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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>378283</law_id><section_number>8.7-307</section_number><catch_line>Lien of carrier</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="26" identifier="8.7">Commercial Code &#x2014; Warehouse Receipts, Bills of Lading and Other Documents of Title</unit><unit label="part" level="2" order_by="3" identifier="3">Bills of Lading: Special Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A carrier has a <span class="dictionary">lien</span> on the goods covered by a bill of lading or on the proceeds thereof in his <span class="dictionary">possession</span> for charges subsequent to the date of its receipt of the goods for storage or transportation (including demurrage and terminal charges) and for expenses necessary for preservation of the goods incident to their transportation or reasonably incurred in their sale pursuant to <span class="dictionary">law</span>. However, against a purchaser for value of a negotiable bill of lading, a carrier&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">lien</span> is limited to charges stated in the bill, or, if no charges are stated, a reasonable charge. <a id="paragraph-1411321" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.7-307/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> A <span class="dictionary">lien</span> for charges and expenses under subsection (1) on goods that the carrier was required by <span class="dictionary">law</span> to receive for transportation is effective against the consignor or any person entitled to the goods unless the carrier had notice that the consignor lacked authority to subject the goods to such charges and expenses. Any other <span class="dictionary">lien</span> under subsection (1) is effective against the consignor and any person who permitted the bailor to have control or <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the goods unless the carrier had notice that the bailor lacked such authority. <a id="paragraph-1411322" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.7-307/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> A carrier loses his <span class="dictionary">lien</span> on any goods that he voluntarily delivers or unjustifiably refuses to deliver. <a id="paragraph-1411323" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.7-307/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 61-30 to 61-35; 1964, c. 219; 2004, c. 200.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
