OR 79 Orders permits for utility by-pass or meter valves AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS
ORDINANCE NO. 79
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS ,
MAKING IT UNLAWFUL TO INSTALL, MAINTAIN OR USE ANY UTILITY BY-PASS
OR TURN ON ANYY UTILITY METER VALVE WITHOUT HAVING FIRST OB-
TAINED A PERMIT TO DO SO; PROVIDING THAT THE EXISTENCE OF SUCH
BY-PASS OR DISCOVERY OF SUCH UNAUTHCRIZED TURN ON, SHALL BE
PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE THAT SUCH BY-PASS WAS INSTALLED AND MAIN-
TAINED BY THE PERSON OR PERSONS RECEIVING SUCH UTILITY SERVICE
OR THAT SUCH METER VALVE WAS TURNED ON BY THE PERSON OR PERSOilS
RECEIVING SUCH UTILITY SERVICE THROUGH SUCH UNAUTHORIZED CON-
NECTION; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT WITII THIS ORDINANCE;
PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLA-
TION OF THIS ORDINANCE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF TWO HUNDRED ($200.00)
DOLLARS FOR EACH OFFENSE AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
COPPELL, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. UNLN~FUL UTILITY BY-PASS.
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to
install or maintain any utility by-pass or connection between
the utility meter and the main sourse of supply, except as may
be installed npon written permission form the City and the Utility
ComPany, if any, furnishing such utility through a franchise
granted by the City.
SECTION 2. UNLAWFUL "TAP" OR "TUPQI OIl" OF UTILITY SERVICE.
Any person who shall tap or connect, with any utility
being furnished hy the City or throuqh a franchise granted by the
City, or who shall turn on any utility meter valve with out first
having obtained a permit to do so or who shall turn on such
utility meter valve a~ter the same has been turned off by the
City of its agents, without first having obtained a permit to
do so, or who shall interfere with any water, electric or gas
meter or any other utility SupPlying equipment, shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor.
SECTION 3. UNLAWFUL USE OF UTILITY AFTER CUT OFF:
It shall be unlawful to use any utility after the
same has been cut off by the City, its agents or the utility
company furnishing such utility under a franchise granted by the
City, without first having secured a new permit therefor uoon
new application for such utility service.
SECTION 4. PRESUMPTION.
The discovery of an unauthorized
mentioned shall be prima facie evidence that
by-pass as above
such by-pass was
installed by and maintained by the person or persons to whom tile
utility service is received through such unauthorized by-pass.
Also, after a utility service has been turned off by the City,
discovery that tile utility meter valve has been turned on with-
out authorization, shall be prima facie evidence that the person
or persons to whom the utility service is being received, turned
on such utility meter valve.
SECTION 5. REPEALING CLAUSE:
All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent
or in conflict with tile provisions of this ordinance are here-
by repealed.
However, the repeal of existing ordinances by this
ordinance shall not effect or prevent the prosecution or the
punishment of any person for any act done or committed prior
to the effective date of this ordinance in violation of any
ordinance hereby repealed; and prosecution for such offenses
may be instituted and causes presently pending proceeded with
in all respects as if such prior ordinance or ordinances had
not been repealed.
SECTION 6. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE:
If any article, paragraph or sub-division, clause,
phrase or provision of this Ordinance shall be adjudged in-
valid or held unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the
validity of this Ordinance as a whole or any part or provision
thereof other than the part so decided to be invalid or uncon-
stitutional.
SECTION 7. PENALTY CLAUSE:
Any Person, firm or corporation violating any of the
provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a mis-
demeanor and, ]/Don conviction, shall be fined not to exceed the
sum of two hundred ($200.00) dollars for each offense and each
and every day such offense is continued shall constitute a new
and separate offense.
SECTION 8. EMERGENCY CLAUSE:
The fact that the present City regulations are in-
adequate to properly protect the public health, safety and
welfare, creates an urqency and an emergency and requires that
this Ordinance shall take effect immediately from and after
the publication of its caption as the law in such cases pro-
rides.
DELY PASSED by the City Council of the City of
Coppell, Texas, this
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY ATTORNEY
day of
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY SECRETARY