Misdemeanor Classes
Virginia's four misdemeanor classes, what each one carries in jail time and fines under § 18.2-11, and which traffic offenses fall where.
6 guides
Virginia has exactly four classes of misdemeanor, numbered 1 to 4, and § 18.2-11 of the Code of Virginia sets the maximum punishment for each in a single sentence. Class 1 is the most serious and Class 4 the least; a Class 3 or Class 4 misdemeanor carries no jail exposure at all, only a fine. Nothing above Class 1 exists, and the lettered classes used in other states — Class A, Class B, Class C — are not part of Virginia law.
These pages take one class each, say what the statute allows, and give the traffic and everyday offenses charged at that level. A traffic infraction is not on this scale at all: § 18.2-8 puts infractions outside the criminal offenses entirely, which is why a speeding ticket can be prepaid and a misdemeanor cannot.
All guides
- Class 1 Misdemeanor in Virginia: Penalty, Jail Time and Record
A Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia carries up to 12 months in jail and a fine of not more than $2,500 — the most any Virginia misdemeanor can carry.
- Class 4 Misdemeanor in Virginia: A $250 Fine and Nothing More
A class 4 misdemeanor in Virginia carries a fine of not more than $250 and no jail, plus the $61 court fee a district court adds to any conviction.
- Class 2 Misdemeanor in Virginia: Six Months, $1,000 and Examples
A class 2 misdemeanor in Virginia carries up to six months in jail and a fine of not more than $1,000. Eluding and aggressive driving both qualify.
- What Is a Misdemeanor in Virginia? The Four Classes Explained
A misdemeanor in Virginia is a crime sorted into four classes, from a $250 fine at Class 4 up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine at Class 1.
- Class A Misdemeanor in Virginia: There Is No Such Class
Virginia has no class A misdemeanor. The Code lists four numbered classes, and the Class 1 misdemeanor — 12 months and $2,500 — is the equivalent.
- Class 3 Misdemeanor in Virginia: A $500 Fine and No Jail
A class 3 misdemeanor in Virginia is punishable by a fine of not more than $500 and no jail. It is still a crime, and no lawyer is appointed for one.