943.55 History
History: 1977 c. 99.
943.60
943.60
Criminal slander of title. 943.60(1)
(1) Any person who submits for filing, entering or recording any lien, claim of lien, lis pendens, writ of attachment, financing statement or any other instrument relating to a security interest in or title to real or personal property, and who knows or should have known that the contents or any part of the contents of the instrument are false, a sham or frivolous, is guilty of a Class D felony.
943.60(2)
(2) This section applies to any person who causes another person to act in the manner specified in
sub. (1).
943.60(3)
(3) This section does not apply to a register of deeds or other government employee who acts in the course of his or her official duties and files, enters or records any instrument relating to title on behalf of another person.
943.60 AnnotationWhether a document is frivolous was for the jury to answer. State v. Leist,
141 Wis. 2d 34,
414 N.W.2d 45 (Ct. App. 1987).
943.61
943.61
Theft of library material. 943.61(1)(a)
(a) "Archives" means a place in which public or institutional records are systematically preserved.
943.61(1)(b)
(b) "Library" means any public library; library of an educational, historical or eleemosynary institution, organization or society; archives; or museum.
943.61(1)(c)
(c) "Library material" includes any book, plate, picture, photograph, engraving, painting, drawing, map, newspaper, magazine, pamphlet, broadside, manuscript, document, letter, public record, microform, sound recording, audiovisual materials in any format, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data processing records, artifacts or other documentary, written or printed materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, belonging to, on loan to or otherwise in the custody of a library.
943.61(2)
(2) Whoever intentionally takes and carries away, transfers, conceals or retains possession of any library material without the consent of a library official, agent or employee and with intent to deprive the library of possession of the material may be penalized as provided in
sub. (5).
943.61(3)
(3) The concealment of library material beyond the last station for borrowing library material in a library is evidence of intent to deprive the library of possession of the material. The discovery of library material which has not been borrowed in accordance with the library's procedures or taken with consent of a library official, agent or employee and which is concealed upon the person or among the belongings of the person or concealed by a person upon the person or among the belongings of another is evidence of intentional concealment on the part of the person so concealing the material.
943.61(4)
(4) An official or adult employee or agent of a library who has probable cause for believing that a person has violated this section in his or her presence may detain the person in a reasonable manner for a reasonable length of time to deliver the person to a peace officer, or to the person's parent or guardian in the case of a minor. The detained person shall be promptly informed of the purpose for the detention and be permitted to make phone calls, but shall not be interrogated or searched against his or her will before the arrival of a peace officer who may conduct a lawful interrogation of the accused person. Compliance with this subsection entitles the official, agent or employee effecting the detention to the same defense in any action as is available to a peace officer making an arrest in the line of duty.
943.61(5)
(5) Whoever violates this section is guilty of:
943.61(5)(a)
(a) A Class A misdemeanor, if the value of the library materials does not exceed $1,000.
943.61(5)(b)
(b) A Class E felony, if the value of the library materials exceeds $1,000 but not $2,500.
943.61(5)(c)
(c) A Class C felony, if the value of the library materials exceeds $2,500.
943.61 History
History: 1979 c. 245; Stats. 1979 s. 943.60;
1979 c. 355 s.
232; Stats. 1979 s. 943.61;
1991 a. 39.
943.62
943.62
Unlawful receipt of payments to obtain loan for another. 943.62(1)(1) In this section, "escrow agent" means a state or federally chartered bank, savings bank, savings and loan association or credit union located in this state.
943.62(2)
(2) Except as provided in
sub. (2m), no person may receive a payment from a customer as an advance fee, salary, deposit or money for the purpose of obtaining a loan or a lease of personal property for the customer unless the payment is immediately placed in escrow subject to the condition that the escrow agent shall deliver the payment to the person only upon satisfactory proof of the closing of the loan or execution of the lease within a period of time agreed upon in writing between the person and the customer; otherwise the payment shall be returned to the customer immediately upon expiration of the time period.
943.62(2m)
(2m) This section does not apply to a savings and loan association, credit union, bank, savings bank, or a mortgage banker, loan originator or mortgage broker registered under
s. 224.72.
943.62(3)(a)(a) Advance payments to cover reasonably estimated costs are excluded from the requirements of
sub. (2) if the customer first signs a written agreement which recites in capital and lowercase letters of not less than 12-point boldface type all of the following:
943.62(3)(a)3.
3. Money advanced for incurred costs will not be refunded.
943.62(3)(b)
(b) If a cost under
par. (a) is not incurred, the person shall refund that amount to the customer.
943.62(4)
(4) Whoever violates this section is guilty of:
943.62(4)(a)
(a) A Class A misdemeanor, if the value of the advance payment or required refund, as applicable, does not exceed $500.
943.62(4)(b)
(b) A Class E felony, if the value of the advance payment or required refund, as applicable, exceeds $500 but does not exceed $2,500.
943.62(4)(c)
(c) A Class C felony, if the value of the advance payment or required refund, as applicable, exceeds $2,500.
943.70
943.70
Computer crimes. 943.70(1)(a)
(a) "Computer" means an electronic device that performs logical, arithmetic and memory functions by manipulating electronic or magnetic impulses, and includes all input, output, processing, storage, computer software and communication facilities that are connected or related to a computer in a computer system or computer network.
943.70(1)(b)
(b) "Computer network" means the interconnection of communication lines with a computer through remote terminals or a complex consisting of 2 or more interconnected computers.
943.70(1)(c)
(c) "Computer program" means an ordered set of instructions or statements that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to process data.
943.70(1)(d)
(d) "Computer software" means a set of computer programs, procedures or associated documentation used in the operation of a computer system.
943.70(1)(dm)
(dm) "Computer supplies" means punchcards, paper tape, magnetic tape, disk packs, diskettes and computer output, including paper and microform.
943.70(1)(e)
(e) "Computer system" means a set of related computer equipment, hardware or software.
943.70(1)(f)
(f) "Data" means a representation of information, knowledge, facts, concepts or instructions that has been prepared or is being prepared in a formalized manner and has been processed, is being processed or is intended to be processed in a computer system or computer network. Data may be in any form including computer printouts, magnetic storage media, punched cards and as stored in the memory of the computer. Data are property.
943.70(1)(g)
(g) "Financial instrument" includes any check, draft, warrant, money order, note, certificate of deposit, letter of credit, bill of exchange, credit or credit card, transaction authorization mechanism, marketable security and any computer representation of them.
943.70(1)(h)
(h) "Property" means anything of value, including but not limited to financial instruments, information, electronically produced data, computer software and computer programs.
943.70(1)(i)
(i) "Supporting documentation" means all documentation used in the computer system in the construction, clarification, implementation, use or modification of the software or data.
943.70(2)
(2) Offenses against computer data and programs. 943.70(2)(a)(a) Whoever wilfully, knowingly and without authorization does any of the following may be penalized as provided in
par. (b):
943.70(2)(a)1.
1. Modifies data, computer programs or supporting documentation.
943.70(2)(a)2.
2. Destroys data, computer programs or supporting documentation.
943.70(2)(a)3.
3. Accesses data, computer programs or supporting documentation.
943.70(2)(a)4.
4. Takes possession of data, computer programs or supporting documentation.
943.70(2)(a)5.
5. Copies data, computer programs or supporting documentation.
943.70(2)(a)6.
6. Discloses restricted access codes or other restricted access information to unauthorized persons.
943.70(2)(b)
(b) Whoever violates this subsection is guilty of:
943.70(2)(b)2.
2. A Class E felony if the offense is committed to defraud or to obtain property.
943.70(2)(b)3.
3. A Class D felony if the damage is greater than $2,500 or if it causes an interruption or impairment of governmental operations or public communication, of transportation or of a supply of water, gas or other public service.
943.70(2)(b)4.
4. A Class C felony if the offense creates a substantial and unreasonable risk of death or great bodily harm to another.
943.70(3)
(3) Offenses against computers, computer equipment or supplies. 943.70(3)(a)(a) Whoever wilfully, knowingly and without authorization does any of the following may be penalized as provided in
par. (b):
943.70(3)(a)1.
1. Modifies computer equipment or supplies that are used or intended to be used in a computer, computer system or computer network.
943.70(3)(a)2.
2. Destroys, uses, takes or damages a computer, computer system, computer network or equipment or supplies used or intended to be used in a computer, computer system or computer network.
943.70(3)(b)
(b) Whoever violates this subsection is guilty of:
943.70(3)(b)2.
2. A Class E felony if the offense is committed to defraud or obtain property.
943.70(3)(b)3.
3. A Class D felony if the damage to the computer, computer system, computer network, equipment or supplies is greater than $2,500.
943.70(3)(b)4.
4. A Class C felony if the offense creates a substantial and unreasonable risk of death or great bodily harm to another.
943.70(4)
(4) Computer use restriction. In addition to the other penalties provided for violation of this section, a judge may place restrictions on the offender's use of computers. The duration of any such restrictions may not exceed the maximum period for which the offender could have been imprisoned; except if the offense is punishable by forfeiture, the duration of the restrictions may not exceed 90 days.
943.70(5)
(5) Injunctive relief. Any aggrieved party may sue for injunctive relief under
ch. 813 to compel compliance with this section. In addition, owners, lessors, users or manufacturers of computers, or associations or organizations representing any of those persons, may sue for injunctive relief to prevent or stop the disclosure of information which may enable another person to gain unauthorized access to data, computer programs or supporting documentation.
943.70 Note
Judicial Council Note, 1988: [In (2) (b) 4. and (3) (b) 4.] The words "substantial risk" are substituted for "high probability" to avoid any inference that a statistical likelihood greater than 50% was ever intended. [Bill 191-S]
943.70 Annotation
This section is constitutional. Copyright law does not give a programmer a copyright in data entered into the programmer's program, and copyright law does not preempt prosecution of the programmer for destruction of data entered into the program. State v. Corcoran,
186 Wis. 2d 616,
522 N.W.2d 226 (Ct. App. 1994).
943.70 Annotation
Criminal liability for computer offenses and the new Wisconsin computer crimes act. Levy. WBB March 1983.
943.75
943.75
Unauthorized release of animals. 943.75(1)(ad)
(ad) "Animal" means all vertebrate and invertebrate species, including mammals, birds, fish and shellfish but excluding humans.
943.75(2)
(2) Whoever intentionally releases an animal that is lawfully confined for companionship or protection of persons or property, recreation, exhibition or educational purposes, acting without the consent of the owner or custodian of the animal, is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. A 2nd violation of this subsection by a person is a Class A misdemeanor. A 3rd or subsequent violation of this subsection by a person is a Class E felony.
943.75(2m)
(2m) Whoever intentionally releases an animal that is lawfully confined for scientific, farming, restocking, research or commercial purposes, acting without the consent of the owner or custodian of the animal, is guilty of a Class C felony.
943.75(3)
(3) Subsections (2) and
(2m) do not apply to any humane officer, local health officer, peace officer, employee of the department of natural resources while on any land licensed under
s. 29.865,
29.867,
29.869 or
29.871 or designated as a wildlife refuge under
s. 29.621 (1) or employee of the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection if the officer's or employee's acts are in good faith and in an apparently authorized and reasonable fulfillment of his or her duties. This subsection does not limit any other person from claiming the defense of privilege under
s. 939.45 (3).
943.75(4)
(4) When the existence of an exception under
sub. (3) has been placed in issue by the trial evidence, the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the facts constituting the exception do not exist in order to sustain a finding of guilt under
sub. (2) or
(2m).
