Virginia statute
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-388 — Intoxication in public; penalty; transportation of public inebriates to detoxification center
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Article 5: Obscenity and Related Offenses, Code of Virginia.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-388
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.
If any person is intoxicated in public, whether such intoxication results from alcohol, narcotic drug, or other intoxicant or drug of whatever nature, he is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. In any area in which there is located a court-approved detoxification center, a law-enforcement officer may authorize the transportation, by police or otherwise, of public inebriates to such detoxification center in lieu of arrest; however, no person shall be involuntarily detained in such center.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is intoxication in public a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
Intoxication in public is a class 4 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-388.
Which Virginia statute covers intoxication in public?
Intoxication in public is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-388 (Intoxication in public; penalty; transportation of public inebriates to detoxification center).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.