Section 49-34-16 - Unauthorized or fraudulent connection as misdemeanor--Civil liability unaffected.
49-34-16. Unauthorized or fraudulent connection as misdemeanor--Civil liability unaffected. It is a Class 2 misdemeanor for any person without lawful authority to connect or cause to be connected with a main or service pipe or conductor of heat, refrigeration, air conditioning, gas, water or electricity, a pipe, wire or other device for the purpose of obtaining gas, water, electrical current, heat or other service therefrom; or to, with intent to defraud, connect or cause to be connected with any meter installed by such company for the purpose of registering the amount of gas, water, electricity, heat or other service supplied to a customer, any pipe, wire or other device, or to disconnect, change, or in any manner interfere with any such meter or any pipe, wire or appliance connected therewith, so that such meter will not measure or register the full amount of gas, water, electricity, heat or other service supplied to a customer. Nothing in this section shall affect the right of a service company to recover by an action at law for the loss of gas, water, electricity, heat or other service, or any injury caused by such unlawful connection.
Source: SDC 1939, § 13.1813; SL 1983, ch 15, § 138.