New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 145.20 — Criminal tampering in the first degree
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 145: Criminal Mischief and Related Offenses, New York Penal Law.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 145.20
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
145.20 Criminal tampering in the first degree.
A person is guilty of criminal tampering in the first degree when,
with intent to cause a substantial interruption or impairment of a
service rendered to the public, and having no right to do so nor any
reasonable ground to believe that he or she has such right, he or she
damages or tampers with property of a gas, electric, sewer, steam or
water-works corporation, telephone or telegraph corporation, common
carrier, nuclear powered electric generating facility, or public utility
operated by a municipality or district, and thereby causes such
substantial interruption or impairment of service.
Criminal tampering in the first degree is a class D felony.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
What class of felony is criminal tampering in the first degree in New York?
Criminal tampering in the first degree is a Class D Felony in New York under N.Y. Penal Law § 145.20.
Which New York statute covers criminal tampering in the first degree?
Criminal tampering in the first degree is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 145.20 (Criminal tampering in the first degree).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.