(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, other than an authorized agent or employee of the City, to remove, install, alter, or in any manner, tamper with, a water meter within the City or within any territory now serviced or which may hereafter be serviced by the City water system, without the express authorization of the City.
(b) When any such water meter has been unlawfully removed, installed, altered, or in any manner tampered with, it shall be unlawful to use water supplied by the service branch to which the meter is or was attached.
(c) When any water meter shall be found to have been unlawfully removed, installed, altered, or in any manner tampered with, the water shall be shut off forthwith and shall not be turned on again until payment has been made for the estimated amount of water used plus such fee as determined by Council, and until such time as the unlawful installation, alteration or tampering has been corrected as authorized by the City. (1993 Code 53.01)