§ 7-14 — Unauthorized tampering, breaking, interfering, etc. with television, radio, audio, video, internet, or broadband transmission lines, facilities, or service; unauthorized connection

Sec. 7-14. - Unauthorized tampering, breaking, interfering, etc. with television, radio, audio, video, internet, or broadband transmission lines, facilities, or service; unauthorized connection.

(a) Definition. For the purpose of this section, "utility service provider" means a person, firm, corporation, association, or entity that is engaged in the sale, generation, provision, or delivery of service(s) that includes television, radio, audio, video, internet, and/or broadband by or through the use of any cable television system, closed circuit coaxial cable communications system, microwave or similar transmission service used in connection with any cable television system or other similar closed circuit coaxial communications system, any telecommunications system, and/or any closed fiber optic path or network in connection with the exchange or delivery of video, audio, pictures, moving pictures, data, or information over distance(s) by electronic means. (b) Declared unlawful. It shall be unlawful for any person without authority or consent of the utility service provider to willfully alter, tamper with, injure, obstruct, break, or destroy or in any manner interfere with or interrupt any utility service, line, wire, or cable or the transmission of electronic, microwave, or fiber optic signals in connection with such line, wire, or cable, or in any manner use and receive any television, cable, radio, audio, video, internet, or broadband signal or service from any unauthorized connection with such line, wire, or cable, or to take, carry away, injure, tamper with, or destroy any posts, cable, conduit, wire, line, amplifier, transformer, insulator, fixture, equipment, installation or other thing belonging to any utility service provider or used in connection with the furnishing or receipt of such service(s). It shall further be unlawful for any person to create, allow to create, or make use of any unauthorized connection, whether physically, electronically, acoustically, inductively, or otherwise, with any part of a cable, telecommunications, or broadband service system without the express consent of the utility service provider. (c) Presence of devices used to divert signals. The presence at any time on or about such wires, cables, lines, or equipment of any device or wire resulting in the diversion of television, radio, audio, video, internet, or broadband signals with the knowledge and intent to divert on the part of the person having custody or control of the room or place where such signals are diverted and received, shall be unlawful. (d) Violation. In addition to other penalties, any violator of this section shall be ordered to pay restitution to the utility service provider providing such services in the amount of the reasonable value of such service(s) obtained in violation of this section; however, the combined total of a fine and restitution shall not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

(Code 1963, § 17-26; Ord. No. 2824, § 2, 2-3-15)