Tampering with utility meters or diverting service.
Norfolk City Code § 29-41
in effectSec. 29-41. - Tampering with utility meters or diverting service.
(a) Any person who shall tamper with any metering device incident to the facilities set forth in section 29-40, or otherwise intentionally prevent such a metering device from properly registering the degree, amount or quantity of such service supplied, or who shall divert such service, excepting, however, telephonic or electronic extension service not owned or controlled by any such company, without authorization from the owner of such facility, who furnishes such service to the public, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(b) The presence of any metering device found to have been altered, tampered with or bypassed in a manner that would cause such metering device to inaccurately measure and register the degree, amount or quantity of the service supplied, or which would cause such service 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 to whose benefit it is that such service be unmetered, unregistered or diverted.
(Code 1958, § 31-78)
Source: City of Norfolk, Virginia, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/norfolk/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COCI_CH29OFIS_S29-41TAUTMEDISEFetched: 11/1/2026