Hypothetically can a cable company fine you for having pirated cable?

If it's not their services, they can't charge you, but they CAN report you to the police if they're @ssholes. It's a crime to steal and they can report just like anybody else. Just disconnect and when they leave, connect it again. If you're planning on paying for it, just leave it disconnected and they will connect it back up for you. They can't prove that you had it connected in the first place.

Also...they would rather you switch to them so it's not likely that they would report you the first time they catch you. They would just let you know about it.

^

All of this hypothetically of course!

=D

What can happen if I obtain cable service illegally?

Under federal law, those who are caught stealing

cable can be criminally fined up to $1,000,

imprisoned for up to six months, or both.

If the violation is willful and for commercial

advantage or private financial gain, federal law

allows for additional fines up to $50,000.

A cable operator can also seek civil remedies or

damages up to $10,000.

For theft of cable services valued at less than five

thousand dollars, Massachusetts law provides for

fines of up to $3,000, imprisonment for up to 2

1/2 years, or both. Fines of up to $10,000, or

imprisonment up to 10 years are provided for

fraudulently obtaining services equal to or greater

than $5,000 in value.

http://www.mass.gov/Eoca/docs/dte/catv/documents/t...