No person except the fire chief or his assistants in the discharge of their duties
shall open or interfere with fire hydrants, valves, or connections with the street
mains or with any curb cock, valve or meter, unless previous permission has been obtained
from the city public works department. Any person damaging any fire hydrant, valve
or connection with the street mains or any curb cock, valve or meter, either accidentally
or intentionally, shall pay the cost of such repair or replacement, as determined
by the public works department, after being notified to do so by the public works
department and, upon failure to do so, such person shall be liable to prosecution
in the circuit court of the county. Any person convicted in the circuit court before
the county judge of damaging any equipment or property of the public works department
and not paying the cost of repair or replacement after being notified, as above set
out, shall, upon conviction, be punished as provided in this Code.
