18.2-188 - Defrauding hotels, motels, campgrounds, boardinghouses, etc. - Virginia Statutes

§ 18.2-188. Defrauding hotels, motels, campgrounds, boardinghouses, etc.

It shall be unlawful for any person, without paying therefor, and with theintent to cheat or defraud the owner or keeper to:

1. Put up at a hotel, motel, campground or boardinghouse;

2. Obtain food from a restaurant or other eating house;

3. Gain entrance to an amusement park; or

4. Without having an express agreement for credit, procure food,entertainment or accommodation from any hotel, motel, campground,boardinghouse, restaurant, eating house or amusement park.

It shall be unlawful for any person, with intent to cheat or defraud theowner or keeper out of the pay therefor to obtain credit at a hotel, motel,campground, boardinghouse, restaurant or eating house for food, entertainmentor accommodation by means of any false show of baggage or effects broughtthereto.

It shall be unlawful for any person, with intent to cheat or defraud, toobtain credit at a hotel, motel, campground, boardinghouse, restaurant,eating house or amusement park for food, entertainment or accommodationthrough any misrepresentation or false statement.

It shall be unlawful for any person, with intent to cheat or defraud, toremove or cause to be removed any baggage or effects from a hotel, motel,campground, boardinghouse, restaurant or eating house while there is a lienexisting thereon for the proper charges due from him for fare and boardfurnished.

Any person who violates any provision of this section shall, if the value ofservice, credit or benefit procured or obtained is $200 or more, be guilty ofa Class 5 felony; or if the value is less than $200, a Class 1 misdemeanor.

(Code 1950, § 18.1-120; 1960, c. 358; 1974, c. 615; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1977,c. 178; 1981, c. 197; 1993, c. 575.)