(A) G.S. § 14-151 provides in part that, “Any meter or service entrance facility found to have been altered, tampered with, or bypassed in a manner that would cause such meter to inaccurately measure and register the electricity, gas, or water consumed or which would cause the electricity, gas, or water to be diverted from the recording apparatus of the meter is prima facie evidence of intent to violate and of the violation of this section by the person in whose name such meter is installed or the person or persons so using or receiving the benefits of the unmetered, unregistered, or diverted electricity, gas, or water.”
(B) Charges and fees are hereby established, as shown in the Town of Winterville Fee Schedule, for damaging, altering, tampering with, or bypassing a meter that has been installed for the purpose of measuring water, or to use water passing through any altered, tampered with, or bypassed water meter.
(C) Any meter or service entrance facility found to have been altered, tampered with, damaged or bypassed in a manner that would cause the meter to inaccurately measure and register the water consumed, or that would cause the water 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 in whose name the meter is installed, or the person or persons so using or receiving the benefit of the unmetered, unregistered or diverted water.
(1992 Code, § 52.06) (Ord. 04-O-96, passed 6-14-2004)