§ 11-18-21 — § 11-18-21. Cheating of coin-operated devices.

§ 11-18-21. Cheating of coin-operated devices.

Whoever: (1) operates or causes to be operated, or attempts to operate or to cause to be operated, any automatic vending machine, slot machine, turnstile, meter, register, coin-box telephone, or other receptacle designed to receive lawful coin of the United States in connection with the sale, use, or enjoyment of property, transportation, or other service, by means of a slug or any false, counterfeited, mutilated, or sweated coin or by any means, method, trick, or device whatsoever not lawfully authorized by the owner, lessee, or licensee of the machine, turnstile, meter, register, coin-box telephone, or receptacle; or (2) takes, obtains, or receives from or in connection with any automatic vending machine, slot machine, turnstile, meter, register, coin-box telephone, or other receptacle designed to receive lawful coins of the United States in connection with the sale, use, or enjoyment of property or service, any goods, wares, merchandise, transportation, gas, electric current, article of value, or the use or enjoyment of any transportation or any telephone or telegraph facilities or service, or of any musical instrument, phonograph, or other property, without depositing in and surrendering to the machine, turnstile, coin-box telephone, or other receptacle lawful coin to the amount required by the owner, lessee, or licensee of the machine, turnstile, coin-box telephone, or receptacle, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100), or by imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days, or both.

Legislative History

G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 76; P.L. 1932, ch. 1891, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 84; G.L. 1956, § 11-18-21.