Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-429 — Causing a telephone, digital pager, or other device to ring or signal with intent to annoy; emergency communications; penalties

Current through 2026 Regular Session

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

Criminal charges under this statute

Causing a telephone, digital pager, or other device to ring or signal with intent to annoy

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-429

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. § 18.2-429Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session

A. Any person who, with or without intent to communicate but with intent to annoy any other person, causes any telephone or digital pager, not his own, to ring or to otherwise signal, and any person who permits or condones the use of any telephone under his control for such purpose, is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent conviction under this subsection is punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor if such prior conviction occurred before the date of the offense charged. B. Any person who, with or without intent to communicate but with intent to annoy, harass, hinder, or delay emergency personnel in the performance of their duties as such, causes a telephone to ring or other device to signal, which is owned or leased for the purpose of receiving communications by a public or private entity providing fire, police, or emergency medical services, and any person who knowingly permits the use of a telephone or other device under his control for such purpose, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Official sources

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

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is causing a telephone, digital pager, or other device to ring or signal with intent to annoy a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: causing a telephone, digital pager, or other device to ring or signal with intent to annoy ranges from a class 3 misdemeanor to a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-429.

Causing telephone/pager to ring with intent to annoy — first offense: class 3 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-429A) · Causing telephone/pager to ring with intent to annoy — repeat offense: class 2 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-429A) · Causing telephone/device to ring to annoy or hinder emergency personnel: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-429B)

Which Virginia statute covers causing a telephone, digital pager, or other device to ring or signal with intent to annoy?

Causing a telephone, digital pager, or other device to ring or signal with intent to annoy is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-429 (Causing a telephone, digital pager, or other device to ring or signal with intent to annoy; emergency communications; penalties).

Is false caller identification information a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: false caller identification information ranges from a class 3 misdemeanor to a class 2 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-429.1.

False caller identification information — first offense: class 3 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-429.1B) · False caller identification information — second or subsequent offense: class 2 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-429.1B)

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.