Virginia criminal charge
Stealing from or tampering with parking meter, vending machine, pay telephone, etc in Virginia
Stealing from or tampering with parking meter, vending machine, pay telephone, etc is a criminal offense under Virginia law, defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-152. Its classification is not fixed: Virginia assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-152.
What is the penalty for stealing from or tampering with parking meter, vending machine, pay telephone, etc in Virginia?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 12 months (First conviction — Applies to a person's first conviction for entering, forcing, tampering with, or inserting an instrument into a parking meter, vending machine, pay telephone, money changing machine, or similar device with intent to steal.) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (First conviction — Applies to a person's first conviction for entering, forcing, tampering with, or inserting an instrument into a parking meter, vending machine, pay telephone, money changing machine, or similar device with intent to steal.; either or both with confinement (§ 18.2-11(a))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 5 years (Subsequent conviction — Applies to any subsequent conviction after the first for the same conduct described in the section.; or, at the discretion of the jury or the court trying the case without a jury, confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both (§ 18.2-10(f))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Subsequent conviction — Applies to any subsequent conviction after the first for the same conduct described in the section.; with the jail-confinement alternative under § 18.2-10(f)) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
Applies to current.
How is stealing from or tampering with parking meter, vending machine, pay telephone, etc classified in Virginia?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| First conviction | Class 1 Misdemeanor | Applies to a person's first conviction for entering, forcing, tampering with, or inserting an instrument into a parking meter, vending machine, pay telephone, money changing machine, or similar device with intent to steal. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-152undefined |
| Subsequent conviction | Class 6 Felony | Applies to any subsequent conviction after the first for the same conduct described in the section. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-152undefined |
Common questions about stealing from or tampering with parking meter, vending machine, pay telephone, etc in Virginia
Is stealing from or tampering with parking meter, vending machine, pay telephone, etc a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
It depends on the circumstances: stealing from or tampering with parking meter, vending machine, pay telephone, etc ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-152.
First conviction: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-152) · Subsequent conviction: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-152)
What are the penalties for stealing from or tampering with parking meter, vending machine, pay telephone, etc in Virginia?
Penalties for stealing from or tampering with parking meter, vending machine, pay telephone, etc in Virginia depend on how it is classified — from a class 1 misdemeanor up to a class 6 felony — with the ranges set by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 and Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Virginia statute covers stealing from or tampering with parking meter, vending machine, pay telephone, etc?
Stealing from or tampering with parking meter, vending machine, pay telephone, etc is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-152 (Stealing from or tampering with parking meter, vending machine, pay telephone, etc).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.