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§ 6-304. Public utility interference--Gas equipment

West's Annotated Code of MarylandCriminal LawEffective: October 1, 2010

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Criminal Law (Refs & Annos)
Title 6. Crimes Against Property
Subtitle 3. Malicious Destruction and Related Crimes
Effective: October 1, 2010
MD Code, Criminal Law, § 6-304
Formerly cited as MD CODE Art. 27, § 192
§ 6-304. Public utility interference--Gas equipment
Currentness
Gas company defined
(a) In this section, “gas company” has the meaning stated in § 1-101 of the Public Utilities Article.
Prohibited
(b)(1) A person may not wrongfully and maliciously damage, connect, disconnect, tap, or interfere or tamper with material, equipment, or facilities of a gas company.
(2) A person may not intentionally damage or defraud a gas company by:
(i) bypassing a meter provided for registering the gas consumed;
(ii) willfully tampering with, damaging, or preventing the action of a meter to register gas; or
(iii) causing or procuring a meter to be damaged or altered.
Prima facie evidence of violation
(c) Prima facie evidence of a violation of this section by the person who would directly benefit from the use of the gas passing through the meter includes:
(1) a device that allows the use of gas supplied by a gas company without the gas being registered on a meter provided by the gas company; and
(2) damage or alteration to a meter so as to prevent the action of the meter.
Penalty
(d) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding $250 or both.

Credits

Added by Acts 2002, c. 26, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2002. Amended by Acts 2010, c. 52, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2010.
Formerly Art. 27, § 192.
MD Code, Criminal Law, § 6-304, MD CRIM LAW § 6-304
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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