Honestly, that shrill, heart-stopping noise from your phone is the last thing anyone wants to hear while they’re driving or trying to sleep. But when an amber alert in virginia today hits the airwaves, things move fast. Real fast.
As of Saturday, January 17, 2026, there are no active AMBER Alerts currently active across the Commonwealth. Virginia State Police (VSP) typically keeps these active for only 12 hours unless they’re renewed, so if you haven’t seen a specific license plate flashing on those overhead VDOT signs in the last few hours, we’re likely in the clear for the moment.
But here’s the thing. Just because your phone isn't screaming doesn't mean there aren't kids missing. Virginia has a unique way of handling these cases that most people—even locals—totally misunderstand.
The Confusion Over "Missing" vs "Abducted"
You might have seen those viral social media posts lately. People are panicking, claiming there’s a "mass abduction" happening because the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) website shows a ton of kids missing from Virginia.
VSP actually had to put out a statement about this.
Basically, Virginia is just really, really good at paperwork. Unlike some other states, Virginia State Police forwards every single missing child case to NCMEC immediately. Most of these are runaways or kids who are safe but haven't been "cleared" in the system yet. An AMBER Alert is a completely different beast.
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To trigger that terrifying phone notification, the police have to prove four very specific things:
- The kid is 17 or younger (or still in high school).
- They believe an actual abduction happened—not just a runaway situation.
- The child is in "imminent danger" of serious harm or death.
- There is enough descriptive info (like a car make or a suspect's name) to actually help the public find them.
If those four boxes aren't checked, no alert. It's that simple.
The New Kid on the Block: CODI Alerts
If you live in Hampton Roads or Richmond, you've probably heard of Codi Bigsby. He was four years old when he vanished in 2022. Because there was no proof of an "abduction" right away, an AMBER Alert couldn't be issued. It was a mess.
Fast forward to now, and Virginia has fixed that loophole with the CODI Alert (Critical Operation for a Disappeared Child Initiative).
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This is huge. It allows police to blast out information for "missing or endangered" kids even if they can't prove a kidnapping yet. You might see these on the news or social media even when your phone doesn't do the "emergency buzz." It’s basically the middle ground that helps find kids who fall through the cracks of the stricter AMBER criteria.
What Actually Happens When an Alert Goes Out?
When the State Police Duty Sergeant in Richmond hits the "go" button, a massive machine starts turning. It's not just your phone.
- Lottery Machines: Every Virginia Lottery terminal in every gas station across the state starts scrolling the info.
- VDOT Signs: Those big electronic boards on I-95, I-64, and I-81 get updated with the vehicle description.
- Social Media: Instagram and Facebook (Meta) automatically push the alert into the feeds of people in the specific search area.
If you see an amber alert in virginia today, don't just clear the notification. Check the vehicle description. Most of these cases are solved because someone in a Starbucks drive-thru or at a rest stop noticed a license plate that matched the alert.
Real Numbers and Recent History
In 2025, Virginia State Police only issued two full-scale AMBER Alerts. Both children were found safe. That’s a 100% success rate for the system last year.
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Usually, the alerts are canceled within a few hours. Why? Because the pressure of having 8.7 million people looking for one car usually makes suspects panic or give up.
However, we still have "Critically Missing Adult" alerts and "Senior Alerts" (for folks with dementia) that happen much more frequently. If you’re seeing a notification and the person is 60+, that’s a Senior Alert, not an AMBER Alert.
How to Stay Actually Informed
Don't rely on your neighbor's "shared" post from three days ago on Facebook. Half the time, those kids have been home for 48 hours and the post is just cluttering up the internet.
If you want the truth right now, go straight to the Virginia State Police Active Alerts page. That is the "source of truth." If it’s not on that page, the alert has been canceled.
Actionable Steps for Virginians:
- Check the VSP Website: If you hear the alert, go to vsp.virginia.gov/active-alerts immediately for the vehicle and suspect photos.
- Don't Turn Off WEA: It’s tempting to disable "Emergency Alerts" in your phone settings because they’re loud. Keep them on. That 30 seconds of annoyance is literally what saves lives.
- Report, Don't Intervene: If you see the car from an alert, call #77 (State Police) or 911. Do not try to block the car or confront a suspect. Just keep eyes on them and stay on the phone with dispatch.
- Verify Before Sharing: Before you hit "share" on a missing person post, check the date. If it doesn't say "January 17, 2026," it might be old news.
The system isn't perfect, but in Virginia, it's one of the tightest operations in the country. Stay sharp out there.