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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>64490</law_id><section_number>38.2-218</section_number><catch_line>Penalties and restitution payments</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>38.2-1317.1</reference><reference>38.2-1332</reference><reference>38.2-1356</reference><reference>38.2-1363</reference><reference>38.2-1802</reference><reference>38.2-1814.1</reference><reference>38.2-1823</reference><reference>38.2-1831</reference><reference>38.2-1833</reference><reference>38.2-1834</reference><reference>38.2-1835</reference><reference>38.2-1843</reference><reference>38.2-1845.10</reference><reference>38.2-1857.7</reference><reference>38.2-1865.2</reference><reference>38.2-1879</reference><reference>38.2-1885</reference><reference>38.2-1888.1</reference><reference>38.2-1889</reference><reference>38.2-1916.1</reference><reference>38.2-1916.2</reference><reference>38.2-219</reference><reference>38.2-2505</reference><reference>38.2-3103</reference><reference>38.2-3111.1</reference><reference>38.2-3319.2</reference><reference>38.2-3403</reference><reference>38.2-3407.3</reference><reference>38.2-3459</reference><reference>38.2-3523.1</reference><reference>38.2-3564</reference><reference>38.2-4134</reference><reference>38.2-4214</reference><reference>38.2-4319</reference><reference>38.2-4408</reference><reference>38.2-4509</reference><reference>38.2-4814</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="38.2">Insurance</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="2">Provisions of a General Nature</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who knowingly or willfully violates any provision of this title or any regulation issued pursuant to this title shall be punished for each violation by a <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> of not more than $5,000. <a id="paragraph-234728" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-218/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who violates without knowledge or <span class="dictionary">intent</span> any provision of this title or any rule, regulation, or <span class="dictionary">order</span> issued pursuant to this title may be punished for each violation by a <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> of not more than $1,000. For the purpose of this subsection, a series of similar violations resulting from the same act shall be limited to a <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> in the aggregate of not more than $10,000. <a id="paragraph-234729" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-218/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Any violation resulting solely from a malfunction of mechanical or electronic equipment shall not be subject to a <span class="dictionary">penalty</span>. <a id="paragraph-234730" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-218/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> 1. The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> may require a <span class="dictionary">person</span> to make <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> in the amount of the direct actual financial loss:
			a. For charging a <span class="dictionary">rate</span> in excess of that provided by <span class="dictionary">statute</span> or by the <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">rates</span></span> filed with the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> by the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span>;
			b. For charging a premium that is determined by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> to be unfairly discriminatory, such <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> being limited to a period of one year from the date of determination;
			c. For failing to pay amounts explicitly required by the terms of the <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> <span class="dictionary">contract</span> where no aspect of the claim is disputed by the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span>; and
			d. For improperly withholding, misappropriating, or converting any money or property received in the course of doing business. <a id="paragraph-234731" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-218/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall have no <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> to <span class="dictionary">adjudicate</span> controversies growing out of this subsection regarding <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> among <span class="dictionary">insurers</span>, insureds, agents, claimants and beneficiaries. <a id="paragraph-234732" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-218/#D2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The provisions provided under this section may be imposed in addition to or without imposing any other penalties or actions provided by <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-234733" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-218/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 38-24; 1952, c. 317, &#xA7; 38.1-40; 1986, c. 562; 2010, c. 226.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
