Federal Laws on Punishment for Tampering With Fire Equipment
- Tampering with smoke detectors may cause fires.fire image by Fotocie from Fotolia.com
Federal law does not deal directly with tampering of smoke detectors except under special circumstances (such as interfering with the operation of fire detection equipment while on board an airplane). While this act falls under federal arson law, penalties for smoke detector tampering are mainly addressed by local and state authorities. - If you fly regularly, you probably know the penalty for tampering with a smoke detector in an airplane lavatory. The government can fine you up to $2,000. Further, anyone who operates an aircraft is required by federal law to post a sign or placard near or inside the lavatory that informs occupants of this penalty. If the fire detectors aboard an aircraft do not meet FAA guidelines--tampered or not--fines may be severe. For instance, the FAA recently fined Federal Express $1.55 million in part for faulty smoke detectors on board its aircraft.
- Federal law prohibits arson in all territorial and maritime jurisdictions. While arson is defined as the willful, malicious destruction of buildings, structures or vessels by fire, the law also applies to conspiring to commit such an act. So, if a terrorist tampered with all of the smoke detectors in a building with the intention of burning it down, the arson law may apply. The penalty for violating the federal arson law is up to 25 years imprisonment. If the life of any person would be put in jeopardy, the offender may be imprisoned for any term of years or for life.
- Laws against tampering with smoke detectors are often addressed on the state level. For instance, Maine classifies tampering as a Class D crime that is subject to a fine of up to $1,500 for each violation. Illinois state law classifies the first offense as a Class A misdemeanor and subsequent violations as Class 4 felonies. The former is punishable by up to a year in prison. The latter is punishable by up to one to three years.
