CHAPTER 356
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 19.2-340 , 19.2-341 , 19.2-349 , and 19.2-354 of the Code of Virginia, relating to fines and costs; period of limitations on collection.
[S 180]
Approved April 8, 2026
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 19.2-340 , 19.2-341 , 19.2-349 , and 19.2-354 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 19.2-340 . Fines; how recovered; in what name.
A. When any statute or ordinance prescribes a fine, unless it is otherwise expressly provided or would be inconsistent with the manifest intention of the General Assembly, it shall be paid to the Commonwealth if prescribed by a statute and recoverable by presentment, indictment, information, or warrant and paid to the locality if prescribed by an ordinance and recoverable by warrant. Whenever any warrant or summons is issued pursuant to § 19.2-72 or 19.2-74 for an offense in violation of any county, city, or town ordinance that is similar to any provision of this Code, and such warrant or summons references the offense using both the citation corresponding to the county, city, or town ordinance and the specific provision of this Code, any fine prescribed by the county, city, or town ordinance shall be paid to the locality. Fines imposed and costs taxed in a criminal or traffic prosecution, including a prosecution for a violation of an ordinance adopted pursuant to § 46.2-1220 , for committing an offense shall constitute a judgment and, if not paid at the time they are imposed, execution may issue thereon in the same manner as upon any other monetary judgment, subject to the period of limitations provided by § 19.2-341 .
B. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon the expiration of the period of limitations provided by § 19.2-341 , no action shall be brought to collect the debt.
C. The period of limitations provided by § 19.2-341 shall apply regardless of the method of collection applicable pursuant to § 19.2-349 and shall not be extended or revived on account of a partial payment, a written or verbal affirmation of fines or costs, or a change in collection methods. Upon the expiration of the period of limitations, it shall not be revived or restarted by any means.
§ 19.2-341 . Penalties other than fines; how recovered; in what name; limitation of actions.