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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-427 — Use of profane, threatening, or indecent language over public airways or by other methods

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 6: Unlawful Use of Telephones, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-427

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. § 18.2-427Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
Any person who uses obscene, vulgar, profane, lewd, lascivious, or indecent language, or makes any suggestion or proposal of an obscene nature, or threatens any illegal or immoral act with the intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass any person, over any telephone or citizens band radio, in this Commonwealth, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. "Over any telephone" includes, for purposes of this section, any electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message that is received or transmitted by cellular telephone or other wireless telecommunications device.

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Questions this section answers

Is use of profane, threatening, or indecent language over public airways or by other methods a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

Use of profane, threatening, or indecent language over public airways or by other methods is a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-427.

Which Virginia statute covers use of profane, threatening, or indecent language over public airways or by other methods?

Use of profane, threatening, or indecent language over public airways or by other methods is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-427 (Use of profane, threatening, or indecent language over public airways or by other methods).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.