{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/56-85.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/56-85.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/56-85.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/56-85.html"}],"law_id":370741,"edition_id":2,"section_id":370741,"structure_id":52794,"section_number":"56-85","catch_line":"Offenses","history":"1938, p. 22; Michie Code 1942, \u00a7 3774i3.","full_text":"Every public service company (1) entering into, participating in or acting under any contract or arrangement, required by this chapter to be approved by the Commission, before obtaining such approval, or (2) making any loan, extension or renewal thereof, or assuming any obligation or liability, or extension or renewal of any such obligation or liability, required by this chapter to be approved by the Commission, before obtaining such approval, or (3) making any declaration or payment of any dividends after entry of a summary order, either temporary or permanent, prohibiting such declaration or payment in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, or (4) otherwise violating any provision of this chapter, or of any valid order of the Commission entered in pursuance thereof, shall be subject to a fine, to be imposed in a proceeding before the Commission instituted for the purpose of determining whether there is any liability hereunder, of not less than $10 and not in excess of $500, together with the costs of the proceeding as adjudged by the Commission and as taxed by the clerk of the Commission according to law; and every day of any such violation which, in its nature, is continuing, may be deemed a separate offense.\n\nEvery public service company and every affiliated interest participating in any contract, arrangement, loan, or assumption, declaration or payment of dividends, or doing any other act, in violation of this chapter, or in violation of any valid order of the Commission hereunder, and every officer, director, or employee of any such public service company or of any such affiliated interest, knowingly authorizing, directing, aiding in or executing or causing to be executed, any such contract or arrangement, loan or assumption, declaration or payment of dividends, in violation of this chapter, or in violation of any valid order of the Commission hereunder, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and such liability for a misdemeanor shall be in addition and cumulative to any liability for the imposition of a fine or penalty as hereinbefore provided in this section.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1383149,"text":"Every public service company (1) entering into, participating in or acting under any contract or arrangement, required by this chapter to be approved by the Commission, before obtaining such approval, or (2) making any loan, extension or renewal thereof, or assuming any obligation or liability, or extension or renewal of any such obligation or liability, required by this chapter to be approved by the Commission, before obtaining such approval, or (3) making any declaration or payment of any dividends after entry of a summary order, either temporary or permanent, prohibiting such declaration or payment in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, or (4) otherwise violating any provision of this chapter, or of any valid order of the Commission entered in pursuance thereof, shall be subject to a fine, to be imposed in a proceeding before the Commission instituted for the purpose of determining whether there is any liability hereunder, of not less than $10 and not in excess of $500, together with the costs of the proceeding as adjudged by the Commission and as taxed by the clerk of the Commission according to law; and every day of any such violation which, in its nature, is continuing, may be deemed a separate offense.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1383150,"text":"Every public service company and every affiliated interest participating in any contract, arrangement, loan, or assumption, declaration or payment of dividends, or doing any other act, in violation of this chapter, or in violation of any valid order of the Commission hereunder, and every officer, director, or employee of any such public service company or of any such affiliated interest, knowingly authorizing, directing, aiding in or executing or causing to be executed, any such contract or arrangement, loan or assumption, declaration or payment of dividends, in violation of this chapter, or in violation of any valid order of the Commission hereunder, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and such liability for a misdemeanor shall be in addition and cumulative to any liability for the imposition of a fine or penalty as hereinbefore provided in this section.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":52794,"edition_id":2,"name":"Regulation of Relations With Affiliated Interests","identifier":"4","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":5,"parent_id":52702,"metadata":{"child_laws":12,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:05:42","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:36","permalink":{"id":1478099,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52794,"identifier":"4","token":"56\/4","url":"\/56\/4\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52702,"edition_id":2,"name":"Public Service Companies","identifier":"56","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":121,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":710,"child_structures":93},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:03:25","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:34","permalink":{"id":1475475,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52702,"identifier":"56","token":"56","url":"\/56\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":370729,"structure_id":52794,"section_number":"56-76","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/56-76\/","token":"56\/4\/56-76","metadata":false},{"id":370730,"structure_id":52794,"section_number":"56-77","catch_line":"Certain contracts must be approved by the Commission","url":"\/56-77\/","token":"56\/4\/56-77","metadata":false},{"id":370731,"structure_id":52794,"section_number":"56-78","catch_line":"Exclusion from accounts of payments to affiliated companies","url":"\/56-78\/","token":"56\/4\/56-78","metadata":false},{"id":370732,"structure_id":52794,"section_number":"56-79","catch_line":"Proof of costs in cases of payment to affiliated companies","url":"\/56-79\/","token":"56\/4\/56-79","metadata":false},{"id":370736,"structure_id":52794,"section_number":"56-80","catch_line":"Continuing supervisory control over terms and conditions of contracts","url":"\/56-80\/","token":"56\/4\/56-80","metadata":false},{"id":370737,"structure_id":52794,"section_number":"56-81","catch_line":"Summary order prohibiting treatment of payments as operating expenses, etc","url":"\/56-81\/","token":"56\/4\/56-81","metadata":false},{"id":370738,"structure_id":52794,"section_number":"56-82","catch_line":"Approval of loans to affiliates, etc","url":"\/56-82\/","token":"56\/4\/56-82","metadata":false},{"id":370739,"structure_id":52794,"section_number":"56-83","catch_line":"Summary order prohibiting payment of dividends to affiliates","url":"\/56-83\/","token":"56\/4\/56-83","metadata":false},{"id":370740,"structure_id":52794,"section_number":"56-84","catch_line":"Application or petition by public service company and affiliates; hearing; action of Commission; conditions imposed on foreign corporations","url":"\/56-84\/","token":"56\/4\/56-84","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Carl R. Stillman v. Norfolk & Western Railway Company, a .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"86-1105","citation":"811 F.2d 834","date":"1987-02-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/483263\/carl-r-stillman-v-norfolk-western-railway-company-a-corporation\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. ERVIN, Circuit Judge: .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"1":{"name":"Metzger v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service","case_number":"93-2112","citation":"38 F.3d 118","date":"1994-10-18","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/680717\/metzger-v-commissioner-of-internal-revenue-service\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 38 F.3d 118 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"2":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. John Matala v. Consolidation Coal Company, and Ray Marshall, .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"80-1287","citation":"647 F.2d 427","date":"1981-07-21","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/389958\/john-matala-v-consolidation-coal-company-and-ray-marshall-secretary-of\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 647 F.2d 427 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"3":{"name":"Scoric v. United States","case_number":"No. 1256","citation":"217 F. 871","date":"1914-09-08","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/8809243\/scoric-v-united-states\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. WOODS, Circuit Judge. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"4":{"name":"Roberts v. CSX Transp., Inc.","case_number":"090194","citation":"688 S.E.2d 178","date":"2010-01-15","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058248\/roberts-v-csx-transp-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 688 S.E.2d 178 (2010) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"5":{"name":"Sloas v. CSX Transportation, Inc.","case_number":"09-1249, 09-1288","citation":"616 F.3d 380","date":"2010-07-26","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/151543\/sloas-v-csx-transportation-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 616 F.3d 380 (2010) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"6":{"name":"Metzger v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service","case_number":"No. 93-2112","citation":"38 F.3d 118","date":"1994-09-01","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7030491\/metzger-v-commissioner-of-internal-revenue-service\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Affirmed by published opinion. Judge WILLIAMS wrote the majority opinion, in which Judge PAYNE .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"7":{"name":"Matala v. Consolidation Coal Co.","case_number":"Nos. 80-1287, 80-1288","citation":"647 F.2d 427","date":"1981-04-24","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/8923951\/matala-v-consolidation-coal-co\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. ERVIN, Circuit Judge: .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"8":{"name":"Conner v. Hendrix","case_number":"Record 3907","citation":"194 Va. 17","date":"1952-09-10","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1365093\/conner-v-hendrix\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Spratley, J., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"9":{"name":"Fisher v. United States","case_number":"2261","citation":"2 F.2d 843","date":"1924-10-29","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1487095\/fisher-v-united-states\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. WOODS, Circuit Judge. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"}}}},{"id":370741,"structure_id":52794,"section_number":"56-85","catch_line":"Offenses","url":"\/56-85\/","token":"56\/4\/56-85","metadata":false},{"id":370742,"structure_id":52794,"section_number":"56-86","catch_line":"Appeal from decisions of Commission under chapter","url":"\/56-86\/","token":"56\/4\/56-86","metadata":false},{"id":370743,"structure_id":52794,"section_number":"56-87","catch_line":"Rules of Commission to carry out chapter","url":"\/56-87\/","token":"56\/4\/56-87","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":370740,"structure_id":52794,"section_number":"56-84","catch_line":"Application or petition by public service company and affiliates; hearing; action of Commission; conditions imposed on foreign corporations","url":"\/56-84\/","token":"56\/4\/56-84","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Carl R. Stillman v. Norfolk & Western Railway Company, a .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"86-1105","citation":"811 F.2d 834","date":"1987-02-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/483263\/carl-r-stillman-v-norfolk-western-railway-company-a-corporation\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. ERVIN, Circuit Judge: .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"1":{"name":"Metzger v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service","case_number":"93-2112","citation":"38 F.3d 118","date":"1994-10-18","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/680717\/metzger-v-commissioner-of-internal-revenue-service\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 38 F.3d 118 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"2":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. John Matala v. Consolidation Coal Company, and Ray Marshall, .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"80-1287","citation":"647 F.2d 427","date":"1981-07-21","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/389958\/john-matala-v-consolidation-coal-company-and-ray-marshall-secretary-of\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 647 F.2d 427 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"3":{"name":"Scoric v. United States","case_number":"No. 1256","citation":"217 F. 871","date":"1914-09-08","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/8809243\/scoric-v-united-states\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. WOODS, Circuit Judge. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"4":{"name":"Roberts v. CSX Transp., Inc.","case_number":"090194","citation":"688 S.E.2d 178","date":"2010-01-15","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058248\/roberts-v-csx-transp-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 688 S.E.2d 178 (2010) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"5":{"name":"Sloas v. CSX Transportation, Inc.","case_number":"09-1249, 09-1288","citation":"616 F.3d 380","date":"2010-07-26","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/151543\/sloas-v-csx-transportation-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 616 F.3d 380 (2010) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"6":{"name":"Metzger v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service","case_number":"No. 93-2112","citation":"38 F.3d 118","date":"1994-09-01","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7030491\/metzger-v-commissioner-of-internal-revenue-service\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Affirmed by published opinion. Judge WILLIAMS wrote the majority opinion, in which Judge PAYNE .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"7":{"name":"Matala v. Consolidation Coal Co.","case_number":"Nos. 80-1287, 80-1288","citation":"647 F.2d 427","date":"1981-04-24","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/8923951\/matala-v-consolidation-coal-co\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. ERVIN, Circuit Judge: .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"8":{"name":"Conner v. Hendrix","case_number":"Record 3907","citation":"194 Va. 17","date":"1952-09-10","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1365093\/conner-v-hendrix\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Spratley, J., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"9":{"name":"Fisher v. United States","case_number":"2261","citation":"2 F.2d 843","date":"1924-10-29","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1487095\/fisher-v-united-states\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. WOODS, Circuit Judge. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"}}}},"next_section":{"id":370742,"structure_id":52794,"section_number":"56-86","catch_line":"Appeal from decisions of Commission under chapter","url":"\/56-86\/","token":"56\/4\/56-86","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-85\/","history_text":false,"references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1478137,"object_type":"law","relational_id":370741,"identifier":"56-85","token":"56\/4\/56-85","url":"\/56-85\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-85\/","token":"56\/4\/56-85","dublin_core":{"Title":"Offenses","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-85","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Every public service company<\/span> (1) entering into, participating in or acting under any contract<\/span> or arrangement, required by this chapter to be approved by the Commission<\/span>, before obtaining such approval, or (2) making any loan, extension or renewal thereof, or assuming any obligation or liability, or extension or renewal of any such obligation or liability, required by this chapter to be approved by the Commission<\/span>, before obtaining such approval, or (3) making any declaration or payment of any dividends after entry of a summary order<\/span>, either temporary or permanent, prohibiting such declaration or payment in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, or (4) otherwise violating any provision of this chapter, or of any valid order<\/span> of the Commission<\/span> entered in pursuance thereof, shall be subject to a fine, to be imposed in a proceeding before the Commission<\/span> instituted for the purpose of determining whether there is any liability hereunder, of not less than $10 and not in excess of $500, together with the costs of the proceeding as adjudged by the Commission<\/span> and as taxed by the clerk of the Commission<\/span> according to law<\/span>; and every day of any such violation which, in its nature, is continuing, may be deemed a separate offense<\/span>.<\/p>

Every public service company<\/span> and every affiliated interest<\/span> participating in any contract<\/span>, arrangement, loan, or assumption, declaration or payment of dividends, or doing any other act, in violation of this chapter, or in violation of any valid order<\/span> of the Commission<\/span> hereunder, and every officer, director, or employee of any such public service company<\/span> or of any such affiliated interest<\/span>, knowingly authorizing, directing, aiding in or executing or causing to be executed, any such contract<\/span> or arrangement, loan or assumption, declaration or payment of dividends, in violation of this chapter, or in violation of any valid order<\/span> of the Commission<\/span> hereunder, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor<\/span>, and such liability for a misdemeanor<\/span> shall be in addition and cumulative to any liability for the imposition of a fine or penalty<\/span> as hereinbefore provided in this section.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nOFFENSES (\u00a7 56-85)\n\nEvery public service company (1) entering into, participating in or acting under\nany contract or arrangement, required by this chapter to be approved by the\nCommission, before obtaining such approval, or (2) making any loan, extension or\nrenewal thereof, or assuming any obligation or liability, or extension or\nrenewal of any such obligation or liability, required by this chapter to be\napproved by the Commission, before obtaining such approval, or (3) making any\ndeclaration or payment of any dividends after entry of a summary order, either\ntemporary or permanent, prohibiting such declaration or payment in accordance\nwith the provisions of this chapter, or (4) otherwise violating any provision of\nthis chapter, or of any valid order of the Commission entered in pursuance\nthereof, shall be subject to a fine, to be imposed in a proceeding before the\nCommission instituted for the purpose of determining whether there is any\nliability hereunder, of not less than $10 and not in excess of $500, together\nwith the costs of the proceeding as adjudged by the Commission and as taxed by\nthe clerk of the Commission according to law; and every day of any such\nviolation which, in its nature, is continuing, may be deemed a separate offense.\n\nEvery public service company and every affiliated interest participating in any\ncontract, arrangement, loan, or assumption, declaration or payment of dividends,\nor doing any other act, in violation of this chapter, or in violation of any\nvalid order of the Commission hereunder, and every officer, director, or\nemployee of any such public service company or of any such affiliated interest,\nknowingly authorizing, directing, aiding in or executing or causing to be\nexecuted, any such contract or arrangement, loan or assumption, declaration or\npayment of dividends, in violation of this chapter, or in violation of any valid\norder of the Commission hereunder, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and such\nliability for a misdemeanor shall be in addition and cumulative to any liability\nfor the imposition of a fine or penalty as hereinbefore provided in this\nsection.\n\nHISTORY: 1938, p. 22; Michie Code 1942, \u00a7 3774i3.","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"}}