BILL NUMBER: AB 1782	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chesbro

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2014

   An act to amend Section 591 of the Penal Code, relating to
property crimes.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1782, as introduced, Chesbro. Wires: unlawful removal.
   Under existing law it is a crime for any person to unlawfully and
maliciously take down, remove, injure, or obstruct any line of
telegraph, telephone, or cable television, or any other line used to
conduct electricity, or to sever any wire, or make any unauthorized
connection with any line, other than a telegraph, telephone, or cable
television line, used to conduct electricity. Under existing law a
violation of these provisions is punishable by imprisonment in a
county jail not to exceed 16 months, 2 or 3 years, or by a fine not
exceeding $500, or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one
year.
   This bill would increase that fine to an amount not exceeding
$50,000 per incident.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 591 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
   591.  A person who unlawfully and maliciously takes down, removes,
injures, or obstructs any line of telegraph, telephone, or cable
television, or any other line used to conduct electricity, or any
part thereof, or appurtenances or apparatus connected therewith, or
severs any wire thereof, or makes any unauthorized connection with
any line, other than a telegraph, telephone, or cable television
line, used to conduct electricity, or any part thereof, or
appurtenances or apparatus connected therewith, is punishable by
imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, or by a
fine not exceeding  five hundred dollars ($500) 
 fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per incident  , or
imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year.