§ 106-55. Injuring or interfering with public service property.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person intentionally and without authority to injure or destroy any meter, pipe, conduit, wire, line, post, lamp or other apparatus belonging to a company, or to the city, engaged in the manufacture or sale of electricity, gas, water, telephone or other public services, or intentionally and without authority to prevent a meter from properly registering the quantity of the service supplied, or in any way to interfere with the proper action of the company or the city, intentionally to divert any services of the company or the city or otherwise intentionally and without authority to use or cause to be used, without the consent of the company or the city, any service manufactured, sold or distributed by the company or the city.

(b)

Where there is no evidence to the contrary, the person performing any of the illegal acts referred to in subsection (a) of this section and/or the person who with knowledge of the violation receives the benefit of the service without proper charge as a result of the improper action shall be presumed to be responsible for the acts of tampering or diversion.

(Code 1977, § 17-1005)

State law reference

Criminal trespass and damage to property, O.C.G.A. § 16-7-21 et seq.