Energy
Assault and battery: utility workers
California raises penalties for assaulting or battering utility workers performing infrastructure work.
The law extends enhanced misdemeanor protections to workers maintaining water, electric, and gas systems. Offenders must know or reasonably should know the victim is a utility worker on duty.
What the law does
- Makes assault on a covered utility worker punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine up to $2,000, or both.
- Makes battery on a covered utility worker punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine up to $2,000, or both.
- Covers employees and contractors working for specified public and private water, electric, and gas providers when constructing, installing, maintaining, repairing, altering, or demolishing utility infrastructure.
Who it affects
- Utility employees and contractors performing covered water, electrical, or gas infrastructure work.
- People who assault or use unlawful force against a covered utility worker performing their duties.