Littering and Dumping
Va. Code 33.2-802 — a fine of $500 to $2,500, and the car's owner presumed
No one may dump or otherwise dispose of trash, garbage, refuse, litter or other unsightly matter on public property, including a highway, its right of way and the land next to it, or on private property without the owner's written consent. Dumping a companion animal to be rid of it is covered by the same section.
Who handles this in Virginia: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Virginia directory.
Out of a car, the car's owner or driver is presumed. When someone saw the matter thrown or taken from a motor vehicle, the vehicle's owner or operator is presumed to be the person who did it. Evidence can rebut the presumption.
It is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a fine of not less than $500 or more than $2,500, either or both. In place of jail the court may order at least 10 hours of community service picking up litter.
Localities may adopt their own ordinances that do not conflict with the section, and lawful disposal at a landfill is outside it. Whether a particular charge fits is a question for a licensed Virginia attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Va. Code 33.2-802 — Dumping trash; penalty
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Virginia attorney.