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Skipping Out on a Bill

13 V.S.A. § 2582 — theft of services, up to 10 years when the services are worth over $900

  • Obtaining services known to be available only for pay, by deception, threat, a false token, or another way of avoiding payment, is theft of services.
  • Over $900 in value it carries up to 10 years and $5,000; otherwise up to one year and $1,000.
  • At a hotel, a restaurant or in transportation, where pay is usually due right away, refusing to pay or leaving without paying is presumed to be deception, though the presumption can be rebutted.
  • Someone who controls the services of others and diverts them to anyone not entitled to them is punished the same way.
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Sources for this section (1)
  1. 13 V.S.A. § 2582 — Theft of services

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Vermont attorney.

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