New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 145.15 — Criminal tampering in the second 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 § 145.15
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.
145.15 Criminal tampering in the second degree.
A person is guilty of criminal tampering in the second degree when,
having no right to do so nor any reasonable ground to believe that he
has such right, he or she tampers or makes connection 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; except that in any prosecution under this section, it is an
affirmative defense that the defendant did not engage in such conduct
for a larcenous or otherwise unlawful or wrongful purpose.
Criminal tampering in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
What class of misdemeanor is criminal tampering in the second degree in New York?
Criminal tampering in the second degree is a Class A Misdemeanor in New York under N.Y. Penal Law § 145.15.
Which New York statute covers criminal tampering in the second degree?
Criminal tampering in the second degree is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 145.15 (Criminal tampering in the second degree).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.