New Mexico Statutes 72-8-1. [Injuring works; interference; misdemeanor; liability for damages; arrest; state engineer and water masters; right to enter private property.]
Any person, association or corporation interfering with or injuring or destroying any dam, headgate, weir, benchmark or other appliance for the diversion, carriage, storage, apportionment or measurement of water, or for any hydrographic surveys, or who shall interfere with any person or persons engaged in the discharge of duties connected therewith, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall also be liable for the injury or damage resulting from such unlawful act. The state engineer or any authorized assistant shall have power to arrest any person offending against the provisions of this section, and deliver him to the nearest peace officer of the county. It shall be the duty of the person making the arrest to make complaint at once before the court having jurisdiction thereof. The state engineer, the water masters and their authorized assistants, and agents may enter upon private property for the performance of their respective duties, doing no unnecessary injury thereto.
Terms Used In New Mexico Statutes 72-8-1
- Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.