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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82319</law_id><section_number>18.2-8</section_number><catch_line>Felonies, misdemeanors and traffic infractions defined</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>30-7</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="1">In General</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Classification of Criminal Offenses and Punishment Therefor</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p><span class="dictionary">Offenses</span> are either felonies or <span class="dictionary">misdemeanors</span>. Such <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> as are punishable with confinement in a state correctional facility are felonies; all other <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> are <span class="dictionary">misdemeanors</span>. Traffic infractions are violations of public <span class="dictionary">order</span> as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/46.2-100/">46.2-100</a> and not deemed to be criminal in nature.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 18.1-6; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1977, c. 585; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 344, 345.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
