§ 6-303. Public utility interference -- Electrical equipment

   (a) "Electric company" defined. -- In this section, "electric company" has the meaning stated in § 1-101 of the Public Utilities Article.

(b) Scope of section. -- This section does not apply to:

   (1) an employee of or a person authorized by an electric company; and

   (2) supervision and control of an electric company and its material, equipment, or facilities by the political subdivision within which the electric company is doing business.

(c) Prohibited. -- A person may not willfully:

   (1) tamper or interfere with the material, equipment, or facilities of an electric company;

   (2) make a connection with an electrical conductor to use the electricity; or

   (3) tamper with a meter used to register electricity consumed.

(d) Prima facie evidence of violation. -- Prima facie evidence of intent to violate this section by a person who uses or directly benefits from the use or diversion of electricity includes:

   (1) a connection, wire, conductor, meter alteration, or other device that diverts electricity without the electric current being registered by the meter installed by the electric company that supplies the electricity;

   (2) the use of electricity supplied by an electric company without the electricity being registered on a meter that the electric company supplied; and

   (3) a showing by a check or test meter used by the electric company that a customer uses more electricity than is registered on the meter that the electric company supplied for the customer's premises.

(e) Penalty. -- 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 $ 500 or both.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 27, § 194; 2002, ch. 26, § 2; ch. 43; 2010, ch. 52.