{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/40.1-53.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/40.1-53.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/40.1-53.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/40.1-53.html"}],"law_id":363465,"edition_id":2,"section_id":363465,"structure_id":51866,"section_number":"40.1-53","catch_line":"Preventing persons from pursuing lawful vocations, etc.; illegal picketing; injunction","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 40-64; 1952, c. 674; 1970, c. 321; 1974, c. 254.","full_text":"No person shall singly or in concert with others interfere or attempt to interfere with another in the exercise of his right to work or to enter upon the performance of any lawful vocation by the use of force, threats of violence or intimidation, or by the use of insulting or threatening language directed toward such person, to induce or attempt to induce him to quit his employment or refrain from seeking employment.\n\nNo person shall engage in picketing by force or violence, or picket alone or in concert with others in such manner as to obstruct or interfere with free ingress or egress to and from any premises, or obstruct or interfere with free use of public streets, sidewalks or other public ways.\n\nAny person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and punished accordingly.\n\nNotwithstanding the punishments herein provided any court of general equity jurisdiction may enjoin picketing prohibited by this section, and in addition thereto, may enjoin any picketing or interference with lawful picketing when necessary to prevent disorder, restrain coercion, protect life or property, or promote the general welfare.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1354547,"text":"No person shall singly or in concert with others interfere or attempt to interfere with another in the exercise of his right to work or to enter upon the performance of any lawful vocation by the use of force, threats of violence or intimidation, or by the use of insulting or threatening language directed toward such person, to induce or attempt to induce him to quit his employment or refrain from seeking employment.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1354548,"text":"No person shall engage in picketing by force or violence, or picket alone or in concert with others in such manner as to obstruct or interfere with free ingress or egress to and from any premises, or obstruct or interfere with free use of public streets, sidewalks or other public ways.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"2":{"id":1354549,"text":"Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and punished accordingly.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"3":{"id":1354550,"text":"Notwithstanding the punishments herein provided any court of general equity jurisdiction may enjoin picketing prohibited by this section, and in addition thereto, may enjoin any picketing or interference with lawful picketing when necessary to prevent disorder, restrain coercion, protect life or property, or promote the general welfare.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":51866,"edition_id":2,"name":"In General","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":51865,"metadata":{"child_laws":6,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:50:21","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:33:24","permalink":{"id":1447381,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51866,"identifier":"1","token":"40.1\/4\/1","url":"\/40.1\/4\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51865,"edition_id":2,"name":"Labor Unions, Strikes, Etc","identifier":"4","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":7,"parent_id":51843,"metadata":{"child_laws":32,"child_structures":6},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:50:21","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:33:24","permalink":{"id":1447379,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51865,"identifier":"4","token":"40.1\/4","url":"\/40.1\/4\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51843,"edition_id":2,"name":"Labor and Employment","identifier":"40.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":89,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":237,"child_structures":28},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:49:54","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:33:22","permalink":{"id":1446725,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51843,"identifier":"40.1","token":"40.1","url":"\/40.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":363464,"structure_id":51866,"section_number":"40.1-52","catch_line":"Authority of labor unions to own, encumber and sell real estate","url":"\/40.1-52\/","token":"40.1\/4\/1\/40.1-52","metadata":false},{"id":363465,"structure_id":51866,"section_number":"40.1-53","catch_line":"Preventing persons from pursuing lawful vocations, etc.; illegal picketing; injunction","url":"\/40.1-53\/","token":"40.1\/4\/1\/40.1-53","metadata":false},{"id":363469,"structure_id":51866,"section_number":"40.1-54","catch_line":"Payment of certain charges by carriers or shippers to or for benefit of labor organization","url":"\/40.1-54\/","token":"40.1\/4\/1\/40.1-54","metadata":false},{"id":363466,"structure_id":51866,"section_number":"40.1-54.1","catch_line":"Public policy as to strikes and work stoppages at hospitals","url":"\/40.1-54.1\/","token":"40.1\/4\/1\/40.1-54.1","metadata":false},{"id":363467,"structure_id":51866,"section_number":"40.1-54.2","catch_line":"Strikes and work stoppages at hospitals prohibited; penalty","url":"\/40.1-54.2\/","token":"40.1\/4\/1\/40.1-54.2","metadata":false},{"id":363468,"structure_id":51866,"section_number":"40.1-54.3","catch_line":"Right to vote by secret ballot on labor organization representation","url":"\/40.1-54.3\/","token":"40.1\/4\/1\/40.1-54.3","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":363464,"structure_id":51866,"section_number":"40.1-52","catch_line":"Authority of labor unions to own, encumber and sell real estate","url":"\/40.1-52\/","token":"40.1\/4\/1\/40.1-52","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":363469,"structure_id":51866,"section_number":"40.1-54","catch_line":"Payment of certain charges by carriers or shippers to or for benefit of labor organization","url":"\/40.1-54\/","token":"40.1\/4\/1\/40.1-54","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/40.1-53\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 1952, chapter 674; in 1970, chapter 321; in 1974, chapter 254.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1447387,"object_type":"law","relational_id":363465,"identifier":"40.1-53","token":"40.1\/4\/1\/40.1-53","url":"\/40.1-53\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/40.1-53\/","token":"40.1\/4\/1\/40.1-53","dublin_core":{"Title":"Preventing persons from pursuing lawful vocations, etc.; illegal picketing; injunction","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 40.1-53","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

No person shall singly or in concert with others interfere or attempt to interfere with another in the exercise of his right to work or to enter upon the performance of any lawful vocation by the use of force, threats of violence or intimidation, or by the use of insulting or threatening language directed toward such person, to induce or attempt to induce him to quit his employment or refrain from seeking employment.<\/p>

No person shall engage in picketing by force or violence, or picket alone or in concert with others in such manner as to obstruct or interfere with free ingress or egress to and from any premises, or obstruct or interfere with free use of public streets, sidewalks or other public ways.<\/p>

Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor<\/span>, and punished accordingly.<\/p>

Notwithstanding the punishments herein provided any court<\/span> of general equity<\/span> jurisdiction<\/span> may enjoin picketing prohibited by this section, and in addition thereto, may enjoin any picketing or interference with lawful picketing when necessary to prevent disorder, restrain coercion, protect life or property, or promote the general welfare.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPREVENTING PERSONS FROM PURSUING LAWFUL VOCATIONS, ETC.; ILLEGAL PICKETING;\nINJUNCTION (\u00a7 40.1-53)\n\nNo person shall singly or in concert with others interfere or attempt to\ninterfere with another in the exercise of his right to work or to enter upon the\nperformance of any lawful vocation by the use of force, threats of violence or\nintimidation, or by the use of insulting or threatening language directed toward\nsuch person, to induce or attempt to induce him to quit his employment or\nrefrain from seeking employment.\n\nNo person shall engage in picketing by force or violence, or picket alone or in\nconcert with others in such manner as to obstruct or interfere with free ingress\nor egress to and from any premises, or obstruct or interfere with free use of\npublic streets, sidewalks or other public ways.\n\nAny person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a\nmisdemeanor, and punished accordingly.\n\nNotwithstanding the punishments herein provided any court of general equity\njurisdiction may enjoin picketing prohibited by this section, and in addition\nthereto, may enjoin any picketing or interference with lawful picketing when\nnecessary to prevent disorder, restrain coercion, protect life or property, or\npromote the general welfare.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 40-64; 1952, c. 674; 1970, c. 321; 1974, c. 254.","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"}}