{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-law-6-304","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Criminal Law § 6–304","heading":"","body":"(a) In this section, “gas company” has the meaning stated in § 1–101 of the Public Utilities Article.\n(b) (1) A person may not wrongfully and maliciously damage, connect, disconnect, tap, or interfere or tamper with material, equipment, or facilities of a gas company.\n(2) A person may not intentionally damage or defraud a gas company by:\n(i) bypassing a meter provided for registering the gas consumed;\n(ii) willfully tampering with, damaging, or preventing the action of a meter to register gas; or\n(iii) causing or procuring a meter to be damaged or altered.\n(c) Prima facie evidence of a violation of this section by the person who would directly benefit from the use of the gas passing through the meter includes:\n(1) a device that allows the use of gas supplied by a gas company without the gas being registered on a meter provided by the gas company; and\n(2) damage or alteration to a meter so as to prevent the action of the meter.\n(d) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding $250 or both.","path":["Article - Criminal Law"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcr\u0026section=6-304","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:57:08Z","sha256":"2c842886a7e7a6697ae8166ec4a146eecfa5d591a5f40002ab5147ed027215d0","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-law-6-303","next":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-law-6-305"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}