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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82444</law_id><section_number>18.2-85</section_number><catch_line>Manufacture, possession, use, etc., of fire bombs or explosive materials or devices; penalties</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>18.2-46.6</reference><reference>19.2-392.02</reference><reference>22.1-279.3:1</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="1">Arson and Related Crimes</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>For the purpose of this section:
		&#x201C;Device&#x201D; means any instrument, apparatus or contrivance, including its component parts, that is capable of producing or intended to produce an explosion but shall not include fireworks as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/27-95/">27-95</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Explosive material</span>&#x201D; means any chemical compound, mechanical mixture or device that is commonly used or can be used for the purpose of producing an explosion and which contains any oxidizing and combustive agents or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities or packaging that an ignition by fire, friction, concussion, percussion, detonation or by any part of the compound or mixture may cause a sudden generation of highly heated gases. These materials include, but are not limited to, gunpowder, powders for blasting, high explosives, blasting materials, fuses (other than electric <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> breakers), detonators, and other detonating agents and smokeless powder.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Fire bomb</span>&#x201D; means any container of a flammable material such as gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, or other chemical compound, having a wick composed of any material or a device or other substance which, if set or ignited, is capable of igniting such flammable material or chemical compound but does not include a similar device commercially manufactured and used solely for the purpose of illumination or cooking.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Hoax explosive device</span>&#x201D; means any device which by its design, construction, content or characteristics appears to be or to contain a bomb or other destructive device or explosive but which is an imitation of any such device or explosive.
		Any person who (i) possesses materials with which <span class="dictionary">fire bombs</span> or <span class="dictionary">explosive materials</span> or <span class="dictionary">devices</span> can be made with the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to manufacture <span class="dictionary">fire bombs</span> or <span class="dictionary">explosive materials</span> or <span class="dictionary">devices</span> or, (ii) manufactures, transports, distributes, possesses or uses a <span class="dictionary">fire bomb</span> or <span class="dictionary">explosive materials</span> or <span class="dictionary">devices</span> shall be guilty of a Class 5 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. Any person who constructs, uses, places, sends, or causes to be sent any <span class="dictionary">hoax explosive device</span> so as to intentionally cause another person to believe that such device is a bomb or explosive shall be guilty of a Class 6 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>.
		Nothing in this section shall prohibit the authorized manufacture, transportation, distribution, use or <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of any material, substance, or device by a member of the armed forces of the United States, fire fighters or <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officers, nor shall it prohibit the manufacture, transportation, distribution, use or <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of any material, substance or device to be used solely for scientific research, educational purposes or for any lawful purpose, subject to the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Adoption of Fire Prevention Code" href="/27-97/">27-97</a> and <a class="law" title=" Issuance of permit; background investigations" href="/27-97.2/">27-97.2</a>.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 18.1-78.6; 1968, c. 249; 1972, c. 126; 1975, cc. 14, 15, 497; 1976, c. 526; 1977, c. 326; 1990, cc. 644, 647; 1992, c. 540; 2000, cc. 951, 1065; 2002, cc. 588, 623; 2005, c. 204.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
