§ 10.04.24. Tampering or obstructing water or wastewater facilities.

A.

Tampering or obstructing water or wastewater facilities. It shall be unlawful for any person to open or tamper with, including the obstruction of, a water meter, water meter box, lid, valve, valve box, water storage structure, fire hydrant, pipe, wastewater pump station, manhole, fence, building, or any property of the city used in connection with the city's water and wastewater system. The city shall have the right to discontinue service to the property on which the tampering occurred and/or remove the obstruction, including, but not limited to, the towing of vehicles blocking access to the city's water meters or other facilities, without liability therefore, in order to protect the health and safety of its customers, prevent or stop the theft of service, and to access, repair, or maintain its infrastructure.

In addition, incidents of tampering with or obstruction of city utility facilities shall be reported to the city police department or other appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation and may be prosecuted either civilly or criminally.

The following penalties shall apply for violations proved under this section:

Penalty and Fee Schedule
Penalty for meter tampering:
1st Infraction	$100.00 penalty plus cost of damages
2nd Infraction	$500.00 penalty plus cost of damages
3rd Infraction	$1,000.00 penalty plus cost of damages
Penalty for theft of service/bypassing meter	$250.00 penalty plus cost of stolen services
Penalty for broken/missing lock	$100.00 penalty
Penalty for installing a stolen water meter	$100.00 penalty
Penalty for obscured meter:
1st Infraction	$60.00 penalty
2nd Infraction	$100.00 penalty
3rd Infraction	$200.00 penalty
Penalty for damaging water meter boxes	$200.00 penalty
Penalty for turning water on without authorization	$100.00 penalty
Penalty for cross connection	$500.00 penalty
Penalty for tampering with all other facilities	$500.00 penalty plus cost of repairs

 

B.

Definitions.

Bypassing a meter shall be defined as an alternate connection used to transport water around the meter for the purposes of using un-metered water.

Cross-connection shall be defined as a connection between a source of contamination and the potable water supply.

Obscuring a meter shall be defined as blocking access to or making unavailable access to the water meter and it's peripherals.

Tampering shall be defined as any conduct that constitutes trespass, damage to or destruction of public property, altering equipment, theft of services, or theft of property.

( Ord. No. 2013-11, §§ 1, 2, 8-29-2013 )