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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>81044</law_id><section_number>18.2-185</section_number><catch_line>Evidence and presumptions in malicious prosecution actions after issuance of bad check</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><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="6">Crimes Involving Fraud</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="4">Bad Check Law</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In any <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> growing out of an <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Issuing bad checks, etc., larceny" href="/18.2-181/">18.2-181</a> or &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Issuing bad checks on behalf of business firm or corporation in payment of wages; penalty" href="/18.2-182/">18.2-182</a>, no <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of statements or representations as to the status of the check, draft, <span class="dictionary">order</span> or deposit involved, or of any <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> agreement with reference to the check, draft, or <span class="dictionary">order</span>, shall be <span class="dictionary">admissible</span> unless such statements, or representations, or <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> agreement, be written upon the instrument at the time it is given by the drawer.
		If payment of any check, draft, or <span class="dictionary">order</span> for the payment of money be refused by the bank, banking institution, trust company or other depository upon which such instrument is drawn, and the person who drew or uttered such instrument be arrested or prosecuted under the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Issuing bad checks, etc., larceny" href="/18.2-181/">18.2-181</a> or &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Issuing bad checks on behalf of business firm or corporation in payment of wages; penalty" href="/18.2-182/">18.2-182</a>, for failure or refusal to pay such instrument, the one who arrested or caused such person to be arrested and prosecuted, or either, shall be conclusively deemed to have acted with reasonable or <span class="dictionary">probable cause</span> in any suit for <span class="dictionary">damages</span> that may be brought by the person who drew or uttered such instrument, if the one who arrested or caused such person to be arrested and prosecuted, or either, shall have, before doing so, presented or caused such instrument to be presented to the depository on which it was drawn where it was refused, and then waited five days after notice, as provided in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Issuance of bad check prima facie evidence of intent and knowledge; notice by certified or registered mail" href="/18.2-183/">18.2-183</a>, without the amount due under the provisions of such instrument being paid.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 6.1-118; 1966, c. 584; 1975, cc. 14, 15.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
