Skip to main content
US Criminal Defense.org
Menu

Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-460 — Obstructing justice; resisting arrest; fleeing from a law-enforcement officer; penalties

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 6: Interference with Administration of Justice, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-460

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. § 18.2-460Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
A. If any person without just cause knowingly obstructs a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, any law-enforcement officer, or animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555 in the performance of his duties as such or fails or refuses without just cause to cease such obstruction when requested to do so by such judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, law-enforcement officer, or animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555 , he is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. B. Except as provided in subsection C, any person who, by threats or force, knowingly attempts to intimidate or impede a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, any law-enforcement officer, or an animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555 lawfully engaged in his duties as such, or to obstruct or impede the administration of justice in any court, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. C. (Effective until July 1, 2027) If any person by threats of bodily harm or force knowingly attempts to intimidate or impede a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, any law-enforcement officer, lawfully engaged in the discharge of his duty, or to obstruct or impede the administration of justice in any court relating to a violation of or conspiracy to violate § 18.2-248 or subdivision (a)(3), (b) or (c) of § 18.2-248.1 , or § 18.2-46.2 or § 18.2-46.3 , or relating to the violation of or conspiracy to violate any violent felony offense listed in subsection C of § 17.1-805 , he is guilty of a Class 5 felony. C. (Effective July 1, 2027) If any person by threats of bodily harm or force knowingly attempts to intimidate or impede a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, or law-enforcement officer, lawfully engaged in the discharge of his duty, or to obstruct or impede the administration of justice in any court relating to a violation of or conspiracy to violate § 18.2-46.2 , 18.2-46.3 , or 18.2-248 , or relating to the violation of or conspiracy to violate any violent felony offense listed in subsection C of § 17.1-805 , he is guilty of a Class 5 felony. D. Any person who knowingly and willfully makes any materially false statement or representation to a law-enforcement officer or an animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555 who is in the course of conducting an investigation of a crime by another is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. E. Any person who intentionally prevents or attempts to prevent a law-enforcement officer from lawfully arresting him, with or without a warrant, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this subsection, intentionally preventing or attempting to prevent a lawful arrest means fleeing from a law-enforcement officer when (i) the officer applies physical force to the person, or (ii) the officer communicates to the person that he is under arrest and (a) the officer has the legal authority and the immediate physical ability to place the person under arrest, and (b) a reasonable person who receives such communication knows or should know that he is not free to leave.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is obstructing justice a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: obstructing justice ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 5 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-460.

Obstructing justice — obstructing officials/witnesses without just cause: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-460A) · Obstructing justice — intimidation or impeding by threats or force: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-460B) · Obstructing justice — intimidation by threats of bodily harm/force related to drug or violent felony proceedings: class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-460C) · Obstructing justice — false statement to law-enforcement/animal control officer during investigation: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-460D) · Obstructing justice — preventing lawful arrest by fleeing: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-460E)

Which Virginia statute covers obstructing justice?

Obstructing justice is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-460 (Obstructing justice; resisting arrest; fleeing from a law-enforcement officer; penalties).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.