Obtención Fraudulenta de Servicios Públicos

Explicación Simple

Esta ley prohíbe que alguien use información falsa para conseguir servicios como electricidad o agua sin pagar. Si te desconectan un servicio y tratas de volver a obtenerlo sin pagar, también estás rompiendo la ley.

Es como si alguien entrara a una tienda y tomara un producto sin pagarlo, pensando que no habrá consecuencias. Al igual que en la tienda, obtener servicios sin pagar es ilegal.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan vive en Virginia y su servicio de electricidad fue cortado por no pagar. Sin embargo, un día decide llamar a la compañía y da un nombre falso para que le restablezcan la electricidad. Esto es ilegal y puede enfrentar problemas serios.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

Va. Code § 18.2-187.1 - Obtaining or attempting to obtain oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service without payment; penalty; civil liability. A. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly, with the intent to defraud, to obtain or attempt to obtain, for himself or for another, oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service by the use of any false information, or in any case where such service has been disconnected by the supplier and notice of disconnection has been given. B. It shall be unlawful for any person to obtain or attempt to obtain oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service by the use of any scheme, device, means or method, or by a false application for service with intent to avoid payment of lawful charges therefor. B1. It shall be unlawful for any person to obtain, or attempt to obtain, electronic communication service as defined in § 18.2-190.1 by the use of an unlawful electronic communication device as defined in § 18.2-190.1 . C. The word "notice" as used in subsection A shall be notice given in writing to the person to whom the service was assigned. The sending of a notice in writing by registered or certified mail in the United States mail, duly stamped and addressed to such person at his last known address, requiring delivery to the addressee only with return receipt requested, and the actual signing of the receipt for such mail by the addressee, shall be prima facie evidence that such notice was duly received. D. Any person who violates any provisions of this section, if the value of service, credit or benefit procured is $1,000 or more, shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony; or