Bill Text: VA HB1590 | 2023 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Telephone, digital pager, or other device; causing to ring or signal with intent to annoy, penalty.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-03-22 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0201) [HB1590 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2023-HB1590-Chaptered.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §18.2-429 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§18.2-429. Causing a telephone, digital pager, or other device to ring or signal with intent to annoy; emergency communications; penalties.
A. Any person who, with or without intent to communicate but with intent to annoy any other person, causes any telephone or digital pager, not his own, to ring or to otherwise signal, and any person who permits or condones the use of any telephone under his control for such purpose, is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent conviction under this subsection is punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor if such prior conviction occurred before the date of the offense charged.
B. Any person who, with or without intent to converse,
communicate but with intent to annoy, harass, hinder, or delay
emergency personnel in the performance of their duties as such, causes a
telephone to ring or other device to signal, which is owned or leased
for the purpose of receiving emergency calls communications by a
public or private entity providing fire, police, or emergency medical
services, and any person who knowingly permits the use of a telephone or
other device under his control for such purpose, is guilty of a Class 1
misdemeanor.