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Chapter 1.30 CIVIL (NONTRAFFIC) VIOLATIONS
Chapter 1.30CIVIL (NONTRAFFIC) VIOLATIONS
1.30.020 Code violations designated as Class II civil infractions.
1.30.030 Code violations designated as Class IV civil infractions.
1.30.040 Classes of civil infraction – Monetary penalties – Restitution.
1.30.045 Community service officers – Concurrent authority.
1.30.050 Enforcement officers.
1.30.060 Notice of civil infraction – Issuance, service and filing.
1.30.070 Person receiving notice – Identification and detention.
1.30.080 Notice of civil infraction – Form.
1.30.090 Notice – Determination final unless contested.
1.30.100 Response to notice of infraction – Required.
1.30.110 Response to notice of infraction – Uncontested determination.
1.30.120 Response to notice of infraction – Contested determination.
1.30.130 Response to notice of infraction – Mitigation hearing.
1.30.140 Response to notice of infraction – Failure to respond or appear.
1.30.150 Hearings – Rules of procedure.
1.30.160 Hearings – Counsel.
1.30.170 Hearings – Contesting determination that infraction committed – Appeal.
1.30.180 Hearing – Explanation of mitigating circumstances.
1.30.190 Monetary penalties – When payable.
1.30.200 Order of court – Civil nature – Modification of penalty – Community service.
1.30.210 Costs and attorney fees.
1.30.220 Notice – Failure to sign – Nonappearance – Failure to pay penalty – Misdemeanor.
1.30.230 Definitions.
1.30.240 Notices of civil infraction – System established.
1.30.250 Disposition of original and copies of notices of infraction.
1.30.260 Notices of infraction – Records – Cancellation prohibited – Penalty – Audit.
This chapter shall be applicable to all violations of this code and to violations of regulations and Washington state statutes that are incorporated into this code by reference or otherwise, except for violations that are expressly designated to be misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors, and except for traffic infractions and parking violations. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
Any violation of this code to which this chapter applies is deemed and declared to be a Class II civil infraction unless such violation is expressly designated as another class of civil infraction. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate civil infraction. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
The violation of LMC 10.40.020 is declared to be a Class IV civil infraction. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate civil infraction. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
(1) There are four classes of civil infraction, and any person found to have committed a civil infraction shall be assessed a monetary penalty as follows:
(a) Class I Civil Infraction. The maximum penalty and the default amount for a Class I civil infraction is the sum of $250.00, not including statutory assessments, except for an infraction of the city ordinances involving tobacco products as specified in LMC 7.32.040(3), in which case the maximum penalty and default amount is $500.00.
(b) Class II Civil Infraction. The maximum penalty and the default amount for a Class II civil infraction is the sum of $125.00, not including statutory assessments.
(c) Class III Civil Infraction. The maximum penalty and the default amount for a Class III civil infraction is the sum of $50.00, not including statutory assessments.
(d) Class IV Civil Infraction. The maximum penalty and the default amount for a Class IV civil infraction is the sum of $25.00, not including statutory assessments.
(2) In addition to the imposition of a civil penalty, a court may order a person found to have committed a civil infraction to make restitution, including any costs or expenses incurred by the city in abating or eliminating a public nuisance. (Ord. 2777 § 1, 2000; Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
Community service officers, employed as noncommissioned employees of the Longview police department, shall have the authority to enforce all of the provisions of this chapter and of Chapters 7.12, 10.31, 11.12, 11.16, 11.44, 11.50, 11.56, 11.60, 11.62, 12.20, and 13.01 LMC. Such authority shall include the same power to issue notices of civil infraction that has been conferred upon other city employees designated as “enforcement officers” pursuant to LMC 1.30.050, together with the authority to direct the impoundment of motor vehicles pursuant to this code and pursuant to Chapter 46.55 RCW. Insofar as other enforcement officers of the city have similar authority under other sections of this code, the authority of such other enforcement officers and that of community service officers shall be deemed to be concurrent. (Ord. 2879 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2746 § 3, 1999; Ord. 2631 § 1, 1996).
Department heads or supervisors and city employees employed in the following departments, as designated by the department head or supervisor, shall be and are designated and appointed as “enforcement officers” and are authorized to initiate, issue and serve notices of civil infraction pursuant to this chapter, for violations of the Longview Municipal Code or regulation provisions or sections that are subject to their supervision, interpretation or enforcement:
(1) The director of finance, in connection with LMC Title 5, business licenses and taxation;
(2) The director of community and economic development, in connection with Chapter 7.12 LMC, Garbage Collection; LMC 7.28.020, improper occupancy of mobile abode, Chapter 7.32 LMC, Litter Control, LMC 10.32.080, Trees and shrubbery – Cutting, removing, injuring, placing posters and fixtures thereon, LMC 11.40.070, merchandise for sale on streets and sidewalks, Chapter 11.12 LMC, improper storage of wrecked or dismantled vehicles, Chapter 12.20 LMC, Removal of Debris, LMC Title 16, Buildings and Construction, and LMC Title 19, Zoning;
(3) The director of parks and recreation, in connection with LMC 6.16.010, Molesting wild animals, LMC 6.16.020, Keeping animals which molest wild animals, Chapter 13.01 LMC, Park Use Regulations, and Chapter 10.32 LMC, Parks and Recreational Facilities – Offenses;
(4) The chief of the fire department, in connection with LMC Title 18, Fire Prevention, including the fire code and the fire code standards;
(5) The director of the Cowlitz County Humane Society, in connection with Chapter 6.06 LMC, Animals and Animal Control;
(6) The director of public works, in connection with Chapter 7.12 LMC, Garbage Collection, Chapter 15.60 LMC, water connection violations, Chapter 15.68 LMC, cross-connection violations and LMC Title 15, Water and Sewers;
(7) The librarian of the Longview Public Library, in connection with LMC 10.40.020, Library books;
(8) The chief of police in connection with all violations, and, in particular, Chapter 10.36 LMC, Parades, and Chapter 12.04 LMC, Banners. (Ord. 3044 § 5, 2008; Ord. 2879 § 2, 2004; Ord. 2774, 2000; Ord. 2762 § 1, 2000; Ord. 2589 § 1, 1995; Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
(2) A notice of civil infraction may be issued upon certification that the issuer thereof has probable cause to believe, and does believe, that a person has committed an infraction contrary to law:
(a) By an enforcement officer. The infraction need not have been committed in the enforcement officer’s presence, except as provided by statute;
(b) By the city attorney or assistant city attorney.
(b) The enforcement officer or the city attorney or assistant city attorney filing the notice of infraction with the court, in which case the court shall have the notice served either personally or by mail, postage prepaid, on the person named in the notice of infraction at his or her address. If a notice of infraction served by mail is returned to the court as undeliverable, the court shall issue a summons.
(4) A notice of infraction shall be filed with the Longview municipal court within 48 hours of issuance, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. A notice of infraction not filed within the time limits prescribed in this section may be dismissed without prejudice. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
A person who receives a notice of infraction under LMC 1.30.050 is required to identify himself or herself to the enforcement officer by giving his or her true name, address, and date of birth. Upon request of the enforcement officer, the person shall produce reasonable identification, including a driver’s license or identicard. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
(3) A statement of the specific infraction that the defendant is alleged to have committed and the accompanying statute, regulation or Longview Municipal Code section number, the date, time and place the alleged infraction occurred, the time that the notice of infraction was issued, and the name and, if applicable, the number of the enforcement officer;
(11) A statement that failure to respond to the notice of infraction or a failure to appear at a hearing requested for the purpose of contesting the determination or for the purpose of explaining mitigating circumstances will result in a default judgment against the defendant in the amount of the penalty and that this failure may be referred to the city attorney for criminal prosecution for failure to respond or appear;
(14) The name, address, and telephone number of the Longview municipal court;
(15) The name and address of the defendant. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
A notice of infraction represents a determination that a civil infraction has been committed. The determination is final unless contested as provided in this chapter. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
A defendant who receives a notice of infraction shall respond to such notice as provided in LMC 1.30.110 through 1.30.140 within 15 days of the date of the notice if it is personally served or, if the notice is served by mail, within 10 days of the date the notice was mailed. If the response is mailed, it must be postmarked not later than midnight of the day the response is due. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
If the person determined to have committed the civil infraction does not contest the determination, such person shall respond by completing the appropriate portion of the notice of infraction and submitting it, either by mail or in person, to the court. A check or money order in the amount of the penalty prescribed for the civil infraction must be submitted with the response. The clerk of the court may accept cash in payment for a civil infraction. When a response that does not contest the determination is received, an appropriate order shall be entered into the court’s records. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
If the person determined to have committed the civil infraction wishes to contest the determination, such person shall respond by completing the appropriate portion of the notice of infraction requesting a hearing and submitting it, either by mail or in person, to the court. The court shall notify the person in writing of the time, place, and date of the hearing, and that date shall be not earlier than seven days nor more than 90 days from the date of the notice of hearing, except by agreement. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
If the person determined to have committed the civil infraction does not contest the determination but wishes to explain mitigating circumstances surrounding the infraction, such person shall respond by completing the appropriate portion of the notice of infraction requesting a hearing for that purpose and submitting it, either by mail or in person, to the court. The court shall notify the person in writing of the time, place, and date of the hearing, and that date shall be not earlier than seven days nor more than 90 days from the date of the notice of hearing, except by agreement. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
The court shall enter a default judgment assessing the monetary penalty prescribed for the civil infraction and shall notify the city attorney of the failure to respond to the notice of civil infraction or to appear at a requested hearing if a person issued a notice of infraction:
(1) Fails to respond to the notice of infraction as provided in LMC 1.30.100; or
(2) Fails to appear at a hearing requested as provided in LMC 1.30.120 or 1.30.130. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
Procedures for the conduct of all hearings provided for in this chapter are those established by the Washington State Supreme Court in the “IRLJ”. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
(2) The attorney representing the city may appear in any proceedings under this chapter but need not appear, notwithstanding a statute or rule of court to the contrary. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
(5) An appeal from the court’s determination or order shall be to the superior court in the manner provided by the “Rules for Appeal of Decisions of Courts of Limited Jurisdiction”. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
(3) There is no appeal from the court’s determination or order. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
Whenever a monetary penalty is imposed by the court under this chapter, it is immediately due and payable. If the person is unable to pay at that time, the court may grant an extension of the period in which the penalty may be paid. If the penalty is not paid on or before the time established for payment, the court may proceed to collect the penalty in the same manner as other civil judgments and may notify the city attorney of the failure to pay. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
(1) An order of court entered after receipt of a response which does not contest the determination, or after it has been established at a hearing that the civil infraction was committed, or after a hearing for the purpose of explaining mitigating circumstances is civil in nature.
(2) The court may waive, reduce or suspend the monetary penalty prescribed for the civil infraction. If the court determines that a person has insufficient funds to pay the monetary penalty, the court may order performance of a number of hours of community service in lieu of a monetary penalty, at the rate of the then state minimum wage per hour. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
Each party to a civil infraction case is responsible for costs incurred by that party, but the court may assess witness fees against a nonprevailing defendant. Attorney fees may be awarded to either party in a civil infraction case. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
(3) A person who willfully fails to pay a monetary penalty or to perform community service as required by a court under this chapter may be found in contempt of court as provided in Chapter 7.21 RCW. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
(2) “Department” means any division of the administration of the city which is directed by a department head or supervisor including, but not limited to, the police department, the fire department, the finance department, the parks and recreation department, the engineering department, the department of public works, the department of community and economic development and the Longview Public Library.
(3) “Defendant” means a person named in a notice of infraction under this chapter as having committed a civil infraction. (Ord. 2774, 2000; Ord. 2762 § 1, 2000; Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
(1) There is placed in effect a system of “fixless” notices of infraction whereby each enforcement officer shall obtain from his or her department head or supervisor, and sign a receipt for, all books of notices of infraction, in the form prescribed by the administrator for the courts of the state of Washington.
(5) Enforcement officers may each obtain not more than two books at any one time but must promptly turn in, to his or her department head or supervisor, each used book to be filed and kept of record in the files of the department by which such enforcement officer is employed. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
(1) The original, white in color, shall be filed with the Longview municipal court.
(4) The third copy, white in color, shall not be removed from and shall be retained in the book of notices of infraction. (Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).
(1) The director of finance shall be the custodian and shall maintain a supply of book of notices of infraction for use pursuant to this chapter. All notices of infraction shall conform to the requirements of the administrator for the courts.
(2) The director of finance may deliver or provide to department heads or supervisors a sufficient quantity of books of notices of infraction for use by such department heads or supervisors and the enforcement officers employed in their respective departments. Department heads or supervisors shall be required to sign for all books of notices of infraction issued to them, and thereafter shall be responsible for retention thereof in accordance with this chapter.
(7) All notices of infraction required to be filed in departmental files, all books of notices of infraction, and all records pertaining to notices of infraction shall be subject to audit or examination at all times. (Ord. 2762 § 1, 2000; Ord. 2573 § 1, 1994).