Skip to content

Code of Virginia · § 18.2-405 — What constitutes a riot; punishment

18.2-405. What constitutes a riot; punishment

Any unlawful use, by three or more persons acting together, of force or violence which seriously jeopardizes the public safety, peace or order is riot.

Every person convicted of participating in any riot shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

If such person carried, at the time of such riot, any firearm or other deadly or dangerous weapon, he shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony.

History and annotations

Code 1950, §§ 18.1-254.1, 18.1-254.2; 1968, c. 460; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 251; 1975, cc. 14, 15.

Official source for this version

Source captured 2026-09-25. Open the official source.

General legal information, not legal advice. Jurisio is not a law firm.