Virginia statute
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-167 — Selling or transferring certain telephonic instruments
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Article 8: Offenses Relating to Railroads and Other Utilities, Code of Virginia.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-167
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to make, sell, offer or advertise for sale, possess, or give or otherwise transfer to another any instrument, apparatus, equipment, or device or plans or instructions for making or assembling any instrument, apparatus, equipment or device which has been designed, adapted, used, or employed with the intent or for the purpose of (1) obtaining long distance toll telephone or telegraph service or the transmission of a long distance toll message, signal, or other communication by telephone or telegraph, or over telephone or telegraph facilities, without the payment of charges for any such long distance message, signal or other communication; or (2) concealing or assisting another to conceal from any supplier of telephone or telegraph service or from any person charged with the responsibility of enforcing this section, the existence or place of origin or of destination of any long distance toll message, signal, or other communication by telephone or telegraph, or over telephone or telegraph facilities. Persons violating any provision of this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
(b) Any such instrument, apparatus, equipment or device, or plans or instructions therefor, may be seized by court order or under a warrant; and, upon a final conviction of any person owning the seized materials, or having any ownership interest therein, for a violation of any provision of this section, the instrument, apparatus, equipment, device, or plans or instructions shall be ordered destroyed as contraband by the court in which the person is convicted.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is selling or transferring certain telephonic instruments a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
Selling or transferring certain telephonic instruments is a class 3 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-167.
Which Virginia statute covers selling or transferring certain telephonic instruments?
Selling or transferring certain telephonic instruments is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-167 (Selling or transferring certain telephonic instruments).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.