(a) No person other than an authorized agent of the Village shall intentionally connect to any portion of the water supply system, tamper with or remove any meter, seal, or part thereof, or insert a meter by-pass, without permission of the Village Administrator or the Water Superintendent. Any of the above described activities shall constitute tampering with a public water system.
(b) If the Village finds that a meter seal has been broken, a connection has been installed ahead of the meter, a by-pass has been inserted or that there is evidence that a meter or any other equipment has been intentionally tampered with as prohibited in subsection (a) above, the water will be shut off and will not be turned on again until the owner or occupant of the premises pays for the estimated quantity of water which has been used and not registered, pays for any repairs or replacement of any equipment damaged, and pays a fee for turning on the water. The penalties in this subsection are intended to be in addition to any criminal penalties provided in 925.08(d) as well as the criminal laws of the State of Ohio. The payment of the penalties provided in this subsection shall not in any way relieve a person from criminal prosecution for a violation of such laws.
(c) No person shall intentionally remove the cover of any public or private meter box, meter pit, or valve box, or intentionally place any dirt, stones, or other obstructions on or in such boxes or pits, or intentionally commit any act tending to obstruct the use thereof, or shall in any manner intentionally deface or injure any hydrant, building, machinery, pipe, apparatus, tools, or fixtures of the waterworks system.
(d) In a prosecution for violations of division (a) or (b) of this Section, any evidence that a meter, seal, or part thereof, has been tampered with is prima-facie evidence that the person who is obligated to pay for the service rendered through the meter and is in possession or control of the meter at the time the tampering occurred has caused the tampering.
(e) Whoever violates any of the provisions of this Section is guilty of tampering with a public water system, a misdemeanor of the first degree, and shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisoned not more than six months, or both, for each offense.
(Ord. 2012-11. Passed 11-5-12.)