Chapter 9.36
UNLAWFUL INTERFERENCE WITH PUBLIC UTILITY EQUIPMENT

Sections:

9.36.010    Tampering with intent to injure or defraud.

9.36.020    Prima facie evidence of attempt to injure or defraud.

9.36.010 Tampering with intent to injure or defraud.

Every person, who with intent to injure or defraud, shall:

(1) Break or deface the seal of any gas, electric, steam, or water meter;

(2) Obstruct, alter, injure or prevent the action of any meter or other instrument used to measure or register the quantity of gas, electricity, steam or water supplied to a consumer thereof;

(3) Make any connections by means of a wire, pipe, conduit, or otherwise with any wire, main or pipe to a consumer thereof in such manner as to take gas, electricity, steam, or water from the wire, main or pipe without its passage through the meter or other instrument provided for registering the amount or quantity consumed; or use any gas, electricity, steam or water so obtained;

(4) Make any connection or reconnection with such wire, main or pipe, or turn on or off, or in any manner interfere with any valve, stopcock or other appliances connected therewith;

(5) Prevent by the erection of any device or construction, or by any other means, free access to any meter or other instrument for registering or measuring the amount of gas, electricity, steam or water consumed, or interfere with, obstruct or prevent by any means, the reading or inspection or removal of such meter or instrument, by any person, company, or corporation owning the same; shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (Ord. 438 § 3(1), 1970; Ord. 355 § 9(1), 1967)

9.36.020 Prima facie evidence of attempt to injure or defraud.

For the purposes described herein it shall be prima facie evidence of an attempt to injure or defraud by the land occupier if there exists on any property under his ownership or control any device, machine or construction which allows the land occupier to take, use or utilize any water, gas, steam or electricity without paying proper compensation therefor. (Ord. 438 § 3(2), 1970; Ord. 355 § 9(2), 1967)