Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 13, § 2582 (2026)

Subchapter 005 : THEFT OF SERVICES

• § 2582. Theft of services

  (a) A person who purposely obtains services that he or she knows are available only for compensation, by deception or threat, or by false token or other means to avoid payment for the service shall if the services exceed $900.00 in value be imprisoned for not more than 10 years or fined not more than $5,000.00, or both. Otherwise, a person who violates a provision of this subsection shall be imprisoned for not more than one year or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both. Where compensation for service is ordinarily paid immediately upon the rendering of such service, as in the case of hotels, restaurants, and transportation, refusal to pay or absconding without payment or offer to pay gives rise to a rebuttable presumption that the service was obtained by deception as to intention to pay.

  (b) A person who, having control over the disposition of services of others, to which he or she is not entitled, knowingly diverts such services to the person’s own benefit or to the benefit of another not entitled thereto shall if the services exceed $900.00 in value be imprisoned for not more than 10 years or fined not more than $5,000.00, or both. Otherwise a person who violates a provision of this subsection shall be imprisoned for not more than one year or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both. (Added 1967, No. 202, § 2, eff. April 17, 1967; amended 1973, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2005, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § 6.)