2020 US Code
Title 18 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part I - Crimes
Chapter 65 - Malicious Mischief
Sec. 1362 - Communication lines, stations or systems

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Citation 18 U.S.C. § 1362 (2020)
Section Name §1362. Communication lines, stations or systems
Section Text

Whoever willfully or maliciously injures or destroys any of the works, property, or material of any radio, telegraph, telephone or cable, line, station, or system, or other means of communication, operated or controlled by the United States, or used or intended to be used for military or civil defense functions of the United States, whether constructed or in process of construction, or willfully or maliciously interferes in any way with the working or use of any such line, or system, or willfully or maliciously obstructs, hinders, or delays the transmission of any communication over any such line, or system, or attempts or conspires to do such an act, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

In the case of any works, property, or material, not operated or controlled by the United States, this section shall not apply to any lawful strike activity, or other lawful concerted activities for the purposes of collective bargaining or other mutual aid and protection which do not injure or destroy any line or system used or intended to be used for the military or civil defense functions of the United States.

Source Credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 764; Pub. L. 87–306, Sept. 26, 1961, 75 Stat. 669; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXII, §320903(d)(2), title XXXIII, §330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2125, 2147; Pub. L. 107–56, title VIII, §811(c), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 381.)

Editorial Notes HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §116 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §60, 35 Stat. 1099).

This section was extended to include radio and radio stations. Minor changes were made in phraseology.


EDITORIAL NOTES AMENDMENTS

2001—Pub. L. 107–56, in first par., struck out "or attempts willfully or maliciously to injure or destroy" after "Whoever willfully or maliciously injures or destroys" and inserted "or attempts or conspires to do such an act," before "shall be fined".

1994—Pub. L. 103–322, in first par., inserted "or attempts willfully or maliciously to injure or destroy" after "willfully or maliciously injures or destroys" and substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $10,000".

1961—Pub. L. 87–306 extended the provisions of the section to means of communication used or intended to be used for military or civil defense functions of the United States, made the provisions inapplicable to lawful strike activities, which do not injure any line or system used for such functions, and increased the punishment by fine from $1,000 to $10,000 and by imprisonment from 3 to 10 years.

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Supplement 2, Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 65 - MALICIOUS MISCHIEF
Sec. 1362 - Communication lines, stations or systems
Contains section 1362
Date 2020
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 13, 2021
Positive Law Yes
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 35 Stat. 1099
62 Stat. 764
75 Stat. 669
108 Stat. 2125
115 Stat. 381
Public Law References Public Law 87-306, Public Law 103-322, Public Law 107-56
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