Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-374 — Production, publication, sale, possession, etc., of obscene items

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 5: Obscenity and Related Offenses, Code of Virginia.

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-374

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. § 18.2-374Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session

It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to: (1) Prepare any obscene item for the purposes of sale or distribution; or (2) Print, copy, manufacture, produce, or reproduce any obscene item for purposes of sale or distribution; or (3) Publish, sell, rent, lend, transport in intrastate commerce, or distribute or exhibit any obscene item, or offer to do any of these things; or (4) Have in his possession with intent to sell, rent, lend, transport, or distribute any obscene item. Possession in public or in a public place of any obscene item as defined in this article shall be deemed prima facie evidence of a violation of this section. For the purposes of this section, "distribute" shall mean delivery in person, by mail, messenger or by any other means by which obscene items as defined in this article may pass from one person, firm or corporation to another.

Official sources

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

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 5 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-374.3.

Use of communications system to procure/promote minor for prostitution or child pornography: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-374.3B) · Solicitation of child under 15 with lascivious intent: class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-374.3C) · Solicitation of child at least 15 but younger than 18 with lascivious intent: class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-374.3D) · Adult exposing sexual/genital parts to child 15 or older via communications system: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-374.3D) · Solicitation of minor for prostitution, sodomy, or use in violation of § 18.2-374.1 or 18.2-374.1:1: class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-374.3E)

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.