§ 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.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 11-35 - Public Utilities
Section 11-35-2. - Badges of telegraph and telephone workers.
Section 11-35-3. - Penalty for violating §§ 11-35-1, 11-35-2.
Section 11-35-4. - Injuries to electric or communication lines.
Section 11-35-4.1. - Installation of live wires or electrical equipment.
Section 11-35-5. - Aiding, abetting, counseling, or procuring line injuries.
Section 11-35-6. - Interference with gas or electric or water meters.
Section 11-35-7. - Bypassing meters — Use of electricity, gas or water with intent to defraud.
Section 11-35-8. - Interference with electric meter.
Section 11-35-9. - Bypassing electric meter — Use of electricity with intent to defraud.
Section 11-35-10. - Excessive gas or water charges — False meters.
Section 11-35-11 - — 11-35-13. Repealed.
Section 11-35-14. - Refusal to relinquish or to damage or to obstruct telephone.
Section 11-35-15. - Notice on telephone book.
Section 11-35-16. - Wrongfully obtaining telecommunication service.
Section 11-35-17. - Crank or obscene telephone calls.
Section 11-35-18. - Bomb threats and similar false reports.
Section 11-35-19. - Prosecution for violations of §§ 11-35-17, 11-35-18.
Section 11-35-20. - Termination of service.
Section 11-35-20.1. - Wrongful termination or disruption of service.
Section 11-35-22. - Offenses in connection with authorized interception of communications.
Section 11-35-23. - Failure to report to law enforcement officers.
Section 11-35-25. - Fraudulent communication devices.
Section 11-35-26. - Automatic telephone dialing systems failing to disconnect.