any legal proceedings as provided in this\nsection, give notice in writing that such proceedings are contemplated, and\nallow such person a reasonable opportunity to appear before said attorney and\nshow that a violation did not occur or execute an assurance of voluntary\ncompliance, as provided in § 59.1-202.\n\nC. The circuit courts are authorized to issue temporary or permanent injunctions\nto restrain and prevent violations of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1.\n\nD. The Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, or\nhis duly authorized representative, shall have the power to inquire into\npossible violations of subdivisions A 18, 28, 29, 31, 39, 41, as it relates to\nmotor fuels, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74 of § 59.1-200 and §\n59.1-335.12, and, if necessary, to request, but not to require, an appropriate\nlegal official to bring an action to enjoin such violation.\n\nE. The Board of Directors of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, or its\nduly authorized representative, shall, upon the referral or request of the\nAttorney General or the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, have\nthe power to inquire into possible violations of subdivisions A 69, 70, 71, 72,\n73, and 74 of § 59.1-200 and, if necessary, to request, but not require, an\nappropriate legal official to bring an action to enjoin such violation.\n\nHISTORY: 1977, c. 635; 1982, c. 13; 1988, c. 485; 2008, c. 485; 2012, cc. 803,\n835; 2023, cc. 744, 794.","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}}