(a) (1) In consideration of the right-of-way over the public property conceded in this section and ยงยง 23-17-101 -- 23-17-105, 23-17-107 , 23-17-108, and 23-17-113, every telephone corporation in the case of war, insurrection, or civil commotion of any kind and for the arrest of criminals shall give immediate dispatch at the usual rates of charge to any message connected therewith of any officer of the state or of the United States.
(2) Any officer or agent of a telephone company who fails or refuses to carry out the provisions of the preceding subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b) (1) All other messages, including those received from other telephone companies, shall be transmitted in order of their delivery, correctly and without unreasonable delay, and shall be strictly confidential. However, arrangements may be made with the publishers of newspapers for the transmission of intelligence of general and public interest.
(2) Any officer or agent of a telephone company who willfully violates the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(3) The telephone company so violating this section is liable in damages to the party aggrieved.
Section: Previous 23-17-102 23-17-103 23-17-104 23-17-105 23-17-106 23-17-107 23-17-108 23-17-110 23-17-112 23-17-113 23-17-116 23-17-119 23-17-120 23-17-121 NextLast modified: November 15, 2016