77-3-81 - Violations of article or orders of commission; furnishing to commission of false testimony, reports, records, etc.
§ 77-3-81. Violations of article or orders of commission; furnishing to commission of false testimony, reports, records, etc.
(1) (a) Any person or corporation which willfully and knowingly violates any provision of this article or which fails, omits or neglects to obey, observe or comply with any lawful order, or any part or provision thereof, of the commission shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine of not more than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00), which shall be deposited in the State General Fund.
(b) Every violation of the provisions of this article or of any lawful order of the commission, or any part or portion thereof by any corporation or person is a separate and distinct offense, and in case of a continuing violation after a first conviction, each day's continuance thereof shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense.
(2) Any person who knowingly or intentionally gives false testimony at any hearing held by the commission, a commissioner or a hearing examiner, or who knowingly or intentionally makes false reports to the commission, when the testimony and reports are required by this article or any lawful order or rule of the commission, or who knowingly or intentionally makes any false entries upon the books or records of any public utility subject to review by the commission, or who knowingly or intentionally makes or preserves any false or misleading vouchers, memoranda or records showing the nature of, or purpose for, the disbursement of funds of such public utilities, shall be deemed guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be committed to the custody of the State Department of Corrections for a period of not less than one (1) year nor more than ten (10) years for every offense.
Sources: Codes, 1942, §§ 7716-32, 7716-33; Laws, 1956, ch. 372, §§ 32, 33; Laws, 1991, ch. 562, § 2, eff from and after passage (approved April 2, 1991).