§ 38-91. Penalties.

(a)

The owner of any property upon which a water meter installed by the city is located, and in which the water line between the water meter and the water main is found to have been tapped, tampered with or otherwise interrupted so as to bypass the water meter in violation of section 38-98 or 38-99, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and pay to the city a penalty of $500.00 plus the cost of correcting the alteration of said line.

(b)

In the event the owner does not pay the penalty within 30 days of the date on which it is billed, the city treasurer shall cause the bill to be spread upon the owner's tax bill, together with such interest and penalties, as provided by law.

(c)

In addition to the foregoing, the water department of the city shall estimate the actual water usage of the owner and the period of time over which the violation occurred. Estimates of water usage shall be based on the consumption by similar property usages, taking into consideration such variables as can be determined to vary water usage. Such estimated bill shall then be billed to the owner of such property in accordance with the normal practices of the city.

(Code 1977, § 26-52; Ord. No. 166, 2-13-1989)