(A) Any person who shall tamper with any metering device incident to any oil, telegraph, telephone, electric, telecasting, gas, sewer, wastewater or water facility, or otherwise intentionally prevent such a metering device from properly registering the degree, amount, or quantity of such service supplied, or who shall divert such service, excepting, however, telephonic or electronic extension service not owned or controlled by any such company, without authorization from the owner of such facility who or which furnishes such service to the public, shall be punished as set forth in § 131.99.
(B) The presence of any metering device found to have been altered, tampered with, or bypassed in a manner that would cause such metering device to inaccurately measure and register the degree, amount, or quantity of such service supplied or that would cause such service to be diverted from the recording apparatus of the meter shall be prima facie evidence of intent to violate and of the violation of this section by the person to whose benefit it is that such service be unmetered, unregistered, or diverted.
(1998 Code, § 38-35) Penalty, see § 131.99
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see VA Code § 18.2-163