Rhode Island General Laws 11-35-4. Injuries to electric or communication lines
Every person who shall wantonly or willfully and maliciously cut, destroy, break down, or injure, or attempt to cut, destroy, break down, or injure any machine, appliance, or apparatus used for generating electric currents or any electric wire or other appliance or apparatus used for the purpose of conducting or transmitting electric currents for using and furnishing power, motive power, light, or heat, or used for the purpose of transmitting intelligence by means of telegraphic or telephonic apparatus or by means of fire-alarm signals, burglar-alarm signals, police signals, railway signals, or other apparatus or appliance for the transmission of intelligence, or shall cut, destroy, break down, or injure or shall attempt to cut, destroy, break down, or injure any pole, bracket, insulator or other device, apparatus, or appliance for supporting or carrying any electric wire, or shall do any other act interrupting or intended to interrupt the transmission of the electric current over any electric wire, shall be liable to indictment for it, and upon conviction shall be fined not exceeding three thousand dollars ($3,000) or imprisoned not exceeding two (2) years; provided, that nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize or permit the attachment, erection, use, operation, or maintenance of any electric wire, apparatus, pole, bracket, insulator, or other device or appliance, upon the property of any person or corporation, without the consent of the owner or owners; nor to prevent any properly authorized person from removing any electric wire, apparatus, pole, bracket, insulator, or other device or appliance for the purpose of permitting the passage of any building or structure, the moving of which has been duly authorized by any city or town council.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 279, § 61; G.L. 1909, ch. 345, § 64; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 64; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 73; G.L. 1956, § 11-35-4.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 11-35-4
- Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
- person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
- town council: include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9