{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/5.1-22.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/5.1-22.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/5.1-22.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/5.1-22.html"}],"law_id":366619,"edition_id":2,"section_id":366619,"structure_id":52232,"section_number":"5.1-22","catch_line":"Interference with operation of aircraft; penalties; venue","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 5-14.3; 1958, c. 561, \u00a7 3; 1966, c. 576; 1983, c. 560; 2012, c. 398.","full_text":"Any person who interferes with or threatens to interfere with the operation of any aircraft, unless he is authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration or the armed forces of the United States, on or over the territory of the Commonwealth shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Where the act or acts of interference or threatened interference are of such a nature as to endanger the life of the aircraft’s operator or the life of any other person, the person interfering or threatening to interfere shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. Any person who knowingly and intentionally projects a point of light from a laser, laser gun sight, or any other device that simulates a laser at an aircraft is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Venue for the issuance of a warrant for the arrest and trial of any such person is hereby conferred upon any court having criminal jurisdiction in the political subdivision in the Commonwealth where the aircraft either took off prior to such offense, or where it lands or comes to rest subsequent to such offense, or in or over which the offense occurred.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1364983,"text":"Any person who interferes with or threatens to interfere with the operation of any aircraft, unless he is authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration or the armed forces of the United States, on or over the territory of the Commonwealth shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Where the act or acts of interference or threatened interference are of such a nature as to endanger the life of the aircraft’s operator or the life of any other person, the person interfering or threatening to interfere shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. Any person who knowingly and intentionally projects a point of light from a laser, laser gun sight, or any other device that simulates a laser at an aircraft is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Venue for the issuance of a warrant for the arrest and trial of any such person is hereby conferred upon any court having criminal jurisdiction in the political subdivision in the Commonwealth where the aircraft either took off prior to such offense, or where it lands or comes to rest subsequent to such offense, or in or over which the offense occurred.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":52232,"edition_id":2,"name":"Illegal Operation, Etc.; Procedure; Penalties","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":2,"parent_id":52222,"metadata":{"child_laws":14,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:56:20","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:27:50","permalink":{"id":1460547,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52232,"identifier":"2","token":"5.1\/1\/2","url":"\/5.1\/1\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52222,"edition_id":2,"name":"Aircraft, Airmen and Airports Generally","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":52221,"metadata":{"child_laws":78,"child_structures":3},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:56:16","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:27:49","permalink":{"id":1460303,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52222,"identifier":"1","token":"5.1\/1","url":"\/5.1\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52221,"edition_id":2,"name":"Aviation","identifier":"5.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":9,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":218,"child_structures":28},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:56:16","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:27:49","permalink":{"id":1460301,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52221,"identifier":"5.1","token":"5.1","url":"\/5.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":366530,"structure_id":52232,"section_number":"5.1-13","catch_line":"Operation of aircraft while under influence of intoxicating liquors or drugs; reckless operation","url":"\/5.1-13\/","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-13","metadata":false},{"id":366541,"structure_id":52232,"section_number":"5.1-14","catch_line":"Operation of unregistered aircraft","url":"\/5.1-14\/","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-14","metadata":false},{"id":366552,"structure_id":52232,"section_number":"5.1-15","catch_line":"Operation of aircraft by unlicensed persons","url":"\/5.1-15\/","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-15","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Surface, Adm'x v. Johnson, Adm'x","case_number":"Record 740507","citation":"215 Va. 777","date":"1975-04-28","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1227775\/surface-admx-v-johnson-admx\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Harman, J., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Haley v. Virginia State Bar","case_number":"220113","citation":null,"date":"2022-08-11","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7855894\/haley-v-virginia-state-bar\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT: Goodwyn, C.J., Powell, Kelsey, McCullough, and Chafin, JJ., and Lemons and .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"2":{"name":"Haley v. Virginia State Bar","case_number":"220113","citation":null,"date":"2022-08-11","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7857723\/haley-v-virginia-state-bar\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT: Goodwyn, C.J., Powell, Kelsey, McCullough, and Chafin, JJ., and Lemons and .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"Gadsby v. Grasmick","case_number":"No. 96-1292","citation":"109 F.3d 940","date":"1997-03-21","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7042213\/gadsby-v-grasmick\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Vacated and remanded by published opinion. Judge HAMILTON wrote the opinion, in which Judge WILLIAMS .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"4":{"name":"Gadsby v. Grasmick","case_number":"96-1292","citation":"109 F.3d 940","date":"1997-03-21","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/738514\/gadsby-v-grasmick\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 109 F.3d 940 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"5":{"name":"Green v. STATE BAR EX REL. SEVENTH DIST.","case_number":"Record 070515.; Record 070731.","citation":"652 S.E.2d 118","date":"2007-11-02","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058577\/green-v-state-bar-ex-rel-seventh-dist\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 652 S.E.2d 118 (2007) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"6":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. A.B., a Minor, by His Parent and Next Friend, D.B. D.B. v. .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"03-1046","citation":"354 F.3d 315","date":"2004-01-06","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/784649\/ab-a-minor-by-his-parent-and-next-friend-db-db-v-kenneth-p\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 354 F.3d 315 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"7":{"name":"A.B. Ex Rel. D.B. v. Lawson","case_number":"03-1046","citation":"354 F.3d 315","date":"2004-01-06","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2967876\/ab-ex-rel-db-v-lawson\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Reversed and remanded by published opinion. Judge GREGORY wrote the opinion, in which Judge .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"8":{"name":"Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina v. State of S.C.","case_number":"90-2446","citation":"978 F.2d 1334","date":"1992-09-22","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/594399\/catawba-indian-tribe-of-south-carolina-v-state-of-sc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 978 F.2d 1334 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"}}}},{"id":366564,"structure_id":52232,"section_number":"5.1-16","catch_line":"Tampering with, etc., airplanes or markings of airports, landing fields or other aeronautical facilities","url":"\/5.1-16\/","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-16","metadata":false},{"id":366563,"structure_id":52232,"section_number":"5.1-16.1","catch_line":"Misuse of licensed airports","url":"\/5.1-16.1\/","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-16.1","metadata":false},{"id":366575,"structure_id":52232,"section_number":"5.1-17","catch_line":"Use of aircraft for hunting","url":"\/5.1-17\/","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-17","metadata":false},{"id":366585,"structure_id":52232,"section_number":"5.1-18","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/5.1-18\/","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-18","metadata":false},{"id":366616,"structure_id":52232,"section_number":"5.1-20","catch_line":"Pilot may restrain or arrest person interfering with operation of aircraft carrying passengers for hire","url":"\/5.1-20\/","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-20","metadata":false},{"id":366618,"structure_id":52232,"section_number":"5.1-21","catch_line":"Powers of conservator of the peace conferred upon pilot","url":"\/5.1-21\/","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-21","metadata":false},{"id":366617,"structure_id":52232,"section_number":"5.1-21.1","catch_line":"Powers of conservators of the peace conferred upon airport managers or designees","url":"\/5.1-21.1\/","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-21.1","metadata":false},{"id":366619,"structure_id":52232,"section_number":"5.1-22","catch_line":"Interference with operation of aircraft; penalties; venue","url":"\/5.1-22\/","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-22","metadata":false},{"id":366620,"structure_id":52232,"section_number":"5.1-23","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of local and State Police","url":"\/5.1-23\/","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-23","metadata":false},{"id":366621,"structure_id":52232,"section_number":"5.1-24","catch_line":"Penalties","url":"\/5.1-24\/","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-24","metadata":false},{"id":366626,"structure_id":52232,"section_number":"5.1-25","catch_line":"Operation of aircraft by nonresident","url":"\/5.1-25\/","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-25","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":366617,"structure_id":52232,"section_number":"5.1-21.1","catch_line":"Powers of conservators of the peace conferred upon airport managers or designees","url":"\/5.1-21.1\/","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-21.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":366620,"structure_id":52232,"section_number":"5.1-23","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of local and State Police","url":"\/5.1-23\/","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-23","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/5.1-22\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1958, chapter 561; in 1966, chapter 576; in 1983, chapter 560; in 2012, chapter 398<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1460589,"object_type":"law","relational_id":366619,"identifier":"5.1-22","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-22","url":"\/5.1-22\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/5.1-22\/","token":"5.1\/1\/2\/5.1-22","dublin_core":{"Title":"Interference with operation of aircraft; penalties; venue","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 5.1-22","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Any person<\/span> who interferes with or threatens to interfere with the operation of any aircraft<\/span>, unless he is authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration or the armed forces of the United States, on or over the territory of the Commonwealth shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. Where the act or acts of interference or threatened interference are of such a nature as to endanger the life of the aircraft<\/span>’s operator or the life of any other person<\/span>, the person<\/span> interfering or threatening to interfere shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>. Any person<\/span> who knowingly and intentionally projects a point of light from a laser, laser gun sight, or any other device that simulates a laser at an aircraft<\/span> is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. Venue<\/span> for the issuance of a warrant for the arrest<\/span> and trial<\/span> of any such person<\/span> is hereby conferred upon any court<\/span> having criminal jurisdiction<\/span> in the political subdivision in the Commonwealth where the aircraft<\/span> either took off prior to such offense<\/span>, or where it lands or comes to rest subsequent to such offense<\/span>, or in or over which the offense<\/span> occurred.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nINTERFERENCE WITH OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT; PENALTIES; VENUE (\u00a7 5.1-22)\n\nAny person who interferes with or threatens to interfere with the operation of\nany aircraft, unless he is authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration or\nthe armed forces of the United States, on or over the territory of the\nCommonwealth shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Where the act or acts of\ninterference or threatened interference are of such a nature as to endanger the\nlife of the aircraft’s operator or the life of any other person, the\nperson interfering or threatening to interfere shall be guilty of a Class 6\nfelony. Any person who knowingly and intentionally projects a point of light\nfrom a laser, laser gun sight, or any other device that simulates a laser at an\naircraft is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Venue for the issuance of a warrant\nfor the arrest and trial of any such person is hereby conferred upon any court\nhaving criminal jurisdiction in the political subdivision in the Commonwealth\nwhere the aircraft either took off prior to such offense, or where it lands or\ncomes to rest subsequent to such offense, or in or over which the offense\noccurred.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 5-14.3; 1958, c. 561, \u00a7 3; 1966, c. 576; 1983, c. 560;\n2012, c. 398.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}