HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance - 7760-1978 - Ordinance 7760 Amending Chapter 19 Code Adding Section 19-20.5 Meter Tampering - 10/26/1978I :hw ORDINANCE NO. 7760
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 19 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF
LUBBOCK, TEXAS, BY ADDING A NEW SECTION 19-20.5 PROVIDING FOR THE PROHIBITING OF
UTILITY METER TAMPERING; PROVIDING A PENALTY; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE AND PROVIDIN
FOR PUBLICATION. ''
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Lubbock has found that the changes
indicated below would be in the best interest of the citizens of the City of Lubbock;
OW THEREFORE:
IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LUBBOCK:
SECTION 1. THAT Chapter 19 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lubbock BE
dis hereby amended by adding thereto a new Section 19-20.5 which shall read as
ollows:
Section 19-20.5. Meter.Tampering-Electric, Gas and Water Meters.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association, or
corporation or any agency, servant or employee thereof to
secure or attempt to secure utility service whether electric,
gas or water, by physically or electrically tampering or
damaging the metering, meter seals or locks and/or connecting
paralleling or bypassing load usage on the line or company
side of metered or unmetered utility services by any means
or devices in order to avoid paying for usage of the utility
services or knowingly using services that have been obtained
by these means.
B. It shall be unlawful for any employee of a utility company
within the City of Lubbock to perform the above stated un-
lawful acts that result in the avoidance or improper metering
of the utility service such employee is charged with servicing.
C. The above unlawful acts shall not apply to licensed electricians
or plumbers during the performance of maintenance or emergency
repairs or to such persons acting on the request from the fire
or police officials in emergency situations provided, however,
any such acts shall be reported to the effected utility within
seventy~two (72) hours of such act or if not reported such
person performing the act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
D, Penalty for Violation. Any person violating any provision of
this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and
punished by a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars. This
penalty shall be in addition to any penalty assessed for the
theft of such service as provided in Section 31.04 of the Texas
Penal Code.
SECTION 2. THAT should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or
ord of this Ordinance be declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, the
emainder of this Ordinance shall not be affected thereby.
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SECTION 3. THAT the City Secretary is hereby authorized to cause publication
of the descriptive caption of this Ordinance as an alternative method provided by
law.
AND IT IS SO ORDERED.
Passed by the City Council on first reading this26th day of_~O_c_to~b_e~r~-----' 1978
Passed by the City Council on second reading this_1!_h:lay of November , 197
ATTEST:
APPROVED AS TO FORM: