View Daily Data Tracking History
View Bill Text
View Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact
S1352................................................by JUDICIARY AND RULES
TELECOMMUNICATIONS LINE/INSTRUMENT - DESTRUCTION - Adds to existing law to
provide that the malicious destruction of a telecommunications line or
instrument is a crime; and to provide penalties.
01/31 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/01 Rpt prt - to Jud
|||| LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ||||
Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2002
IN THE SENATE
SENATE BILL NO. 1352
BY JUDICIARY AND RULES COMMITTEE
1 AN ACT
2 RELATING TO MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION OF A TELECOMMUNICATION LINE OR TELECOMMUNI-
3 CATION INSTRUMENT; AMENDING CHAPTER 68, TITLE 18, IDAHO CODE, BY THE ADDI-
4 TION OF A NEW SECTION 18-6810, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE CRIME OF
5 MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION OF A TELECOMMUNICATION LINE OR TELECOMMUNICATION
6 INSTRUMENT AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES.
7 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
8 SECTION 1. That Chapter 68, Title 18, Idaho Code, be, and the same is
9 hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and des-
10 ignated as Section 18-6810, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:
11 18-6810. MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION OF A TELECOMMUNICATION LINE OR TELECOMMU-
12 NICATION INSTRUMENT. Any person who unlawfully and maliciously takes down,
13 removes, injures or obstructs any telegraph, telephone or cable television
14 line or any other line used to conduct electricity, or any part thereof, or
15 appurtenances or apparatus connected therewith, or severs any wire thereof, or
16 makes any unauthorized connection with any line other than a telegraph, tele-
17 phone or cable television line used to conduct electricity, or any part
18 thereof, or appurtenances or apparatus connected therewith, or who unlawfully
19 and maliciously takes down, removes, injures or obstructs any telephone
20 instrument used to facilitate the transmission of messages, signals, facsimi-
21 les, video images or other communication between persons who are physically
22 separated from each other by means of telephone, telegraph, cable, wire or the
23 projection of energy without physical connection (wireless or cellular), is
24 guilty of a misdemeanor for a first offense and shall be punished by a fine of
25 up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment in the county jail for
26 up to one (1) year, or both. For a second or subsequent offense, the person
27 shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state
28 prison for a term not in excess of five (5) years, or by a fine not in excess
29 of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or both.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS 11535C1
The purpose of this bill is to create an offense for maliciously
destroying telecommunication lines or equipment. Although it may
be applied more broadly by prosecutors, the impetus for the bill
is to prevent or punish batterers in situations of domestic
violence who prevent calls for help. The first offense would be
a misdemeanor and subsequent offenses a felony.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact to the state would be the cost of imprisoning
anyone convicted of a felony. The county would bear the cost of
jailing misdemeanor convictions.
Contact
Name: Ken Brooks or Laura Bonneville, Kootenai County Prosecutors
Phone:208.769.4465
Sen. Betsy Dunklin
Rep. Wendy Jaquet
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE S 1352