In this section, “water equipment” includes a canal, spring, reservoir, tunnel, mound, dam, plug, main, pipe, conduit, connection, tap, valve, engine, or machinery. This section does not apply to: a person who is authorized by the company, municipal corporation, county, or unit of State or local government that uses or supplies water for domestic, agricultural, or manufacturing purposes or an authorized employee of the company, municipal corporation, county, or unit of State or local government; or governmental regulation of: water equipment; or water companies, as defined in § 1–101 of the Public Utilities Article. A person may not wrongfully and maliciously: connect, disconnect, tap, interfere or tamper with, or make a connection with water equipment that belongs to a company, municipal corporation, county, or unit of State or local government that uses or supplies water for domestic, agricultural, or manufacturing purposes; or tamper with a meter used to register the water consumed. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding $500 or both.