Sec. 18-12. Injuring, tampering or interfering generally with
vehicles.
No person shall individually or in association with one or
more others wilfully break, injure, tamper with or remove
any part of any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer for the
purpose of injuring, defacing or destroying such motor vehicle,
trailer or semitrailer or temporarily or permanently
preventing its useful operation, or for any purpose, against
the will or without the consent of the owner of such motor
vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, nor shall any person in any
other manner wilfully or maliciously interfere with or prevent
the running or operation of such motor vehicle, trailer
or semitrailer.
No person shall, without the consent of the owner or person
in charge of a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, climb
into or upon such motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer with
intent to commit any crime, malicious mischief or injury
thereto or, while a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer is at
rest and unattended, attempt to manipulate any of the levers
and starting crank or other device, brakes or mechanism
thereof or to set such motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer
in motion, except that the foregoing provision shall not apply
when any such act is done in an emergency or in furtherance
of public safety or by or under the direction of an officer in
the regulation of traffic or the performance of any other official
duty. (Code 1959, § 18-12.)
