§ 26-1. Interfering with public utilities unlawful.

Whoever intentionally and without authority injures or destroys any meter, pipe, conduit, wire, post, lamp or other apparatus belonging to a company engaged in the manufacture or sale of public services, gas, light, power, water, wastewater, solid waste or communication, or intentionally and without authority prevents a meter from duly registering the quantity of services supplied, or in any way interferes with the proper action or just registration, or without the consent of the company, intentionally diverts any services of the company, or otherwise intentionally and without authority uses or causes to be used, without the consent of the company, any services manufactured or distributed by the company shall be punished as for a misdemeanor. Where there is no evidence to the contrary, the person receiving the benefit of the services without proper charge as a result of the tampering with a meter or the diversion of services shall be presumed to be responsible for the acts of tampering or diversion.

(Code 2004, § 50.01; Ord. No. 307, 11-13-1989)