Missouri Revised Statutes Title XV. Lands, Levees, Drainage, Sewers and Public Water Supply § 244.130. Penalty for obstructing ditch--inspection of lands without owner's consent

1. Any person or persons, copartnership or corporation willfully filling up or obstructing or impairing the usefulness of any ditch, tile or levee constructed under the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction therefor shall be fined in a sum not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars for each and every offense, or such person or persons, or the agent or agents of the copartnership or corporation responsible for such damage or injury having been wrought, may be confined in the county jail not less than thirty days nor more than six months.

2. The owner or owners of the land desired to be drained shall have the right to go upon or send an engineer or surveyor upon the land through or upon which the ditch, tile or levee is to be built, without first obtaining consent from the owner or owners of such land, for the purpose of making measurements, running levels and obtaining other information to be used in forming conclusions pertaining to the slope of the land, length of the improvements and proper location of the same; provided, that notice of the purpose and intention of such act be first given in writing to the owner of the land through or across which the works are to be constructed.