§ 22-2-19. Tampering with or obstructing city-owned equipment.

(a)

No person, except the employees of the combined water and sewer division, the public works department, the fire and life safety division or the public safety department, and those to whom the director of the combined water and sewer division may grant special permission, shall tamper with, make connections to or otherwise use or operate the fire hydrants, meters, locks or any other city-owned equipment associated with, or attached to, the water system, and no person shall place or install or cause to be placed or installed any thing or object which will impede free access to fire hydrants or meters, but a distance of not less than five feet shall be clear entirely around each of such hydrants and meters.

(b)

If any person tampers with, makes connections to or otherwise uses or operates the fire hydrants, meters, locks or any other city-owned equipment associated with, or attached to, the water system, that person shall be charged a fee of not less than $25.00 nor more than $100.00, plus the actual cost required to repair the damaged equipment and to compensate the city for any related harm or loss caused by the tampering.

(Code 1959, § 20-1-19; Ord. No. 1881, 3-23-99)