Any person who connects any instrument, device or contrivance with any wire supplying or intended to supply electricity or electric current or connects any pipe or conduit supplying water, without the knowledge and consent of the municipality, in such manner that any portion thereof may be supplied to any instrument by or at which electricity, electric current or water may be consumed without passing through the meter provided for measuring or registering the amount or quantity passing through it, and any person who knowingly uses or knowingly permits the use of electricity, electric current or water obtained in the above mentioned unauthorized ways shall be deemed guilty of an offense. Any person who willfully injures, alters or by any instrument, device or contrivance in any manner interferes with or obstructs the action or operation of any meter made or provided for measuring or registering the amount or quantity of electricity, or water passing through it, without the knowledge and consent of the municipality shall be deemed guilty of an offense. When electrical or water service has been disconnected pursuant to Neb. RS 70-1601 through 70-1615 or § 50.01, any person who reconnects such service without the knowledge and consent of the municipality shall be deemed guilty of an offense. Proof of the existence of any wire, pipe or conduit connection or reconnection or of any injury, alteration or obstruction of a meter, as provided in this section, shall be taken as prima facie evidence of the guilt of the person in possession of the premises where such connection, reconnection, injury, alteration or obstruction is proved to exist.
(Prior Code, § 3-404) (Ord. 722, passed 10-1-1996) Penalty, see § 10.99
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see Neb. RS 86-329 through 86-331