It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to tamper with any water main, water meter, lock, or other part of the city’s water works or to make any connection to said system, or to reconnect service when service has been discontinued; however, in the event of an emergency, any city official or authorized emergency personnel will be allowed to shut off water due to said emergency. In any prosecution under this section due to connection or re-connection of the water system, tampering with the meter, tampering with the lock if the person or persons accused receive the use or direct benefit of the water service, this shall be sufficient to support an inference which the trial court may submit to the trier of fact, from which the trier of fact may conclude that there has been a violation of this section by the person or persons who use or receive the direct benefit of the water service.
(Ord. 382, passed 3-1-2008) Penalty, see § 51.999