A. Falsely obtaining services or accommodations consists of a person obtaining service, food, entertainment or accommodations without paying with the intent to cheat or defraud the owner or person supplying the service, food, entertainment or accommodations.

Attorney's Note

Under the New Mexico Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
third degree felonyup to 3 yearsup to $5,000
fourth degree felonyup to 18 monthsup to $5,000
petty misdemeanorup to 6 monthsup to $500
For details, see N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-18-15 and N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-19-1

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Terms Used In New Mexico Statutes 30-16-16

  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.

B. A law enforcement officer may arrest without warrant a person the officer has probable cause to believe has committed the crime of falsely obtaining services or accommodations. A merchant, owner or proprietor who causes such an arrest shall not be criminally or civilly liable if the merchant, owner or proprietor has actual knowledge that the person arrested has committed the crime of falsely obtaining services or accommodations.

C. Whoever commits falsely obtaining services or accommodations when the value of the service, food, entertainment or accommodations furnished is:

(1)     less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) is guilty of a petty misdemeanor; (2)     more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) but not more than five hundred dollars ($500) is guilty of a misdemeanor;

(3)     more than five hundred dollars ($500) but not more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) is guilty of a fourth degree felony;

(4)     more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) but not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) is guilty of a third degree felony; and

felony.

(5)     more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) is guilty of a second degree