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S.B. 36

             1     

DAMAGE TO OR INTERRUPTION OF

             2     
COMMUNICATION DEVICE

             3     
2000 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: Ron Allen

             6      AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL LAW; AMENDING THE OFFENSE OF INTERFERING
             7      WITH A COMMUNICATION DEVICE USED TO SUMMON EMERGENCY AID.
             8      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             9      AMENDS:
             10          76-6-108, as enacted by Chapter 25, Laws of Utah 1998
             11      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             12          Section 1. Section 76-6-108 is amended to read:
             13           76-6-108. Damage to or interruption of a communication device -- Penalty.
             14          (1) As used in this section:
             15          (a) "Communication device" means any device, including a telephone, cellular telephone,
             16      computer, or radio, which may be used in an attempt to summon police, fire, medical, or other
             17      emergency aid.
             18          (b) "Emergency aid" means [any situation in which: (i) property or human health or safety
             19      is in jeopardy; and (ii) the prompt summoning of aid is essential to the preservation of the
             20      property or human safety or health.] aid or assistance, including law enforcement, fire, or medical
             21      services, commonly summoned by persons concerned with imminent or actual:
             22          (i) jeopardy to any person's health or safety; or
             23          (ii) damage to any person's property.
             24          (2) A person is guilty of damage to or interruption of a communication device if the actor
             25      attempts to prohibit or interrupt, or prohibits or interrupts, another person's use of a communication
             26      [equipment] device when the other person is attempting to summon emergency aid or has
             27      communicated a desire to summon emergency aid, and in the process the actor:


             28          (a) uses force, intimidation, or any other form of violence;
             29          (b) destroys, disables, or damages a communication [equipment] device; or
             30          (c) commits any other act in an attempt to prohibit or interrupt the person's use of a
             31      communication device to summon emergency aid.
             32          (3) Damage to or interruption of a communication device is a class B misdemeanor.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-6-00 12:47 PM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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