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 any part thereof, or appurtenances or apparatus connected therewith, 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 additionally make it a crime for any person to unlawfully and maliciously disconnect or cut a line of telegraph, telephone, or cable television, or any line used to conduct electricity, or any part thereof, or appurtenance or apparatus connected therewith. The bill would specify that a connected appurtenance or apparatus includes a backup deep cycle battery or other power supply. The bill would make the crime punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, by a fine not exceeding $1,000, or by both that imprisonment and fine, or by imprisonment in a county jail for 16 months, or 2 or 3 years and a fine not exceeding $10,000. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.