Tennessee § 39-14-412 - Mailbox tampering — Damage or defacement of government property.

§ 39-14-412. Mailbox tampering — Damage or defacement of government property.

It is an offense for any person to knowingly damage, destroy, remove or otherwise tamper with a residential mailbox or other container such person knows or reasonably should know is used for the receipt or deposit of United States mail. Any person convicted of violating this subsection (a) shall be sentenced to not less than twenty-five (25) hours of public service work. It is an offense for any person to knowingly damage or deface real or personal property of the state, or a subdivision thereof, by the painting or other permanent application of graffiti directly onto the property. A violation of subsection (a) is a Class B misdemeanor. All violations shall be punished by at least twenty-five (25) hours of community service work to be determined by the court. A violation of subsection (b) is a Class A misdemeanor. In any sentence imposed for a violation of subsection (b), the court shall include an order of restitution for any property damage or loss incurred as a result of the offense. Acts 1990, ch. 1010, § 1; 1992, ch. 769, § 1; 2020 (2nd Ex. Sess.), ch. 3, § 16. Compiler's Notes. For the Preamble to the act concerning rights of all Tennesseans to peacefully demonstrate, see Acts 2020 (2nd Ex. Sess.), ch. 3. 2020 (2nd Ex. Sess.), ch. 3, § 26 provided that the act, which amended this section, applies to offenses committed after August 20, 2020. Amendments. The 2020 (2nd Ex. Sess.) amendment by ch. 3, in (c)(1), substituted “subsection (a)” for “this section” and added (c)(2). Effective Dates. Acts 2020 (2nd Ex. Sess.), ch. 3, § 26. August 20, 2020. Cross-References. Penalties for Class A and B misdemeanors, § 40-35-111 .