reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-131 - Trespass on land under option by the federal government.

§ 14-131. Trespass on land under option by the federal government.
On lands under option which have formally or informally been offered to and accepted by either the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources or the Department of Environmental Quality by the acquiring federal agency and tentatively accepted by a Department for administration as State forests, State parks, State game refuges or for other public purposes, it shall be unlawful to cut, dig, break, injure or remove any timber, lumber, firewood, trees, shrubs or other plants; or any fence, house, barn or other structure; or to pursue, trap, hunt or kill any bird or other wild animals or take fish from streams or lakes within the boundaries of such areas without the written consent of the local official of the United States having charge of the acquisition of such lands.
Any person, firm or corporation convicted of the violation of this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
The Department of Environmental Quality through its legally appointed forestry, fish and game wardens is hereby authorized and empowered to assist the county law-enforcement officers in the enforcement of this section. (1935, c. 317; 1973, c. 1262, s. 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 218(2); 1993, c. 539, s. 71; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1997-443, s. 11A.119(a); 2015-241, s. 14.30(bb).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-132 - Disorderly conduct in and injuries to public buildings and facilities.

§ 14-132. Disorderly conduct in and injuries to public buildings and facilities.
(a) It is a misdemeanor if any person shall:
(1) Make any rude or riotous noise, or be guilty of any disorderly conduct, in or near any public building or facility; or
(2) Unlawfully write or scribble on, mark, deface, besmear, or injure the walls of any public building or facility, or any statue or monument situated in any public place; or
(3) Commit any nuisance in or near any public building or facility.
(b) Any person in charge of any public building or facility owned or controlled by the State, any subdivision of the State, or any other public agency shall have authority to arrest summarily and without warrant for a violation of this section.
(c) The term "public building or facility" as used in this section includes any building or facility which is:
(1) One to which the public or a portion of the public has access and is owned or controlled by the State, any subdivision of the State, any other public agency, or any private institution or agency of a charitable, educational, or eleemosynary nature; or
(2) Dedicated to the use of the general public for a purpose which is primarily concerned with public recreation, cultural activities, and other events of a public nature or character.
(3) Designated by the Director of the State Bureau of Investigation in accordance with G.S. 143B-987.
The term "building or facility" as used in this section also includes the surrounding grounds and premises of any building or facility used in connection with the operation or functioning of such building or facility.
(d) Unless the conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. (1829, c. 29, ss. 1, 2; 1842, c. 47; R.C., c. 103, ss. 7, 8; Code, s. 2308; Rev., s. 3742; 1915, c. 269; C.S., s. 4303; 1969, c. 869, s. 7½; c. 1224, s. 2; 1981, c. 499, s. 2; 1993, c. 539, s. 72; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2014-100, s. 17.1(w); 2015-72, s. 2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-132.2 - Willfully trespassing upon, damaging, or impeding the progress of a public school bus.

§ 14-132.2. Willfully trespassing upon, damaging, or impeding the progress of a public school bus.
(a) Any person who shall unlawfully and willfully demolish, destroy, deface, injure, burn or damage any public school bus or public school activity bus shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(b) Any person who shall enter a public school bus or public school activity bus after being forbidden to do so by the authorized school bus driver in charge thereof, or the school principal to whom the public school bus or public school activity bus is assigned, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(c) Any occupant of a public school bus or public school activity bus who shall refuse to leave said bus upon demand of the authorized driver in charge thereof, or upon demand of the principal of the school to which said bus is assigned, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(c1) Any person who shall unlawfully and willfully stop, impede, delay, or detain any public school bus or public school activity bus being operated for public school purposes shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(d) Subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall not apply to a child less than 12 years of age, or authorized professional school personnel. (1975, c. 191, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 73; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2001-26, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-134.2 - Operating motor vehicle upon utility easements after being forbidden to do so.

§ 14-134.2. Operating motor vehicle upon utility easements after being forbidden to do so.
If any person, without permission, shall ride, drive or operate a minibike, motorbike, motorcycle, jeep, dune buggy, automobile, truck or any other motor vehicle, other than a motorized all-terrain vehicle as defined in G.S. 14-159.3, upon a utility easement upon which the owner or holder of the easement or agent of the owner or holder of the easement has posted on the easement a "no trespassing" sign or has otherwise given oral or written notice to the person not to so ride, drive or operate such a vehicle upon the said easement, he shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, provided, however, neither the owner of the property nor the holder of the easement or their agents, employees, guests, invitees or permittees shall be guilty of a violation under this section. (1975, c. 636, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 75; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1997-487, s. 2; 2015-26, s. 2.1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-134.3 - Domestic criminal trespass.

§ 14-134.3. Domestic criminal trespass.
(a) Any person who enters after being forbidden to do so or remains after being ordered to leave by the lawful occupant, upon the premises occupied by a present or former spouse or by a person with whom the person charged has lived as if married, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor if the complainant and the person charged are living apart; provided, however, that no person shall be guilty if said person enters upon the premises pursuant to a judicial order or written separation agreement which gives the person the right to enter upon said premises for the purpose of visiting with minor children. Evidence that the parties are living apart shall include but is not necessarily limited to:
(1) A judicial order of separation;
(2) A court order directing the person charged to stay away from the premises occupied by the complainant;
(3) An agreement, whether verbal or written, between the complainant and the person charged that they shall live separate and apart, and such parties are in fact living separate and apart; or
(4) Separate places of residence for the complainant and the person charged.
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, upon conviction, said person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(b) A person convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of a Class G felony if the person is trespassing upon property operated as a safe house or haven for victims of domestic violence and the person is armed with a deadly weapon at the time of the offense. (1979, c. 561, s. 2; 1993, c. 539, s. 76; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1998-212, s. 17.19(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-135.1 - Wood load tickets required for certain wood product sales; exceptions; penalties.

§ 14-135.1. Wood load tickets required for certain wood product sales; exceptions; penalties.
(a) Definition. – For purposes of this section, the term "wood product" means trees, timber, wood, or any combination thereof.
(b) Requirement. – Except as provided in this section, whenever a timber buyer or timber operator purchases wood product by the load directly from a timber grower or seller and the load is sold by weight, cord, or measure of board feet, the timber buyer or operator shall furnish the timber grower or seller, within 30 days of the completion of the wood product harvest, a separate, true, and accurate wood load ticket for each load of wood product removed from the timber grower's or seller's property. At a minimum, each wood load ticket shall include all of the following information provided by the timber grower or seller who sold the wood product:
(1) The name of the timber grower or seller.
(2) The county from which the wood product was severed.
(3) The amount of wood product severed.
(4) The date the wood product was delivered to the timber buyer or timber operator.
(c) Applicability. – The provisions of this section do not apply to the following:
(1) The sale of wood for firewood only.
(2) A landowner harvesting and processing their own timber.
(3) Bulk or lump sum sales for an agreed total price for all timber purchased and sold in one transaction.
(d) Punishment. – Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. (2021-78, s. 6(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-136 - Setting fire to grass and brushlands and woodlands.

§ 14-136. Setting fire to grass and brushlands and woodlands.
If any person shall intentionally set fire to any grassland, brushland or woodland, except it be his own property, or in that case without first giving notice to all persons owning or in charge of lands adjoining the land intended to be fired, and without also taking care to watch such fire while burning and to extinguish it before it shall reach any lands near to or adjoining the lands so fired, he shall for every such offense be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor for the first offense, and for a second or any subsequent similar offense shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. If intent to damage the property of another shall be shown, said person shall be punished as a Class I felon. This section shall not prevent an action for the damages sustained by the owner of any property from such fires. For the purposes of this section, the term "woodland" is to be taken to include all forest areas, both timber and cutover land, and all second-growth stands on areas that have at one time been cultivated. Any person who shall furnish to the State, evidence sufficient for the conviction of a violation of this section shall receive the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) to be paid from the State Fire Suppression Fund. (1777, c. 123, ss. 1, 2, P.R.; R.C., c. 16, ss. 1, 2; Code, ss. 52, 53; Rev., s. 3346; 1915, c. 243, ss. 8, 11; 1919, c. 318; C.S., s. 4309; 1925, c. 61, s. 1; 1943, c. 661; 1979, c. 760, s. 5; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1316, s. 47; 1981, c. 63, s. 1, c. 179, s. 14, c. 892; 1993, c. 539, ss. 78, 1188; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-137 - Willfully or negligently setting fire to woods and fields.

§ 14-137. Willfully or negligently setting fire to woods and fields.
If any person, firm or corporation shall willfully or negligently set on fire, or cause to be set on fire, any woods, lands or fields, whatsoever, every such offender shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. This section shall apply only in those counties under the protection of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in its work of forest fire control. It shall not apply in the case of a landowner firing, or causing to be fired, his own open, nonwooded lands, or fields in connection with farming or building operations at the time and in the manner now provided by law: Provided, he shall have confined the fire at his own expense to said open lands or fields. (1907, c. 320, ss. 4, 5; C.S., s. 4310; 1925, c. 61, s. 2; 1941, c. 258; 1973, c. 1262, s. 86; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 218(3); 1993, c. 539, s. 79; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1997-443, s. 11A.119(a); 2015-241, s. 14.30(u); 2015-263, s. 36(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-138.1 - Setting fire to grassland, brushland, or woodland.

§ 14-138.1. Setting fire to grassland, brushland, or woodland.
Any person, firm, corporation, or other legal entity who shall in any manner whatsoever start any fire upon any grassland, brushland, or woodland without fully extinguishing the same, shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor which may include a fine of not less than ten dollars ($10.00) or more than fifty dollars ($50.00). For the purpose of this section, the term "woodland" includes timber and cutover land and all second growth stands on areas that were once cultivated. (1995, c. 210, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-140.1 - Certain fire to be guarded by watchman.

§ 14-140.1. Certain fire to be guarded by watchman.
Any person, firm, corporation, or other legal entity who shall burn any brush, grass, or other material whereby any property may be endangered or destroyed, without keeping and maintaining a careful watchman in charge of the burning, shall be guilty of an infraction which may include a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00). Fire escaping from the brush, grass, or other material while burning shall be prima facie evidence of violation of this provision. (1995, c. 210, s. 2; 2015-263, s. 27.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-141 - Burning or otherwise destroying crops in the field.

§ 14-141. Burning or otherwise destroying crops in the field.
Any person who shall willfully burn or destroy any other person's lawfully grown crop, pasture, or provender shall be punished as follows:
(1) If the damage is two thousand dollars ($2,000) or less, the person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(2) If the damage is more than two thousand dollars ($2,000), the person is guilty of a Class I felony. (1874-5, c. 133; Code, s. 985, subsec. 2; 1885, c. 42; Rev., s. 3339; C.S., s. 4313; 1979, c. 760, s. 5; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1316, s. 47; 1981, c. 63, s. 1, c. 179, s. 14; 1991, c. 534; 1993, c. 539, s. 81; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-142 - Injuries to dams and water channels of mills and factories.

§ 14-142. Injuries to dams and water channels of mills and factories.
If any person shall cut away, destroy or otherwise injure any dam, or part thereof, or shall obstruct or damage any race, canal or other water channel erected, opened, used or constructed for the purpose of furnishing water for the operation of any mill, factory or machine works, or for the escape of water therefrom, he shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. (1866, c. 48; Code, s. 1087; Rev., s. 3678; C.S., s. 4315; 1969, c. 1224, s. 13; 1993, c. 539, s. 82; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-144 - Injuring houses, churches, fences and walls.

§ 14-144. Injuring houses, churches, fences and walls.
If any person shall, by any other means than burning or attempting to burn, unlawfully and willfully demolish, destroy, deface, injure or damage any of the houses or other buildings mentioned in Article 15 (Arson and Other Burnings) of this Chapter; or shall by any other means than burning or attempting to burn unlawfully and willfully demolish, pull down, destroy, deface, damage or injure any church, uninhabited house, outhouse or other house or building not mentioned in such article; or shall unlawfully and willfully burn, destroy, pull down, injure or remove any fence, wall or other enclosure, or any part thereof, surrounding or about any yard, garden, cultivated field or pasture, or about any church or graveyard, or about any factory or other house in which machinery is used, every person so offending shall be punished as follows:
(1) If the damage is five thousand dollars ($5,000) or less, the person is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
(2) If the damage is more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), the person is guilty of a Class I felony. (R.C., c. 34, s. 103; Code, s. 1062; Rev., s. 3673; C.S., s. 4317; 1957, c. 250, s. 2; 1969, c. 1224, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 83; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2008-15, s. 1; 2009-570, s. 3.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-145 - Unlawful posting of advertisements.

§ 14-145. Unlawful posting of advertisements.
Any person who in any manner paints, prints, places, or affixes, or causes to be painted, printed, placed, or affixed, any business or commercial advertisement on or to any stone, tree, fence, stump, pole, automobile, building, or other object, which is the property of another without first obtaining the written consent of such owner thereof, or who in any manner paints, prints, places, puts, or affixes, or causes to be painted, printed, placed, or affixed, such an advertisement on or to any stone, tree, fence, stump, pole, mile-board, milestone, danger-sign, danger-signal, guide-sign, guide-post, automobile, building or other object within the limits of a public highway, shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. (Ex. Sess. 1924, c. 109; 1993, c. 539, s. 84; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-146 - Injuring bridges.

§ 14-146. Injuring bridges.
If any person shall unlawfully and willfully demolish, destroy, break, tear down, injure or damage any bridge across any of the creeks or rivers or other streams in the State, he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (1883, c. 271; Code, s. 993; Rev., s. 3771; C.S., s. 4318; 1993, c. 539, s. 85; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-147 - Removing, altering or defacing landmarks.

§ 14-147. Removing, altering or defacing landmarks.
If any person, firm or corporation shall knowingly remove, alter or deface any landmark in anywise whatsoever, or shall knowingly cause such removal, alteration or defacement to be done, such person, firm or corporation shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. This section shall not apply to landmarks, such as creeks and other small streams, which the interest of agriculture may require to be altered or turned from their channels, nor to such persons, firms or corporations as own the fee simple in the lands on both sides of the lines designated by the landmarks removed, altered or defaced. Nor shall this section apply to those adjoining landowners who may by agreement remove, alter or deface landmarks in which they alone are interested. (1858-9, c. 17; Code, s. 1063; Rev., s. 3674; 1915, c. 248; C.S., s. 4319; 1993, c. 539, s. 86; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-148 - Defacing or desecrating grave sites.

§ 14-148. Defacing or desecrating grave sites.
(a) It is unlawful to willfully:
(1) Throw, place or put any refuse, garbage or trash in or on any cemetery.
(2) Take away, disturb, vandalize, destroy or change the location of any stone, brick, iron or other material or fence enclosing a cemetery without authorization of law or consent of the surviving spouse or next of kin of the deceased.
(3) Take away, disturb, vandalize, destroy, or tamper with any shrubbery, flowers, plants or other articles planted or placed within any cemetery to designate where human remains are interred or to preserve and perpetuate the memory and name of any person, without authorization of law or the consent of the surviving spouse or next of kin.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
(1) Ordinary maintenance and care of a cemetery by the owner, caretaker, or other person acting to facilitate cemetery operations by keeping the cemetery free from accumulated debris or other signs of neglect.
(2) Conduct that is punishable under G.S. 14-149.
(3) A professional archaeologist as defined in G.S. 70-28(4) acting pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of Chapter 70 of the General Statutes.
(c) Violation of this section is a Class I felony if the damage caused by the violation is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more. Any other violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor. In passing sentence, the court shall consider the appropriateness of restitution or reparation as a condition of probation under G.S. 15A-1343(b)(9) as an alternative to actual imposition of a fine, jail term, or both. (1840, c. 6; R.C., c. 34, s. 102; Code, s. 1088; Rev., s. 3680; C.S., s. 4320; 1969, c. 987; 1981, c. 752, s. 1; c. 853, s. 4; 1993, c. 539, s. 87; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2007-122, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-149 - Desecrating, plowing over or covering up graves; desecrating human remains.

§ 14-149. Desecrating, plowing over or covering up graves; desecrating human remains.
(a) It is a Class I felony, without authorization of law or the consent of the surviving spouse or next of kin of the deceased, to knowingly and willfully:
(1) Open, disturb, destroy, remove, vandalize or desecrate any casket or other repository of any human remains, by any means including plowing under, tearing up, covering over or otherwise obliterating or removing any grave or any portion thereof.
(2) Take away, disturb, vandalize, destroy, tamper with, or deface any tombstone, headstone, monument, grave marker, grave ornamentation, or grave artifacts erected or placed within any cemetery to designate the place where human remains are interred or to preserve and perpetuate the memory and the name of any person. This subdivision shall not apply to the ordinary maintenance and care of a cemetery.
(3) Repealed by Session Laws 2007-122, s. 2, effective December 1, 2007, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date.
(a1) It is a Class H felony, without authorization of law or the consent of the surviving spouse or next of kin of the deceased, to knowingly and willfully disturb, destroy, remove, vandalize, or desecrate any human remains that have been interred in a cemetery.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a professional archaeologist as defined in G.S. 70-28(4) acting pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of Chapter 70 of the General Statutes. (1889, c. 130; Rev., s. 3681; 1919, c. 218; C.S., s. 4321; 1981, c. 752, s. 2; c. 853, s. 5; 2007-122, s. 2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-153 - Tampering with engines and boilers.

§ 14-153. Tampering with engines and boilers.
If any person shall willfully turn out water from any boiler or turn the bolts of any engine or boiler, or meddle or tamper with such boiler or engine, or any other machinery in connection with any boiler or engine, causing loss, damage, danger or delay to the owner in the prosecution of his work, he shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. (1901, c. 733; Rev., s. 3667; C.S., s. 4325; 1993, c. 539, s. 91; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-154 - Injuring wires and other fixtures of telephone, broadband, broadcast, or cable telecommunications companies.

§ 14-154. Injuring wires and other fixtures of telephone, broadband, broadcast, or cable telecommunications companies.
If any person shall willfully injure, destroy, or pull down any telephone, broadband, broadcast, or cable telecommunications pedestal or pole, or any apparatus, equipment, or fixture used in the transmission of telephone, broadband, broadcast, or cable telecommunications, or any apparatus, equipment, or fixture related to broadcast or wireless communications regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, that person shall be guilty of a Class C felony. (1881, c. 4; 1883, c. 103; Code, s. 1118; Rev., s. 3847; 1907, c. 827, s. 1; C.S., s. 4326; 1993, c. 539, s. 92; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2007-301, s. 2; 2023-47, s. 3.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-155 - Unauthorized connections with telephone or telegraph.

§ 14-155. Unauthorized connections with telephone or telegraph.
It shall be unlawful for any person to tap or make any connection with any wire or apparatus of any telephone or telegraph company operating in this State, except such connection as may be authorized by the person or corporation operating such wire or apparatus. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. Each day's continuance of such unlawful connection shall be a separate offense. No connection approved by the Federal Communications Commission or the North Carolina Utilities Commission shall be a violation of this section. (1911, c. 113; C.S., s. 4327; 1973, c. 648; 1977, 2nd Sess., c. 1185, s. 2; 1993, c. 539, s. 93; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-157 - Felling trees on telephone and electric-power wires.

§ 14-157. Felling trees on telephone and electric-power wires.
If any person shall negligently and carelessly cut or fell any tree, or any limb or branch therefrom, in such a manner as to cause the same to fall upon and across any telephone, electric light or electric-power-transmission wire, from which any injury to such wire shall be occasioned, he shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, and shall also be liable to penalty of fifty dollars ($50.00) for each and every offense. (1903, c. 616; Rev., s. 3849; 1907, c. 827, s. 2; C.S., s. 4329; 1969, c. 1224, s. 9; 1993, c. 539, s. 95; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-158 - Interfering with telephone lines.

§ 14-158. Interfering with telephone lines.
If any person shall unnecessarily disconnect the wire or in any other way render any telephone line, or any part of such line, unfit for use in transmitting messages, or shall unnecessarily cut, tear down, destroy or in any way render unfit for the transmission of messages any part of the wire of a telephone line, he shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. (1901, c. 318; Rev., s. 3845; C.S., s. 4330; 1969, c. 1224, s. 3; 1993, c. 539, s. 96; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-159 - Injuring buildings or fences; taking possession of house without consent.

§ 14-159. Injuring buildings or fences; taking possession of house without consent.
If any person shall deface, injure or damage any house, uninhabited house or other building belonging to another; or deface, damage, pull down, injure, remove or destroy any fence or wall enclosing, in whole or in part, the premises belonging to another; or shall move into, take possession of and/or occupy any house, uninhabited house or other building situated on the premises belonging to another, without having first obtained authority so to do and consent of the owner or agent thereof, he shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. (1929, c. 192, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 97; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-159.1 - Contaminating a public water system.

§ 14-159.1. Contaminating a public water system.
(a) A person commits the offense of contaminating a public water system, as defined in G.S. 130A-313(10), if he willfully or wantonly:
(1) Contaminates, adulterates or otherwise impurifies or attempts to contaminate, adulterate or otherwise impurify the water in a public water system, including the water source, with any toxic chemical, biological agent or radiological substance that is harmful to human health, except those added in approved concentrations for water treatment operations; or
(2) Damages or tampers with the property or equipment of a public water system with the intent to impair the services of the public water system.
(b) Any person who commits the offense defined in this section is guilty of a Class C felony. (1983, c. 507, s. 1; 1985, c. 509, s. 4, c. 689, s. 5; 1993, c. 539, s. 1189; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-159.2 - Interference with animal research.

§ 14-159.2. Interference with animal research.
(a) It is unlawful for a person willfully to commit any of the following acts:
(1) The unauthorized entry into any research facility where animals are kept within the facility for research in the advancement of medical, veterinary, dental, or biological sciences, with the intent to (i) disrupt the normal operation of the research facility, or (ii) damage the research facility or any personal property located thereon, or (iii) release from any enclosure or restraining device any animal kept within the research facility, or (iv) interfere with the care of any animal kept within the research facility;
(2) The damaging of any such research facility or any personal property located thereon;
(3) The unauthorized release from any enclosure or restraining device of any animal kept within any research facility; or
(4) The interference with the care of any animal kept within any research facility.
(b) Any person who commits an offense under subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(c) Any person who commits an offense under subsection (a) of this section that involves the release from any enclosure or restraining device of any animal having an infectious disease shall be guilty of a Class I felony.
(d) As a condition of probation, the court may order a person convicted under this section to make restitution to the owner of the animal for damages, including the cost of restoring the animal to confinement and of restoring the animal to its health condition prior to any release, and for damages to personal property, including materials, equipment, data, and records, and real property caused by the interference. If the interference causes the failure of an experiment, the restitution may include all costs of repeating the experiment, including replacement of the animals, labor, and materials.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any rights or causes of action of a person damaged through interference with animal research. (1991, c. 203; 1993, c. 539, ss. 98, 1190; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22 - Damages and Other Offenses to Land and Fixtures. › § 14-159.3 - Trespass to land on motorized all-terrain vehicle.

§ 14-159.3. Trespass to land on motorized all-terrain vehicle.
(a) No person shall operate any motorized all-terrain vehicle:
(1) On any private property not owned by the operator, without the written consent of the owner; or
(2) Within the banks of any stream or waterway, but excluding a sound or the Atlantic Ocean, the adjacent lands of which are not owned by the operator, without the consent of the owner or outside the restrictions imposed by the owner.
(a1) A landowner who gives a person written consent to operate an all-terrain vehicle on the landowner's property owes the person the same duty of care that the landowner owes a trespasser.
(b) A "motorized all-terrain vehicle", as used in this section, is a two or more wheeled vehicle designed for recreational off-road use.
(c) A violation of this section shall be a Class 2 misdemeanor. (1997-456, s. 56.8; 1997-487, s. 1; 2014-103, s. 11(a); 2015-26, s. 2.1; 2017-102, s. 4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22A - Trespassing Upon "Posted" Property to Hunt, Fish, Trap, or Remove Pine Needles/Straw. › § 14-159.6 - Trespass for purposes of hunting, etc., without written consent a misdemeanor; defense.

§ 14-159.6. Trespass for purposes of hunting, etc., without written consent a misdemeanor; defense.
(a) Any person who willfully goes on the land, waters, ponds, or a legally established waterfowl blind of another that has been posted in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 14-159.7, to hunt, fish or trap without written permission of the landowner, lessee, or his agent shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Written permission shall be carried on one's person, signed by the landowner, lessee, or agent, and dated within the last 12 months. The written permission shall be displayed upon request of any law enforcement officer of the Wildlife Resources Commission, sheriff or deputy sheriff, or other law enforcement officer with general subject matter jurisdiction. A person shall have written permission for purposes of this section if a landowner, lessee, or agent has granted permission to a club to hunt, fish, or trap on the land and the person is carrying both a current membership card demonstrating the person's membership in the club and a copy of written permission granted to the club that complies with the requirements of this section.
(b) Any person who willfully goes on the land of another that has been posted in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 14-159.7(1), to rake or remove pine needles or pine straw without the written consent of the owner or his agent shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(c) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under subsection (a) or (b) of this section that the person had in fact obtained prior permission of the owner, lessee, or agent as required by those subsections but did not have on his or her person valid written permission at the time of citation or arrest. (1949, c. 887, s. 1; 1953, c. 1226; 1965, c. 1134; 1975, c. 280, s. 1; 1979, c. 830, s. 11; 1991, c. 435, s. 4; 1993, c. 539, s. 99; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1997-443, s. 19.25(z); 2011-231, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22A - Trespassing Upon "Posted" Property to Hunt, Fish, Trap, or Remove Pine Needles/Straw. › § 14-159.7 - Regulations as to posting of property.

§ 14-159.7. Regulations as to posting of property.
For purposes of posting property under G.S. 14-159.7, the owner or lessee of the property may use either of the following methods:
(1) The owner or lessee of the property may place notices, signs, or posters on the property. The notices, signs or posters shall measure not less than 120 square inches and shall be conspicuously posted on private lands not more than 200 yards apart close to and along the boundaries. At least one such notice, sign, or poster shall be posted on each side of such land, and one at each corner thereof, provided that said corner can be reasonably ascertained. For the purpose of prohibiting fishing, or the taking of fish by any means, in any stream, lake, or pond, it shall only be necessary that the signs, notices, or posters be posted along the stream or shoreline of a pond or lake at intervals of not more than 200 yards apart.
(2) The owner or lessee of the property may place identifying purple paint marks on trees or posts around the area to be posted. Each paint mark shall be a vertical line of at least eight inches in length, and the bottom of the mark shall be no less than three feet nor more than five feet from the base of the tree or post. The paint marks shall be placed no more than 100 yards apart and shall be readily visible to any person approaching the property. For the purpose of prohibiting fishing, or the taking of fish by any means, in any stream, lake, or pond, it shall only be necessary that the paint marks be placed along the stream or shoreline of a pond or lake at intervals of not more than 100 yards apart. (1949, c. 887, s. 2; 1953, c. 1226; 1965, c. 923; 1975, c. 280, ss. 2, 3; 1979, c. 830, s. 11; 2011-231, s. 2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22A - Trespassing Upon "Posted" Property to Hunt, Fish, Trap, or Remove Pine Needles/Straw. › § 14-159.8 - Mutilation, etc., of "posted" signs; posting signs without consent of owner or agent.

§ 14-159.8. Mutilation, etc., of "posted" signs; posting signs without consent of owner or agent.
Any person who shall mutilate, destroy or take down any "posted," "no hunting" or similar notice, sign or poster on the lands, waters, or legally established waterfowl blind of another, or who shall post such sign or poster on the lands, waters or legally established waterfowl blind of another, without the consent of the owner or his agent, shall be deemed guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and only punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00). (1949, c. 887, s. 3; 1953, c. 1226; 1969, c. 51; 1979, c. 830, s. 11; 1993, c. 539, s. 100; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22A - Trespassing Upon "Posted" Property to Hunt, Fish, Trap, or Remove Pine Needles/Straw. › § 14-159.9 - Entrance on navigable waters, etc., for purpose of fishing, hunting or trapping not prohibited.

§ 14-159.9. Entrance on navigable waters, etc., for purpose of fishing, hunting or trapping not prohibited.
Nothing in this Article shall be construed to prohibit the entrance of any person upon navigable waters and the bays and sounds adjoining such waters for the purpose of fishing, hunting or trapping. (1949, c. 887, s. 4; 1953, c. 1226; 1979, c. 830, s. 11.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22A - Trespassing Upon "Posted" Property to Hunt, Fish, Trap, or Remove Pine Needles/Straw. › § 14-159.10 - Enforcement of Article.

§ 14-159.10. Enforcement of Article.
This Article may be enforced by sheriffs or deputy sheriffs, law enforcement officers of the Wildlife Resources Commission, and other peace officers with general subject matter jurisdiction. (1979, c. 830, s. 11; 2011-231, s. 3.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22B - First and Second Degree Trespass. › § 14-159.11 - Definition.

§ 14-159.11. Definition.
As used in this Article, "building" means any structure or part of a structure, other than a conveyance, enclosed so as to permit reasonable entry only through a door and roofed to protect it from the elements. (1987, c. 700, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22B - First and Second Degree Trespass. › § 14-159.13 - Second degree trespass.

§ 14-159.13. Second degree trespass.
(a) Offense. – A person commits the offense of second degree trespass if, without authorization, the person enters or remains on any of the following:
(1) On premises of another after the person has been notified not to enter or remain there by the owner, by a person in charge of the premises, by a lawful occupant, or by another authorized person.
(2) On premises that are posted, in a manner reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders, with notice not to enter the premises.
(3) On the curtilage of a dwelling of another between the hours of midnight and 6:00 A.M.
(b) Penalties. – A violation of subdivision (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section is a Class 3 misdemeanor. A violation of subdivision (a)(3) of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. (1987, c. 700, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 102; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2023-85, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22B - First and Second Degree Trespass. › § 14-159.14 - Lesser included offenses.

§ 14-159.14. Lesser included offenses.
The offenses created by this act shall constitute lesser included offenses of breaking or entering as provided in G.S. 14-54 and G.S. 14-56. (1987, c. 700, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22C - Cave Protection Act. › § 14-159.20 - Definitions.

§ 14-159.20. Definitions.
The terms listed below have the following definitions as used in this Article, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning:
(1) "Cave" means any naturally occurring subterranean cavity. The word "cave" includes or is synonymous with cavern, pit, well, sinkhole, and grotto;
(2) "Commercial cave" means any cave with improved trails and lighting utilized by the owner for the purpose of exhibition to the general public as a profit or nonprofit enterprise, wherein a fee is collected for entry;
(3) "Gate" means any structure or device located to limit or prohibit access or entry to any cave;
(4) "Person" means any individual, partnership, firm, association, trust or corporation;
(5) "Speleothem" means a natural mineral formation or deposit occurring in a cave. This includes or is synonymous with stalagmites, stalactites, helectites, anthodites, gypsum flowers, needles, angel's hair, soda straws, draperies, bacon, cave pearls, popcorn (coral), rimstone dams, columns, palettes, and flowstone. Speleothems are commonly composed of calcite, epsomite, gypsum, aragonite, celestite and other similar minerals; and
(6) "Owner" means a person who has title to land where a cave is located, including a person who owns title to a leasehold estate in such land. (1987, c. 449.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22C - Cave Protection Act. › § 14-159.21 - Vandalism; penalties.

§ 14-159.21. Vandalism; penalties.
It is unlawful for any person, without express, prior, written permission of the owner, to willfully or knowingly:
(1) Break, break off, crack, carve upon, write, burn or otherwise mark upon, remove, or in any manner destroy, disturb, deface, mar or harm the surfaces of any cave or any natural material therein, including speleothems;
(2) Disturb or alter in any manner the natural condition of any cave;
(3) Break, force, tamper with or otherwise disturb a lock, gate, door or other obstruction designed to control or prevent access to any cave, even though entrance thereto may not be gained.
Any person violating a provision of this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. (1987, c. 449; 1993, c. 539, s. 103; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22C - Cave Protection Act. › § 14-159.22 - Sale of speleothems unlawful; penalties.

§ 14-159.22. Sale of speleothems unlawful; penalties.
It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale any speleothems in this State, or to export them for sale outside the State. A person who violates any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. (1987, c. 449; 1993, c. 539, s. 104; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 22C - Cave Protection Act. › § 14-159.23 - Limitation of liability of owners and agents.

§ 14-159.23. Limitation of liability of owners and agents.
The owner of a cave, and his agents and employees, shall not be liable for any injury to, or for the death of any person, or for any loss or damage to property, by reason of any act or omission unless it is established that the injury, death, loss, or damage occurred as a result of gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing. The limitation of liability provided by this section applies only with respect to injury, death, loss, or damage occurring within a cave, or in connection with entry into or exit from a cave, and applies only with respect to persons to whom no charge has been made for admission to the cave. (1987, c. 449.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 23 - Trespasses to Personal Property. › § 14-160 - Willful and wanton injury to personal property; punishments.

§ 14-160. Willful and wanton injury to personal property; punishments.
(a) If any person shall wantonly and willfully injure the personal property of another he shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), if any person shall wantonly and willfully injure the personal property of another, causing damage in an amount in excess of two hundred dollars ($200.00), he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(c) This section applies to injuries to personal property without regard to whether the property is destroyed or not. (1876-7, c. 18; Code, s. 1082; 1885, c. 53; Rev., s. 3676; C.S., s. 4331; 1969, c. 1224, s. 14; 1993, c. 539, s. 105; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 14 - Criminal Law › Article 23 - Trespasses to Personal Property. › § 14-160.1 - Alteration, destruction or removal of permanent identification marks from personal property.

§ 14-160.1. Alteration, destruction or removal of permanent identification marks from personal property.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to alter, deface, destroy or remove the permanent serial number, manufacturer's identification plate or other permanent, distinguishing number or identification mark from any item of personal property with the intent thereby to conceal or misrepresent the identity of said item.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to sell, buy or be in possession of any item of personal property, not his own, on which the permanent serial number, manufacturer's identification plate or other permanent, distinguishing number or identification mark has been altered, defaced, destroyed or removed for the purpose of concealing or misrepresenting the identity of said item.
(c) Unless the conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, a violation of any of the provisions of this section shall be (i) a Class 1 misdemeanor if the personal property was valued at not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) at the time of the offense or (ii) a Class H felony if the personal property was valued at more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) at the time of the offense.
(d) This section shall not in any way affect the provisions of G.S. 20-108, 20-109(a) or 20-109(b). (1977, c. 767, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 106; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2009-204, s. 1; 2021-36, s. 1.)