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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82358</law_id><section_number>18.2-162</section_number><catch_line>Damage or trespass to public services or utilities</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>17.1-805</reference><reference>18.2-121.3</reference><reference>18.2-163</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="5">Crimes Against Property</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="8">Offenses Relating to Railroads and Other Utilities</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Any person who shall intentionally destroy or damage any facility which is used to furnish oil, telegraph, telephone, electric, gas, sewer, wastewater or water service to the public, shall be guilty of a Class 4 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>, provided that in the event that the destruction or damage may be remedied or repaired for less than $1,000 such act shall constitute a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. On electric generating property marked with no trespassing signs, the security personnel of a utility may <span class="dictionary">detain</span> a trespasser for a period not to exceed one hour pending arrival of a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer.
		Notwithstanding any other provisions of this title, any person who shall intentionally destroy or damage, or attempt to destroy or damage, any such facility, equipment or <span class="dictionary">material</span> connected therewith, the destruction or damage of which might, in any manner, threaten the release of radioactive <span class="dictionary">materials</span> or ionizing radiation beyond the areas in which they are normally used or contained, shall be guilty of a Class 4 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>, provided that in the event the destruction or damage results in the death of another due to exposure to radioactive <span class="dictionary">materials</span> or ionizing radiation, such person shall be guilty of a Class 2 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>; provided further, that in the event the destruction or damage results in injury to another, such person shall be guilty of a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 18.1-158; 1960, c. 358; 1964, c. 224; 1966, c. 446; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1980, c. 548; 1981, c. 197; 1985, c. 299; 1992, c. 352; 2018, cc. 764, 765; 2020, cc. 89, 401.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
