Section 11. Whoever unlawfully and intentionally injures, or suffers to be injured, a water meter belonging to a city, town, district, or company engaged in supplying water, or prevents such meter from duly registering the quantity of water supplied through it, or hinders or interferes with its proper action or just registration, or attaches a pipe to a main or pipe belonging to a city, town, district or water company, or otherwise uses or causes to be used the water supplied by a city, town, district or company without the consent of the same, unless it passes through a meter set by such city, town, district or company, shall be punished by a fine of triple the amount of damages sustained thereby or $1,000, whichever is greater or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. Damages shall include the value of the water used and the cost of labor and equipment repair and replacement.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Chapter 165 - Water and Aqueduct Companies
Section 1a - Adequacy of Distribution System; Approval
Section 1b - Rules and Regulations
Section 2 - Application of Other Statutes
Section 2a - Filing Schedule of Rates and Prices by Water Districts
Section 2b - Base Rate for Water Charges and Fees; Increases for High Volume Users
Section 3 - Powers of Department of Environmental Protection; Impairment
Section 4 - Supervisory Authority of Department
Section 4a - Filing Copies of Existing Contracts With Affiliated Companies; Violations
Section 4b - Water Companies; Eminent Domain or Purchase; Waters, Water Rights, Lands and Easements
Section 5 - Acquisition of Water Works and Other Water Company Property by Town
Section 6 - Engineering Services and Advice
Section 8 - Opening of Streets by One Other Than Water Company; Consent of Municipal Officers
Section 9 - Review of Action of Municipal Officers Relating to Opening of Streets
Section 10 - Testing of Meters; Report; Cost
Section 11 - Intentional Injury to or Interference With Meter; Penalty
Section 11a - Procedure for Shutting Off the Flow of Water on Failure to Pay Lawful Charges
Section 11c - Indebtedness of Prior Property Owner; Water Supply for New Owner
Section 11d - Entry on Premises to Examine Water Meters and Facilities
Section 12 - Application to Other Statutes
Section 13 - Certificate of Payment of Capital Stock
Section 14 - Conveyance of Property in Payment for Stock
Section 15 - Corporations Organized Under Earlier Law; Meetings and Records
Section 16 - Record of Proprietors' Names
Section 18 - Assessments; Defaults; Sale of Shares
Section 20 - Opening Streets or Ways
Section 21 - Continuing Liability on Contracts After Dissolution
Section 22 - Satisfaction of Judgment Against Shareholders After Dissolution
Section 23 - Interest of Shareholders in Real Property After Dissolution
Section 24 - Malicious Injury to Aqueduct; Penalty
Section 25 - Conductors From Aqueducts for Fire Fighting
Section 26 - Means of Taking Water for Fire Fighting