Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-282.1 — Brandishing a machete or other bladed weapon with intent to intimidate; penalty

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 4: Dangerous Use of Firearms or Other Weapons, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Brandishing a machete or other bladed weapon with intent to intimidate

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-282.1

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.

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-282.1Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session

It shall be unlawful for any person to point, hold, or brandish a machete or any weapon, with an exposed blade 12 inches or longer, with the intent of intimidating any person or group of persons and in a manner that reasonably demonstrates that intent. This section shall not apply to any person engaged in excusable or justifiable self-defense. A person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor or, if the violation occurs upon any public, private, or religious elementary, middle, or high school, including buildings and grounds or upon public property within 1,000 feet of such school property, he is guilty of a Class 6 felony.

Official sources

Official section text (law.lis.virginia.gov)

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is brandishing a machete or other bladed weapon with intent to intimidate a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: brandishing a machete or other bladed weapon with intent to intimidate ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-282.1.

Brandishing a bladed weapon with intent to intimidate — general: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-282.1) · Brandishing a bladed weapon with intent to intimidate — on or near school property: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-282.1)

Which Virginia statute covers brandishing a machete or other bladed weapon with intent to intimidate?

Brandishing a machete or other bladed weapon with intent to intimidate is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-282.1 (Brandishing a machete or other bladed weapon with intent to intimidate; penalty).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.