{"id":376938,"date":"2018-06-05T17:24:56","date_gmt":"2018-06-05T22:24:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/virginia-law\/virginia-destruction-of-property-laws.html"},"modified":"2018-06-06T11:35:11","modified_gmt":"2018-06-06T16:35:11","slug":"virginia-destruction-of-property-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/virginia-law\/virginia-destruction-of-property-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Virginia Destruction of Property Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Virginia Destruction of Property Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last reviewed\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Each state has laws that making it a crime to damage or destroy property that doesn't belong to you. Many states refer to the act of damaging, defacing, or destroying property as "vandalism<\/a>." Virginia has several statutes addressing property destruction based on the character of the property. For example, Virginia addresses damage to public buildings separately from damage to other types of buildings.<\/p>\r\n

Virginia Destruction of Property Laws at a Glance<\/h2>\r\n

When you have questions about the law, it's always important to read the actual text of a statute. But statutes are often written in complicated legalese that sometimes creates confusion even for judges and lawyers. However, if you're just looking for a quick overview of what the law says, it can be beneficial to have a basic summary of the relevantstatutes. The chart below does just that as it summarizes Virginia destruction of property laws with helpful links to the statutes that apply.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Statute(s)<\/b><\/td>\r\n

Virginia Code:<\/p>\r\n

What's Prohibited?<\/b><\/td>\r\n

Under Section 18.2-137, an individual is prohibiting from defacing, damaging, destroying, or removing without the intent to steal any real or personal property that doesn't belong to them. This statute also applies to the following types of property:<\/p>\r\n

Charges and Penalties<\/b><\/td>\r\n

Generally, violating Section 18.2137 is a Class 3 misdemeanor<\/a>. However, if the injury is caused intentionally<\/i><\/u>, the following charges and penalties are as follows:<\/p>\r\n

Related Statute(s)<\/b><\/td>\r\n

Virginia Code Section 18.2-144<\/a>, et seq. (Damage to and Tampering with Property<\/i>)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n

Note:<\/b> State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.<\/i><\/p>\r\n

Virginia Destruction of Property Laws: Related Resources<\/h2>\r\n