Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-162 (2026)

Damage or trespass to public services or utilities or critical infrastructure; penalties

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Any person who intentionally destroys or damages any facility, fixture, equipment, or information technology system that is used to provide, process, transmit, furnish, or maintain oil, telephone, electric, gas, sewer, wastewater, cable television, broadband, or water service to the public or other critical infrastructure, as defined in § 44-146.28:2, is guilty of a Class 4 felony, provided that in the event that the destruction or damage may be remedied or repaired for less than $1,000 such act shall constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor. On electric generating property marked with no trespassing signs, the security personnel of a utility may detain a trespasser for a period not to exceed one hour pending arrival of a law-enforcement officer.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this title, any person who intentionally destroys or damages, or attempts to destroy or damage, any such facility, fixture, equipment, information technology system, or material connected therewith, the destruction or damage of which might, in any manner, threaten the release of radioactive materials or ionizing radiation beyond the areas in which they are normally used or contained, is guilty of a Class 4 felony, provided that in the event the destruction or damage results in the death of another due to exposure to radioactive materials or ionizing radiation, such person is guilty of a Class 2 felony; provided further, that in the event the destruction or damage results in injury to another, such person is guilty of a Class 3 felony.

Code 1950, § 18.1-158; 1960, c. 358; 1964, c. 224; 1966, c. 446; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1980, c. 548; 1981, c. 197; 1985, c. 299; 1992, c. 352; 2018, cc. 764, 765; 2020, cc. 89, 401; 2026, cc. 105, 106.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases, 1979–2002 · leading case: Cox v. Commonwealth, 255 S.E.2d 462 (Va. 1979).
Cox v. Commonwealth, 255 S.E.2d 462 (Va. 1979). “— Any person who shall tamper with any metering device incident to the facilities set forth in § 18.2-162, or otherwise intentionally prevent such a metering device from properly registering the degree, amount or quantity of such service supplied, or who shall divert such…”
Fulcher v. Virginia Elec. & Power Co., 60 Va. Cir. 199 (Va. Cir. Ct. 2002). · cites it 2× “Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-162 (Michie 1996). The statute provides: Any person who shall intentionally destroy or damage any facility which is used to furnish oil, telegraph, telephone, electric, gas, sewer, wastewater, or water service to the public, shall be guilty of a Class 4…”
Commonwealth v. Nelson, 50 Va. Cir. 330 (Winchester Cir. Ct. 1999). · cites it 2× “Virginia Code § 18.2-162 (forgery of public records); and Virginia Code § 24.”
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