§ 14-2-103. ENFORCEMENT.

(a)

Authority of the Fire Chief. In addition to any enforcement otherwise authorized by law, the Fire Chief may enforce the rules and regulations and the Fire Prevention Code adopted under this title.

(b)

Enforcement officers. All uniformed personnel who are assigned to the office of the Fire Marshal and all battalion chiefs assigned to the Suppression Division of the Fire Department are designated enforcement officers and are authorized to issue a civil citation for a violation of the rules and regulations and the Fire Prevention Code adopted under this title.

(c)

Authority of enforcement officers.

(1)

An enforcement officer may serve a violation notice to a person who violates:

(i)

The rules and regulations and the Fire Prevention Code adopted under this title; or

(ii)

§§ 9-609 or 9-610 of the Criminal Law Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

(2)

A violation notice shall direct compliance within a reasonable time as the Fire Department shall determine.

(3)

A person who fails to comply with a violation notice is subject to the civil monetary penalties as provided under subsections (d) and (e) of this section.

(d)

Civil penalty - In general. Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, a person who violates this section and fails to comply with a violation notice issued under this section is liable to the county for a civil monetary penalty as follows:

(1)

For a first violation and failure to comply with the violation notice, the civil penalty may not exceed $250;

(2)

For a second violation and failure to comply with the violation notice, the civil penalty may not exceed $500; and

(3)

For a subsequent violation and failure to comply with the violation notice, the civil penalty may not exceed $1000.

(e)

Same — Violation of Criminal Law Article. A person who violates § 9-609 of the Criminal Law Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland is liable for the penalties provided in that section.

(1988 Code, §§ 16-41, 16-44) (Bill No. 178, 1992, § 1, 10-26-1992; Bill No. 26-00, § 2, 7-1-2004; Bill No. 73-03, § 15, 7-1-2004)