(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to open or close any valve or any fire hydrant, water pipe, fire cistern, or water plug in or on the public ways of the city unless such person has been specifically authorized to do so by the Municipal Water and Sewer Commission or other authorized utility. The above prohibition shall not apply to firefighters in the authorized performance of their official duties nor to authorized repair personnel of the Municipal Water and Sewer Commission or other water utility providing service to said fire hydrant acting at the direction of the Municipal Water and Sewer Commission or other authorized utility.
(B) It shall be unlawful for anyone to vandalize or damage a fire hydrant, water pipe, fire cistern, or water plug in or on the public ways of the city or to render it inoperable in any way, except for an emergency shut-off or for emergency repairs if done so at the direction of the Municipal Water and Sewer Commission or other authorized utility.
(C) It shall be unlawful for any person to paint or in any way deface or change the normal appearance of a fire hydrant, except to paint said hydrants in the normal course of preventive maintenance and in compliance with the directive of the Fire Department or Fire Protection District having jurisdiction over said hydrants.
(D) Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than two hundred-fifty dollars ($250.00). Further, any person vandalizing, damaging, or removing any fire hydrant, water pipe, fire cistern or water plug in or on the public ways of the city shall be liable to the Municipal Water and Sewer Commission for the cost of replacing or repairing said item, and, as a part of the penalty provision of this section, shall make restitution to the Municipal Water and Sewer Commission for the cost of such item.
(Ord. 2006-01-19, passed 1-19-06)