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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>75915</law_id><section_number>18.2-371.4</section_number><catch_line>Prohibiting the sale of novelty lighters to juveniles</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-392.12</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="8">Crimes Involving Morals and Decency</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="4">Family Offenses; Crimes Against Children, etc</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Novelty lighter</span>&#x201D; means a mechanical or electrical device containing a combustible fuel typically used for lighting cigarettes, cigars, or pipes that is (i) designed to resemble a cartoon character, toy, gun, watch, musical instrument, vehicle, animal, food, or beverage, or (ii) a fanciful article that plays musical notes, has flashing lights, or has other entertaining features that are appealing to or intended for use by juveniles. A <span class="dictionary">novelty lighter</span> may operate on any fuel, including butane, isobutene, or liquid fuel. <a id="paragraph-272556" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-371.4/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Novelty lighter</span>&#x201D; does not include (i) a lighter without fuel and that is incapable of being fueled, (ii) a lighter lacking a device necessary to produce combustion or a flame, (iii) a mechanical or electrical device primarily used to ignite fuel for fireplaces or for charcoal or gas grills, (iv) a lighter manufactured prior to 1980, or (v) a standard disposable lighter that is printed or decorated with logos, labels, decals, or artwork, or heat shrinkable sleeves. <a id="paragraph-272557" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-371.4/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> <span class="dictionary">Novelty lighters</span> that are available for purchase at a retail establishment shall be located in a place that is not open to the general public. <a id="paragraph-272558" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-371.4/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Any individual who sells a <span class="dictionary">novelty lighter</span> to a person he knows or has reason to know is a juvenile is subject to a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> of no more than $100. <a id="paragraph-272559" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-371.4/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> This section may be enforced by the State Fire Marshal&#x2019;s Office, local fire marshals appointed pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Power to arrest, to procure and serve warrants and to issue summons; limitation on authority" href="/27-34.2/">27-34.2</a> or <a class="law" title="Police powers of fire marshals" href="/27-34.2_1/">27-34.2:1</a>, or <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officers. <a id="paragraph-272560" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-371.4/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2009, c. 668.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
