§ 609.576 — Negligent Fires; Dangerous Smoking
Plain-Language Summary
It is a misdemeanor to negligently start a fire that causes damage or to smoke in a building where smoking is prohibited by law or posted signs when the smoking creates a risk of fire.
609.576 NEGLIGENT FIRES; DANGEROUS SMOKING.
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Subdivision 1.Negligent fire resulting in injury or property damage.
Whoever is grossly negligent in causing a fire to burn or get out of control thereby causing damage or injury to another, and as a result of this:
(1) a human being is injured and great bodily harm incurred, is guilty of a crime and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both;
(2) a human being is injured and bodily harm incurred, is guilty of a crime and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 364 days or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both; or
(3) property of another is injured, thereby, is guilty of a crime and may be sentenced as follows:
(i) to imprisonment for not more than 90 days or to payment of a fine of not more than $1,000, or both, if the value of the property damage is under $300;
(ii) to imprisonment for not more than 364 days or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both, if the value of the property damaged is at least $300 but is less than $2,500; or
(iii) to imprisonment for not more than three years or to payment of a fine of not more than $5,000, or both, if the value of the property damaged is $2,500 or more. §
Subd. 2.Dangerous smoking.
A person is guilty of a misdemeanor if the person smokes in the presence of explosives or inflammable materials. If a person violates this subdivision and knows that doing so creates a risk of death or bodily harm or serious property damage, the person is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.
History:
1976 c 124 s 7; 1977 c 355 s 10; 1981 c 107 s 1; 1984 c 628 art 3 s 11; 1985 c 141 s 5; 1989 c 5 s 8; 1989 c 290 art 6 s 20; 1993 c 326 art 5 s 9; 2001 c 155 s 1; 2003 c 82 s 1; 2023 c 52 art 6 s 16
History: History: 1976 c 124 s 7; 1977 c 355 s 10; 1981 c 107 s 1; 1984 c 628 art 3 s 11; 1985 c 141 s 5; 1989 c 5 s 8; 1989 c 290 art 6 s 20; 1993 c 326 art 5 s 9; 2001 c 155 s 1; 2003 c 82 s 1; 2023 c 52 art 6 s 16