{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/18.2-121.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/18.2-121.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/18.2-121.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/18.2-121.2.html"}],"law_id":350289,"edition_id":2,"section_id":350289,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-121.2","catch_line":"Trespass by spotlight on agricultural land","history":"1981, c. 460; 2015, cc. 502, 503.","full_text":"If any person shall willfully use a spotlight or similar lighting apparatus to cast a light upon private property used for livestock or crops without the written permission of the person in legal possession of such property, he shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.\n\nThe prohibition of this section shall not apply to light cast by (i) permanently installed outdoor lighting fixtures, (ii) headlamps on vehicles moving in normal travel on public or private roads, (iii) railroad locomotives or rolling stock being operated on the tracks or right-of-way of a railroad company, (iv) aircraft or watercraft, (v) apparatus used by employees of any public utility in maintaining the utility’s lines and equipment, (vi) emergency medical services vehicles used by emergency medical services personnel or fire apparatus used by members of fire departments in the performance of their official duties, (vii) apparatus used by any law-enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties, or (viii) farm machinery or motor vehicles being used in normal farming operations.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1305240,"text":"If any person shall willfully use a spotlight or similar lighting apparatus to cast a light upon private property used for livestock or crops without the written permission of the person in legal possession of such property, he shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1305241,"text":"The prohibition of this section shall not apply to light cast by (i) permanently installed outdoor lighting fixtures, (ii) headlamps on vehicles moving in normal travel on public or private roads, (iii) railroad locomotives or rolling stock being operated on the tracks or right-of-way of a railroad company, (iv) aircraft or watercraft, (v) apparatus used by employees of any public utility in maintaining the utility’s lines and equipment, (vi) emergency medical services vehicles used by emergency medical services personnel or fire apparatus used by members of fire departments in the performance of their official duties, (vii) apparatus used by any law-enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties, or (viii) farm machinery or motor vehicles being used in normal farming operations.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":50138,"edition_id":2,"name":"Trespass to Realty","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":5,"parent_id":50135,"metadata":{"child_laws":26,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:23:04","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:18","permalink":{"id":1392551,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50138,"identifier":"5","token":"18.2\/5\/5","url":"\/18.2\/5\/5\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50135,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes Against Property","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":5,"parent_id":50131,"metadata":{"child_laws":153,"child_structures":10},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:59","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:17","permalink":{"id":1392301,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50135,"identifier":"5","token":"18.2\/5","url":"\/18.2\/5\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50131,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":52,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":960,"child_structures":94},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:59","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:15","permalink":{"id":1391141,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50131,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":350284,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-119","catch_line":"Trespass after having been forbidden to do so; penalties","url":"\/18.2-119\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-119","metadata":false},{"id":350283,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-119.1","catch_line":"Validity of signs forbidding trespass; penalty","url":"\/18.2-119.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-119.1","metadata":false},{"id":350287,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-120","catch_line":"Instigating, etc., such trespass by others; preventing service to persons not forbidden to trespass","url":"\/18.2-120\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-120","metadata":false},{"id":350291,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-121","catch_line":"Entering property of another for purpose of damaging it, etc.; penalties","url":"\/18.2-121\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121","metadata":false},{"id":350288,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-121.1","catch_line":"Permitting certain animals to run at large","url":"\/18.2-121.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Village Gate Homeowners Ass'n v. Hales","case_number":"Record No. 770510","citation":"219 Va. 321","date":"1978-08-31","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/6927371\/village-gate-homeowners-assn-v-hales\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COMPTON, J., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":350289,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-121.2","catch_line":"Trespass by spotlight on agricultural land","url":"\/18.2-121.2\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121.2","metadata":false},{"id":350290,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-121.3","catch_line":"Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; penalty","url":"\/18.2-121.3\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121.3","metadata":false},{"id":350292,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-122","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-122\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-122","metadata":false},{"id":350293,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-123","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-123\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-123","metadata":false},{"id":350294,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-124","catch_line":"Jurisdiction over offenses committed in Capitol Square","url":"\/18.2-124\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-124","metadata":false},{"id":350295,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-125","catch_line":"Trespass at night upon any cemetery","url":"\/18.2-125\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-125","metadata":false},{"id":350296,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-126","catch_line":"Violation of sepulture; defilement of a dead human body; penalties","url":"\/18.2-126\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-126","metadata":false},{"id":350297,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-127","catch_line":"Injuries to churches, church property, cemeteries, burial grounds, etc.; penalty","url":"\/18.2-127\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-127","metadata":false},{"id":350298,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-128","catch_line":"Trespass upon church or school property","url":"\/18.2-128\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-128","metadata":false},{"id":350299,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-129","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-129\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-129","metadata":false},{"id":350302,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-130","catch_line":"Peeping or spying into dwelling or enclosure","url":"\/18.2-130\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-130","metadata":false},{"id":350301,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-130.1","catch_line":"Peeping or spying into dwelling or occupied building by electronic device or unmanned aircraft system; penalty","url":"\/18.2-130.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-130.1","metadata":false},{"id":350303,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-131","catch_line":"Trespass upon licensed shooting preserve","url":"\/18.2-131\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-131","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Village Gate Homeowners Ass'n v. Hales","case_number":"Record No. 770510","citation":"219 Va. 321","date":"1978-08-31","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/6927371\/village-gate-homeowners-assn-v-hales\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COMPTON, J., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Anthony Wade Ragland v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"0294163","citation":"67 Va. App. 519","date":"2017-03-28","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4378717\/anthony-wade-ragland-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. OPINION BY .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":350305,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-132","catch_line":"Trespass by hunters and fishers","url":"\/18.2-132\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-132","metadata":false},{"id":350304,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-132.1","catch_line":"Trespass by hunters using dogs; penalty","url":"\/18.2-132.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-132.1","metadata":false},{"id":350306,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-133","catch_line":"Refusal of person on land, etc., of another to identify himself","url":"\/18.2-133\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-133","metadata":false},{"id":350308,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-134","catch_line":"Trespass on posted property","url":"\/18.2-134\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-134","metadata":false},{"id":350307,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-134.1","catch_line":"Method of posting lands","url":"\/18.2-134.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-134.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350309,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-135","catch_line":"Destruction of posted signs; posting land of another","url":"\/18.2-135\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-135","metadata":false},{"id":350311,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-136","catch_line":"Right of certain hunters to go on lands of another; carrying firearms or bows and arrows prohibited","url":"\/18.2-136\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-136","metadata":false},{"id":350310,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-136.1","catch_line":"Enforcement of \u00a7\u00a7 18.2-131 through 18.2-135","url":"\/18.2-136.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-136.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":350288,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-121.1","catch_line":"Permitting certain animals to run at large","url":"\/18.2-121.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Village Gate Homeowners Ass'n v. Hales","case_number":"Record No. 770510","citation":"219 Va. 321","date":"1978-08-31","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/6927371\/village-gate-homeowners-assn-v-hales\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COMPTON, J., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},"next_section":{"id":350290,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-121.3","catch_line":"Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; penalty","url":"\/18.2-121.3\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121.3","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-121.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1981. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 460 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1981 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 2015, chapters 502<\/a> and 503<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1392573,"object_type":"law","relational_id":350289,"identifier":"18.2-121.2","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121.2","url":"\/18.2-121.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-121.2\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Trespass by spotlight on agricultural land","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-121.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

If any person shall willfully use a spotlight or similar lighting apparatus to cast a light upon private property used for livestock or crops without the written permission of the person in legal possession<\/span> of such property, he shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor<\/span>.<\/p>

The prohibition of this section shall not apply to light cast by (i) permanently installed outdoor lighting fixtures, (ii) headlamps on vehicles moving in normal travel on public or private roads, (iii) railroad locomotives or rolling stock being operated on the tracks or right-of-way of a railroad company, (iv) aircraft or watercraft, (v) apparatus used by employees of any public utility in maintaining the utility’s lines and equipment, (vi) emergency medical services vehicles used by emergency medical services personnel or fire apparatus used by members of fire departments in the performance of their official duties, (vii) apparatus used by any law<\/span>-enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties, or (viii) farm machinery or motor vehicles being used in normal farming operations.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nTRESPASS BY SPOTLIGHT ON AGRICULTURAL LAND (\u00a7 18.2-121.2)\n\nIf any person shall willfully use a spotlight or similar lighting apparatus to\ncast a light upon private property used for livestock or crops without the\nwritten permission of the person in legal possession of such property, he shall\nbe guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.\n\nThe prohibition of this section shall not apply to light cast by (i) permanently\ninstalled outdoor lighting fixtures, (ii) headlamps on vehicles moving in normal\ntravel on public or private roads, (iii) railroad locomotives or rolling stock\nbeing operated on the tracks or right-of-way of a railroad company, (iv)\naircraft or watercraft, (v) apparatus used by employees of any public utility in\nmaintaining the utility’s lines and equipment, (vi) emergency medical\nservices vehicles used by emergency medical services personnel or fire apparatus\nused by members of fire departments in the performance of their official duties,\n(vii) apparatus used by any law-enforcement officer in the performance of his\nofficial duties, or (viii) farm machinery or motor vehicles being used in normal\nfarming operations.\n\nHISTORY: 1981, c. 460; 2015, cc. 502, 503.","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"}}