Source: https://www.animallaw.info/statute/md-ordinances-%C2%A7-236a-washington-county-animal-control-ordinance
Timestamp: 2016-04-30 22:46:21
Document Index: 600767898

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 236', '§ 13', '§ 13', 'Art. 25', '§\u2002236', '§ 2', 'Art. 24', '§ 11', 'Art. 25', '§ 236', 'Art. 24', '§ 11', 'in fine', 'in fine', 'Art. 25', '§ 236', 'in fine', 'in fine', 'Art. 24', '§ 11', 'Art. 25', '§\u2002236', '§ 1', '§ 3', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1']

MD - Ordinances -§ 236A. Washington County; animal control ordinance | Animal Legal & Historical Center
Full Statute Name: West's Annotated Code of Maryland -Local Government - Division III. Counties [Titles 9-15] - Title 13. Other Powers of Counties--Regulatory - Subtitle 1. Regulation of Animals - Part II. Local Provisions Share
Primary Citation: MD Code, Local Government, § 13-122; MD Code, Local Government, § 13-132
These two laws enacted in 2013 concern animal control laws for Garret and Washington counties. Statute Text: (Formerly cited as MD CODE, Art. 25, § 236A)
Dog and kennel licenses(b)(1) In Garrett County, on or before July 1 of each year, a person owning or keeping a dog shall apply to the county tax collector for a license for the dog if the dog is at least 6 months old.
Dog tags(c)(1) In Garrett County, the county tax collector shall issue a tag with each dog license to a person owning or keeping a dog when the person pays the license fee for the dog.
Animal control ordinance(d)(1) The County Commissioners of Garrett County may designate a regular or contract employee to provide animal control services.
CreditsAdded by Acts 2013, c. 119, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2013.Editors' Notes
LEGISLATIVE NOTESRevisor's Note (Acts 2013, c. 119):This section is new language derived without substantive change from former Art. 24, § 11-501(n), and, as they related to Garrett County, Art. 25, § 236A and Art. 24, §§ 11-501(a), 11-503(a), and 11-504(o).
In the introductory language of subsection (d)(2) of this section, the former phrase “[s]pecify rules and regulations that may include” is deleted as surplusage.
In the introductory language of subsection (d)(3) of this section, the former reference to “an appropriate” private agency is deleted as implicit.
In subsection (d)(6)(iii) of this section, the reference to rules and regulations to “govern hearings” is substituted for the former reference to “[a]dopt[ing] rules and regulations for the governance of its hearings” for clarity and brevity.
In subsection (d)(7)(ii) of this section, the former reference to the District Court “having venue” is deleted as implicit.
In subsection (d)(7)(iv), (v), (vi), and (vii) of this section, the references to violations of “ordinance[s] adopted under this section” are substituted for the former references to violations of this “title” for accuracy.
In subsection (d)(7)(iv) of this section, the former reference to remittance to the county “in which the violation occurred” is deleted in light of the scope of this section.
In subsection (d)(7)(v) of this section, the former reference to prosecution of a violation “to the same extent” is deleted as included in the reference to prosecuting a violation “in the same manner”.
In subsection (d)(8) of this section, the former reference to imposing “[a] fine of $1,000” for a violation of an ordinance is deleted as unnecessary in light of authority in subsection (d)(8)(i) of this section authorizing the County Commissioners of Garrett County to impose a fine not exceeding $1,000.
In subsection (d)(8)(i) of this section, the reference that “on conviction a person is subject to” a certain fine and term of imprisonment is substituted for the former reference that a violation is “punishable by” a certain fine or term of imprisonment for consistency with other similar provisions of the Code.
In subsection (d)(8)(iii) of this section, the former references to “formal” notices of violation are deleted as surplusage.
(a) The County Commissioners of Washington County may designate a regular or contract employee to provide animal control services.Regulation of animals
Designation of animal control agency(c) The County Commissioners of Washington County may adopt an animal control ordinance to designate a private agency or unit of county government to:
Issuance and content of citations(e)(1) An animal control officer in Washington County may issue and deliver a citation to a person believed to be committing a violation of an animal control ordinance.
Quasi-judicial authority(f)(1) The County Commissioners of Washington County may adopt an animal control ordinance to create a quasi-judicial animal control authority for the county to hold public hearings to decide citations, complaints, and other controversies arising under the animal control ordinance, other than those filed with the District Court.
Trial(g)(1) A person who receives a citation under this section may elect to stand trial for the violation by filing with the animal control officer a notice of intention to stand trial at least 5 days before the date set forth in the citation for the payment of fines.
Penalty(h)(1) The County Commissioners of Washington County may adopt an animal control ordinance to provide that each violation of an ordinance adopted under this section is a misdemeanor and on conviction a person is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 30 days or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.
This section is new language derived without substantive change from former Art. 25, § 236A, as it related to Washington County.
In the introductory language of subsection (b) of this section, the former phrase “[s]pecify rules and regulations that may include” is deleted as surplusage.
In subsection (c) of this section, the former reference to “an appropriate” private agency is deleted as implicit.
In subsection (f)(3) of this section, the reference to rules and regulations to “govern hearings” is substituted for the former reference to “[a]dopt[ing] rules and regulations for the governance of its hearings” for clarity and brevity.
In subsection (g)(2) of this section, the former reference to the District Court “having venue” is deleted as implicit.
In subsection (g)(4), (5), (6), and (7) of this section, the references to violations of “ordinance[s] adopted under this section” are substituted for the former references to violations of this “title” for accuracy.
In subsection (g)(4) of this section, the former reference to remittance to the county “in which the violation occurred” is deleted in light of the scope of this section.In subsection (g)(5) of this section, the former reference to prosecution of a violation “to the same extent” is deleted as included in the reference to prosecuting a violation “in the same manner”.
In subsection (h) of this section, the former reference to imposing “[a] fine of $1,000” for a violation of an ordinance is deleted as unnecessary in light of authority in subsection (h)(1) of this section authorizing the County Commissioners of Washington County to impose a fine not exceeding $1,000.
In subsection (h)(1) of this section, the reference that “on conviction a person is subject to” a certain fine and term of imprisonment is substituted for the former reference that a violation is “punishable by” a certain fine or term of imprisonment for consistency with other similar provisions of the Code.
In subsection (h)(3) of this section, the references to “formal” notices of violation are deleted as surplusage.
Former Art. 24, § 11-503(d), as it applied to Washington County, is deleted as unnecessary due to the organization of this part of this subtitle on a county-by-county basis.
MD CODE, Art. 25, § 236A Repealed by Acts 2013, c. 119, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2013 Former Text (a) In this section, “animal control officer” means a county employee or a contract employee hired by the county commissioners who is authorized:
(1) To provide animal control services; and
(2) To issue citations for violations of animal control ordinances in the county.
(b) This section applies only to Garrett County and Washington County.
(c) The county commissioners may adopt an animal control ordinance to:
(1) Create a quasi-judicial deliberative animal control authority for the county to:
(i) Hold public hearings to decide citations, complaints, and other controversies arising under the animal control ordinance, other than those filed with the District Court, subject to the right of a party to file a petition for judicial review in the circuit court; and
(3) Provide for the designation of animal control shelters in the county;
(5) Provide that a violation of the animal control ordinance is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of up to 30 days or a fine of $1,000, or both for each offense.
(d)(1) An animal control officer may deliver a citation to a person believed to be committing a violation of an animal control ordinance.
(e) The citation shall contain:
(1) The name and address of the person charged;
(3) The location and time of the violation;
(5) The manner, location, and time in which the fine may be paid; and
(6) The cited person's right to elect to stand trial for the violation.
(f)(1) A fine not exceeding $1,000 may be imposed for each violation.
(2) The county commissioners also may:
(ii) Adopt procedures for the collection of the fines.
(g)(1) A person who receives a citation may elect to stand trial for the offense by filing with the animal control officer a notice of intention to stand trial.
(2) The person electing to stand trial shall give notice at least 5 days before the date set forth in the citation for the payment of fines.
(3) After receiving a notice of intention to stand trial, the animal control officer shall forward the notice to the District Court having venue, with a copy of the citation.
(4) After receiving the citation and notice, the District Court shall schedule the case for trial and notify the defendant of the trial date.
(5) All fines, penalties, or forfeitures collected by the District Court for violations of this title shall be remitted to the county in which the violation occurred.
(h)(1) If a person who receives a citation for a violation fails to pay the fine by the date of payment set forth on the citation and fails to file a notice of intention to stand trial, a formal notice of the violation shall be sent to the owner's last known address.
(2) If the citation is not satisfied within 15 days after the date the formal notice of violation is mailed, the person shall be subject to an additional fine not exceeding twice the amount of the original fine.
(3) If the person who receives the citation does not pay the citation by the 36th day after the formal notice of violation is mailed, the animal control officer may request the District Court to adjudicate the violation.
(4) After the animal control officer requests adjudication, the District Court shall schedule the case for trial and summon the defendant to appear.
(i) In a proceeding before the District Court, a violation of this title shall be prosecuted in the same manner and to the same extent as a municipal infraction under Article 23A, § 3(b)(7) through (15) of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
(j) The county commissioners may authorize the County Attorney, the State's Attorney, or another attorney to prosecute a violation of this title.
(k) If the District Court finds that a person has committed a violation of this title, the person shall be liable for the costs of the court proceedings.
Credits Amended by Acts 1997, c. 472, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, c. 192, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2003; Acts 2005, c. 71, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2005; Acts 2012, c. 90, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2012.