(A) General rule. Words and phrases may be taken in their plain, or ordinary and usual sense. However, technical words and phrases having a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law must be understood according to their technical import.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CITY, MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, or MUNICIPALITY. The City of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
CODE, THIS CODE or THIS CODE OF ORDINANCES. This municipal code as modified by amendment, revision, and adoption of new titles, chapters, or sections.
COUNTY. Hennepin County, Minnesota.
MAY. The act referred to is permissive.
MONTH. A calendar month.
MUST. The act referred to is mandatory.
OATH. An affirmation in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in such cases the words SWEAR and SWORN shall be equivalent to the words AFFIRM and AFFIRMED. All terms shall mean a pledge taken by the person and administered by an individual authorized by state law.
OFFICER, OFFICE, EMPLOYEE, COMMISSION, or DEPARTMENT. An officer, office, employee, commission, or department of this municipality unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
PENAL OFFENSE. The violation of an ordinance, code, or other legislative action of the Council for which fines or imprisonment are prescribed and shall have the meanings set forth in § 10.99 and Chapter 70 of this code. PENAL OFFENSES, even though the word misdemeanor is erroneously used, shall be distinguished from violations of state law called misdemeanors which are defined in state law as crimes.
PERSON. Extends to and includes an individual, person, persons, firm, corporation, copartnership, trustee, lessee, or receiver. Whenever used in any clause prescribing and imposing a penalty, the terms PERSON or WHOEVER as applied to any unincorporated entity shall mean the partners or members thereof, and as applied to corporations, the officers or agents thereof.
PETTY OFFENSE. The violation of an ordinance, code, or other legislative action of the Council for which a sentence of a fine of not more than $200 may be imposed and no sentence of imprisonment may be imposed and shall have the meanings set forth in § 10.99 and Chapter 70 of this code. PETTY OFFENSE, even though the word misdemeanor or term petty misdemeanor may be erroneously used, shall be distinguished from violations of state law called misdemeanors which are defined in state law as crimes, and further distinguished from violations of state law called petty misdemeanors which are described in state law as not constituting a crime.
PRECEDING or FOLLOWING. Next before or next after, respectively.
SHALL. The act referred to is mandatory.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
STATE. The State of Minnesota.
SUBCHAPTER. A division of a chapter, designated in this code by a heading in the chapter analysis and a capitalized heading in the body of the chapter, setting apart a group of sections related by the subject matter of the heading. Not all chapters have subchapters.
WRITTEN. Any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
YEAR. A calendar year, unless otherwise expressed.
('72 Code, § 1400:00)