An Act To Create the Crime of Intentional Interference with Business Operations
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1096
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: BURNS, DAVIS, ROSEN, SAVIELLO, THIBODEAU, FOWLE, SHAW
Amends: 17-A MRSA §406

Legislative Document 
No. 1096 
S.P. 383 
In Senate, March 25, 2015 
An Act To Create the Crime of Intentional Interference with 
Business Operations 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator BURNS of Washington. 
Cosponsored by Senators: DAVIS of Piscataquis, ROSEN of Hancock, SAVIELLO of 
Franklin, President THIBODEAU of Waldo, Representatives: FOWLE of Vassalboro, SHAW 
of Standish. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  17-A MRSA §406 is enacted to read: 
§406.  Intentional interference with business operations 
1.   As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following 
terms have the following meanings. 
A.  "Business operations" means an activity with the object of gain, benefit or 
advantage engaged in by an organization for business purposes in a public or private 
place, including, but not limited to, private land; a private way under Title 29-A, 
section 101, subsection 58; a public way under Title 29-A, section 101, subsection 
59; a railroad right-of-way under Title 12, section 9405-A, subsection 1, paragraph J; 
and an energy infrastructure corridor under Title 35-A, section 122, subsection 1, 
paragraph C. 
2.   A person or organization is guilty of intentional interference with business 
operations if: 
A.  The person intentionally hinders, impairs or obstructs or attempts to hinder, 
impair or obstruct business operations, including damaging or rendering inoperable 
property of an organization, including buildings, equipment or critical infrastructure.  
A violation of this paragraph is a Class E crime; 
B.  The person is violating paragraph A and: 
(1)  Is informed by a law enforcement officer that the person is violating 
paragraph A; 
(2)  The law enforcement officer orders the person to stop violating paragraph A; 
and 
(3)  The person fails or refuses to obey the order of the law enforcement officer. 
A violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime; or 
C.  The person violates paragraph A or B and, at the time of the violation, the person 
has 2 or more prior convictions for violations of this section.  Section 9-A governs 
the use of prior convictions when determining a sentence.  Violation of this paragraph 
is a Class C crime. 
3.   Subsection 2 does not apply to a person or an authorized agent or representative 
of a person who is: 
A.  Present because the person is a business invitee or licensee of the organization; or 
B.  Exercising a right, duty or privilege of the person created by contract with the 
organization. 
SUMMARY 
This bill creates the crime of intentional interference with business operations, which 
is committed when a person intentionally hinders, impairs or obstructs or attempts to 
hinder, impair or obstruct the performance of a business operation, including damaging or 
rendering inoperable property of an organization, including buildings, equipment or 
critical infrastructure, on private or public property, on a private or public way or within a 
railroad right-of-way or energy infrastructure corridor.  Intentional interference with 
business operations is a Class E crime, except that a person who refuses to stop 
interfering when ordered to do so by a law enforcement officer commits a Class D crime.  
If, at the time of the violation, the person has 2 or more prior Maine convictions for 
intentional interference with business operations, the person commits a Class C crime.