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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-429.1 — False caller identification information; penalty

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. § 18.2-429.1

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. § 18.2-429.1Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
A. For the purposes of this section: "Caller identification information" means data that identifies the identity of the caller or the caller's telephone number to the recipient of a telephone call or to the recipient's telephone network. "False caller identification information" means data that misrepresents the identity of the caller or the caller's telephone number to the recipient of a telephone call or to the recipient's telephone network. B. Any person who, with the intent to defraud, intimidate, or harass, causes a telephone to ring and engages in conduct that results in the display of false caller identification information on the called party's telephone is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent conviction under this subsection is punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor if the prior conviction occurred before the date of the offense charged. C. This section shall not apply to: 1. The blocking of caller identification information; 2. Any law-enforcement agencies or any law-enforcement officer while he is engaged in the performance of his official duties; 3. Any intelligence or security agency of the federal government or any employee of such agency while he is engaged in the performance of his official duties; or 4. Any telecommunications, broadband, or Voice-over-Internet protocol service provider that is (i) acting in its capacity as an intermediary for the transmission of telephone service between the caller and the recipient, (ii) providing or configuring a service or service feature as requested by a customer, (iii) acting in a manner that is authorized or required by law, or (iv) engaging in other conduct that is a necessary incident to the provision of service.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

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)

Which Virginia statute covers false caller identification information?

False caller identification information is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-429.1 (False caller identification information; penalty).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.