Volume 75
Public Law 87–306
To amend section 1362 of title 18 of the United States Code so as to further protect the internal security of the United States by providing penalties for malicious damage to certain communications facilities.
Approved September 26, 1961
Statutory text
AN ACT
To amend section 1362 of title 18 of the United States Code so as to further protect the internal security of the United States by providing penalties for malicious damage to certain communications facilities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That section 1362
Communications facilities.
Penalties for malicious damage.
of title 18 of the United States Code is amended to read as follows:
Ҥ 1362. Communication lines, stations or systems.
“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, shall be fined not more than $10,000 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.”
Approved September 26, 1961.