                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

TAMPERING WITH OR UNLAWFUL USE OF CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE (§ 18.2-165.1)

Any person who (i) shall knowingly obtain or attempt to obtain cable television
service from another by means, artifice, trick, deception or device without the
payment to the operator of such service of all lawful compensation for each type
of service obtained; (ii) shall knowingly, and with intent to profit thereby
from any consideration received or expected, assist or instruct any other person
in obtaining or attempting to obtain any cable television service without the
payment to the operator of said service of all lawful compensation; (iii) shall
knowingly tamper or otherwise interfere with or connect to by any means whether
mechanical, electrical, acoustical or other, any cables, wires, or other devices
used for the distribution of cable television service without authority from the
operator of such service; or (iv) shall knowingly sell, rent, lend, promote,
offer or advertise for sale, rental or use any device of any description or any
plan for making or assembling the same to any person, with knowledge that the
person intends to use such device or plan to do any of the acts hereinbefore
mentioned or if the device or plan was represented either directly or indirectly
by the person distributing it as having the ability to facilitate the doing of
any of the acts hereinbefore mentioned, shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony if
convicted under clause (ii) or (iv) above and shall be guilty of a Class 1
misdemeanor if convicted under clause (i) or (iii) above.
		As used herein, cable television service shall include any and all services
provided by or through the facilities of any cable television system or closed
circuit coaxial cable communications system or any microwave, satellite or
similar transmission service used in connection with any cable television system
or other similar closed circuit coaxial cable communications system.
		In any prosecution under this section, the existence on property in the actual
possession of the accused, of any connection, wire, conductor, or any device
whatsoever, which permits the use of cable television service without the same
being reported for payment to and specifically authorized by the operator of the
cable television service shall be prima facie evidence of intent to violate and
of the violation of this section by the accused.
		Nothing contained in this section shall be construed so as to abrogate or
interfere with any contract right or remedy of any person having a contract with
the owner of a television coaxial cable, or a cablevision system, or a microwave
radio system.

HISTORY: 1978, c. 712; 1979, c. 500; 1981, c. 197; 1991, c. 502.