§ 32-3-604. SAME - PAYMENT OF CIVIL PENALTY OR STAND TRIAL.

(a)

Person to pay civil penalty or request a trial.

(1)

Any person who receives a citation may:

(i)

Pay the civil penalty within 35 days; or

(ii)

Elect to stand trial for the violation by filing a notice of intention to stand trial with the Director of Permits, Approvals and Inspections at least 5 days before the date of payment as set forth in the citation.

(2)

On receipt of a notice of intention to stand trial, the Director of Permits, Approvals and Inspections shall forward a copy of the citation and the notice of intention to stand trial to the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County.

(b)

Failure to pay civil penalty or request a trial.

(1)

If the civil penalty remains unpaid at the expiration of 35 days after the date of the citation, the Director of Permits, Approvals and Inspections may request adjudication of the case in the District Court.

(2)

The Director of Permits, Approvals and Inspections shall send a formal notice of violation to a person who received a citation and who fails to either pay the civil penalty or elect to stand trial for the civil zoning violation.

(3)

If the civil penalty remains unpaid at the expiration of 35 days from the date of the formal notice of violation, the Director of Permits, Approvals and Inspections may request adjudication of the case in the District Court.

(4)

Unless the person has elected to stand trial under subsection (a) of this section, if the citation is not satisfied within 15 days from the date of the formal notice of violation, the person is liable for an additional civil penalty not to exceed twice the original civil penalty.

(c)

County Attorney to prosecute civil violations. The County Attorney shall prosecute civil zoning violations in the courts.

(1988 Code, § 26-121) (Bill No. 18, 1990, § 2, 3-30-1990; Bill No. 88, 1990, § 1, 8-13-1990; Bill No. 4, 1992, § 1, 3-2-1992; Bill No. 69-95, § 10, 7-1-1995; Bill No. 103-02, § 2, 7-1-2004; Bill No. 122-10, §§ 12, 30, 1-16-2011)