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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>63706</law_id><section_number>4.1-317</section_number><catch_line>Maintaining common nuisances; penalties</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>4.1-103</reference><reference>4.1-113</reference><reference>4.1-334</reference><reference>4.1-335</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="4.1">Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">Alcoholic Beverage Control Act</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Prohibited Practices; Penalties; Procedural Matters</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Prohibited Practices Generally</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> All houses, boathouses, buildings, <span class="dictionary">club</span> or fraternity or lodge rooms, boats, cars and places of every description where <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> are manufactured, stored, sold, dispensed, given away or used contrary to <span class="dictionary">law</span>, by any scheme or device whatever, shall be deemed common nuisances.
			No person shall maintain, aid, abet or knowingly associate with others in maintaining a common nuisance.
			Any person convicted of a violation of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-232044" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-317/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> In addition, after due notice and opportunity to be heard on the part of any owner or lessor not involved in the original <span class="dictionary">offense</span>, by a proceeding analogous to that provided in &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Search and seizure of conveyances or vehicles used in violation of law; arrests" href="/4.1-339/">4.1-339</a> through <a class="law" title="Beverages not licensed under this subtitle" href="/4.1-348/">4.1-348</a> and upon proof of guilty knowledge, <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> may be given that such house, building, boathouse, car or other place, or any room or part thereof, be closed. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may, upon the owner or lessor giving <span class="dictionary">bond</span> in the <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> of not less than $500 and with security to be approved by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, conditioned that the premises shall not be used for unlawful purposes, or in violation of the provisions of this chapter for a period of five years, turn the same over to its owner or lessor; or proceeding may be had in <span class="dictionary">equity</span> as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Enjoining nuisances" href="/4.1-335/">4.1-335</a>. <a id="paragraph-232045" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-317/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> In a proceeding under this section, <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> shall not be entered against the owner, lessor, or lienholder of the property unless it is proved he (i) knew of the unlawful use of the property and (ii) had the right, because of such unlawful use, to enter and repossess the property. <a id="paragraph-232046" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-317/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, p. 877, &#xA7; 4-81; 1954, c. 484; 1993, c. 866.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
