SENATE BILL No. 816

 

 

October 19, 2005, Introduced by Senators KUIPERS, VAN WOERKOM, ALLEN, BIRKHOLZ, McMANUS and JELINEK and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 1931 PA 328, entitled

 

"The Michigan penal code,"

 

(MCL 750.1 to 750.568) by adding section 498b.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 498b. (1) A person who, without lawful authority, uses or

 

tampers with a marine safety device owned or maintained by this

 

state or a political subdivision of this state and thereby renders

 

the device unavailable or unusable for rescue is guilty of a felony

 

punishable by imprisonment for not more than 15 years or a fine of

 

not more than $10,000.00, or both, if any person dies as a result

 

of the device being unavailable or unusable for rescue.

 

     (2) As used in this section, "marine safety device" means a

 


device designed or intended to be used to rescue individuals in

 

marine emergency situations, including, but not limited to, life

 

preservers, safety harnesses, ladders, lines, and throw rings.