§ 750.498bMarine safety device; tampering with, taking, or removing prohibited;

violation; penalty; definitions.
 Sec. 498b.
    (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), a person who, without lawful authority, tampers
 with, takes, or removes a marine safety device owned or maintained by this state or a political
 subdivision of this state knowing or having reason to know that the device is a marine safety
 device is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a
 fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both.
    (2) A person who, without lawful authority, tampers with, takes, or removes a marine safety
 device owned or maintained by this state or a political subdivision of this state knowing or
 having reason to know that the device is a marine safety device, and thereby renders the
 device unavailable or unusable for rescue when needed is guilty of a crime as follows:
    (a) If the violation is the proximate cause of serious impairment of a body function of
 another person, the person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than
 5 years or a fine of not less than $1,000.00 or more than $5,000.00, or both imprisonment and
 a fine.
    (b) If the violation is the proximate cause of the death of another person, the person is guilty
 of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 15 years or a fine of not less than
 $2,500.00 or more than $10,000.00, or both imprisonment and a fine.
    (3) As used in this section:
    (a) "Marine safety device" means a device designed or intended to be used to rescue
 individuals in marine emergency situations, including, but not limited to, life preservers, safety
 harnesses, ladders, lines, and throw rings.
    (b) "Serious impairment of a body function" means that term as defined in section 58c of
 the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.58c.