Virginia criminal charge
Unlawful use of, or injury to, telephone and telegraph lines in Virginia
Unlawful use of, or injury to, telephone and telegraph lines is a criminal offense under Virginia law, defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-164. 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. § 18.2-164.
What is the penalty for unlawful use of, or injury to, telephone and telegraph lines in Virginia?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (Unlawful use of, or injury to, telephone and telegraph lines — A person maliciously or willfully injures, cuts, taps, copies messages from, obstructs, or conspires to interfere with telephone or telegraph lines, wires, cables, or equipment.) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Unlawful use of, or injury to, telephone and telegraph lines — A person maliciously or willfully injures, cuts, taps, copies messages from, obstructs, or conspires to interfere with telephone or telegraph lines, wires, cables, or equipment.; either or both with confinement (§ 18.2-11(b))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
| Jail / prison | up to 12 months (Interference with telephone or telegraph service to prevent summoning emergency services — A person commits any act described in subsection A, or maliciously disables or destroys a wired or wireless communication device, with the intent to prevent another from summoning law-enforcement, fire, or rescue services.) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Interference with telephone or telegraph service to prevent summoning emergency services — A person commits any act described in subsection A, or maliciously disables or destroys a wired or wireless communication device, with the intent to prevent another from summoning law-enforcement, fire, or rescue services.; either or both with confinement (§ 18.2-11(a))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
Applies to current.
How is unlawful use of, or injury to, telephone and telegraph lines classified in Virginia?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlawful use of, or injury to, telephone and telegraph lines | Class 2 Misdemeanor | A person maliciously or willfully injures, cuts, taps, copies messages from, obstructs, or conspires to interfere with telephone or telegraph lines, wires, cables, or equipment. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-164A |
| Interference with telephone or telegraph service to prevent summoning emergency services | Class 1 Misdemeanor | A person commits any act described in subsection A, or maliciously disables or destroys a wired or wireless communication device, with the intent to prevent another from summoning law-enforcement, fire, or rescue services. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-164B |
Common questions about unlawful use of, or injury to, telephone and telegraph lines in Virginia
Is unlawful use of, or injury to, telephone and telegraph lines a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
It depends on the circumstances: unlawful use of, or injury to, telephone and telegraph lines ranges from a class 2 misdemeanor to a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-164.
Unlawful use of, or injury to, telephone and telegraph lines: class 2 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-164A) · Interference with telephone or telegraph service to prevent summoning emergency services: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-164B)
What are the penalties for unlawful use of, or injury to, telephone and telegraph lines in Virginia?
Penalties for unlawful use of, or injury to, telephone and telegraph lines in Virginia depend on how it is classified — from a class 2 misdemeanor up to a class 1 misdemeanor — with the ranges set by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Virginia statute covers unlawful use of, or injury to, telephone and telegraph lines?
Unlawful use of, or injury to, telephone and telegraph lines is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-164 (Unlawful use of, or injury to, telephone and telegraph lines; copying or obstructing messages; penalty).
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.