In one of our previous blogs about The Office episode “Dinner Party,” we talked about the different levels of damage to property charges depending on the amount of the damage.
But what happens when someone damages a police car? An ambulance? What if the damaged property belongs to the city or state? Well, that changes the equation.
For example, under Minnesota Statute 609.595, if someone intentionally damages a public safety vehicle (such as a police car or ambulance) they can be charged with a gross misdemeanor regardless of the amount of damage done. If the damage causes a “substantial interruption or impairment of the service,” it could be charged as a felony punishable with up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Likewise, under Minnesota Statute 609.594, if a person damages a public service facility, utility, or pipeline with the intent to disrupt the provision of services, it is a felony punishable with up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.
One note about these statutes is that the person damaging the property must know that the vehicle is a public safety vehicle, or have the intent to disrupt services in order to violate the statute. These mental state requirements are often meant to shield from being in trouble for causing accidental damage, but they can be complicated to understand.
With the potential for serious consequences, if you or someone you know is charged with or being investigated for damaging public service property or a public safety vehicle, feel free reach out to one of our attorneys for a free consultation.