Virginia statute
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-404 — Obstructing free passage of others
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Article 1: Riot and Unlawful Assembly, Code of Virginia.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-404
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.
Any person or persons who in any public place or on any private property open to the public unreasonably or unnecessarily obstructs the free passage of other persons to and from or within such place or property and who shall fail or refuse to cease such obstruction or move on when requested to do so by the owner or lessee or agent or employee of such owner or lessee or by a duly authorized law-enforcement officer shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit lawful picketing.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is obstructing free passage of others a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
Obstructing free passage of others is a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-404.
Which Virginia statute covers obstructing free passage of others?
Obstructing free passage of others is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-404 (Obstructing free passage of others).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.