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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-63 — Manufacture, possession, sale or advertising of certain devices unlawful; penalties; exceptions

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Chapter 6: Interception of Wire, Electronic or Oral Communications, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-63

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. § 19.2-63Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
A. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, any person who intentionally: 1. Manufactures, assembles, possesses, or sells any electronic, mechanical, or other device, knowing or having reason to know that the design of such device renders it primarily useful for the purpose of the surreptitious interception of wire, electronic or oral communications; or 2. Places in any newspaper, magazine, handbill, or other publication any advertisement of: (a) Any electronic, mechanical, or other device knowing or having reason to know that the design of such device renders it primarily useful for the purpose of the surreptitious interception of wire, electronic or oral communications, or (b) Any other electronic, mechanical, or other device where such advertisement promotes the use of such device for the purpose of the surreptitious interception of wire, electronic or oral communications; shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. B. It shall not be unlawful under this section for: 1. A provider of wire or electronic communication service or an officer, agent, or employee of, or a person under contract with, such provider in the normal course of the provider's business, or 2. An officer, agent, or employee of, or a person under contract with the United States, the Commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof, in the normal course of the activities of the United States, the Commonwealth, or a political subdivision thereof, to manufacture, assemble, possess, or sell any electronic, mechanical, or other device knowing or having reason to know that the design of such device renders it primarily useful for the purpose of the surreptitious interception of wire, electronic or oral communications.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is manufacture, possession, sale or advertising of certain devices unlawful a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

Manufacture, possession, sale or advertising of certain devices unlawful is a class 6 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-63.

Which Virginia statute covers manufacture, possession, sale or advertising of certain devices unlawful?

Manufacture, possession, sale or advertising of certain devices unlawful is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-63 (Manufacture, possession, sale or advertising of certain devices unlawful; penalties; exceptions).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.