Rhode Island General Laws Title 11. Criminal Offenses § 11-35-4. Injuries to electric or communication lines

Every person who shall wantonly or willfully and maliciously cut, destroy, break down, or injure, or attempt to cut, destroy, break down, or injure any machine, appliance, or apparatus used for generating electric currents or any electric wire or other appliance or apparatus used for the purpose of conducting or transmitting electric currents for using and furnishing power, motive power, light, or heat, or used for the purpose of transmitting intelligence by means of telegraphic or telephonic apparatus or by means of fire-alarm signals, burglar-alarm signals, police signals, railway signals, or other apparatus or appliance for the transmission of intelligence, or shall cut, destroy, break down, or injure or shall attempt to cut, destroy, break down, or injure any pole, bracket, insulator or other device, apparatus, or appliance for supporting or carrying any electric wire, or shall do any other act interrupting or intended to interrupt the transmission of the electric current over any electric wire, shall be liable to indictment for it, and upon conviction shall be fined not exceeding three thousand dollars ($3,000) or imprisoned not exceeding two (2) years; provided, that nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize or permit the attachment, erection, use, operation, or maintenance of any electric wire, apparatus, pole, bracket, insulator, or other device or appliance, upon the property of any person or corporation, without the consent of the owner or owners; nor to prevent any properly authorized person from removing any electric wire, apparatus, pole, bracket, insulator, or other device or appliance for the purpose of permitting the passage of any building or structure, the moving of which has been duly authorized by any city or town council.