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Charlotte, MI Code of Ordinances
CITY OF CHARLOTTE, MICHIGAN CODE OF ORDINANCES
CHARTER
CHAPTER 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 2: ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTERS 3-5: RESERVED
CHAPTER 6: ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS
CHAPTERS 7-9: RESERVED
CHAPTER 10: ANIMALS
CHAPTERS 11 - 13: RESERVED
CHAPTER 14: BUILDINGS AND BUILDING REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 15: BUSINESSES
CHAPTERS 16 - 17: RESERVED
CHAPTER 18: CABLE COMMUNICATIONS
CHAPTERS 19 - 21: RESERVED
CHAPTER 22: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTERS 23 - 25: RESERVED
CHAPTER 26: RESERVED
CHAPTERS 27 - 29: RESERVED
CHAPTER 30: FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION
CHAPTER 31: RESERVED
CHAPTER 32: MUNICIPAL CIVIL INFRACTIONS
CHAPTER 33: RESERVED
CHAPTER 34: OFFENSES
CHAPTERS 35 - 37: RESERVED
CHAPTER 38: PARKS AND RECREATION
CHAPTERS 39 - 41: RESERVED
CHAPTER 42: PLANNING
CHAPTERS 43 - 45: RESERVED
CHAPTER 46: SOLICITORS AND CANVASSERS
CHAPTERS 47 - 49: RESERVED
CHAPTER 50: SOLID WASTE
CHAPTER 51: RESERVED
CHAPTER 52: PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND NUISANCE ABATEMENT
CHAPTER 53: RESERVED
CHAPTER 54: SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
CHAPTERS 55 - 57: RESERVED
CHAPTER 58: STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES
CHAPTERS 59 - 61: RESERVED
CHAPTER 62: SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 63: RESERVED
CHAPTER 64: TAX EXEMPTION
CHAPTER 65: RESERVED
CHAPTER 66: TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES
CHAPTER 67: RESERVED
CHAPTER 68: UTILITIES
CHAPTER 69: RESERVED
CHAPTER 70: VEGETATION
CHAPTER 71: RESERVED
CHAPTER 72: MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
CHAPTER 73: RESERVED
CHAPTER 74: VEHICLES FOR HIRE
CHAPTERS 75 - 81: RESERVED
CHAPTER 82: ZONING
PARALLEL REFERENCES
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§ 32-3 MUNICIPAL CIVIL INFRACTION CITATIONS – ISSUANCE AND SERVICE.
   Municipal civil infraction citations shall be issued and served by authorized city officials as follows.
   (A)   The time for appearance specified in a citation shall be within a reasonable time after the citation is issued.
   (B)   The place for appearance specified in a citation shall be district court.
   (C)   Each citation shall be numbered consecutively and shall be in a form approved by the State Court Administrator. The original citation shall be filed with the district court. Copies of the citation shall be retained by the city and issued to the alleged violation as provided by Public Act 236 of 1961, § 8705, being M.C.L.A. § 600.8705.
   (D)   A citation for a municipal civil infraction signed by an authorized city official shall be treated as made under oath if the violation alleged in the citation occurred in the presence of the official signing the complaint and if the citation contains the following statement immediately above the date and signature of the official: "I declare under the penalties of perjury that the statements above are true to the best of my information, knowledge, and belief."
   (E)   An authorized city official who witnesses a person commit a municipal civil infraction shall prepare and subscribe, as soon as possible and as completely as possible, an original and required copies of a citation.
   (F)   An authorized city official may issue a citation to a person if:
      (1)   Based upon investigation, the official has reasonable cause to believe that the person is responsible for a municipal civil infraction; or
      (2)   Based upon investigation of a complaint by someone who allegedly witnesses the person commit a municipal civil infraction, the official has reasonable cause to believe that the person is responsible for an infraction and if the prosecuting attorney or City Attorney approves in writing the issuance of the citation.
   (G)   Municipal civil infraction shall be served by an authorized city official as follows:
      (1)   Except as provided by subsection (2), an authorized city official shall personally serve a copy of the citation upon the alleged violator;
      (2)   If the municipal civil infraction involves the use or occupancy of land, a building or other structure, a copy of the citation does not need to be personally served upon the alleged violator, but may be served upon an owner or occupant of the land, building or structure by posting the land or attaching the copy to the building or structure. In addition, a copy of the citation shall be sent by first-class mail to the owner of the land, building, or structure at the owner's last known address.
(1993 Code, § 32-3) (Ord. passed 6-12-1995)
§ 32-4 SAME – CONTENTS.
   (A)   A municipal civil infraction citation shall contain the name and address of the alleged violator, the municipal civil infraction alleged, the place where the alleged violator shall appear in court, the telephone number of the court, and the time at or by which the appearance shall be made.
   (B)   Further, the citation shall inform the alleged violator that he or she may do one of the following:
      (1)   Admit responsibility for the municipal civil infraction by mail, in person, or by representation, at or by the time specified for appearance;
      (2)   Admit responsibility for the municipal civil infraction "with explanation" by mail by the time specified for appearance, or in person, or by representation;
      (3)   Deny responsibility for the municipal civil infraction by doing either of the following:
         (a)   Appearing in person for an informal hearing before a judge or district court magistrate, without the opportunity of being represented by an attorney, unless a formal hearing before a judge is requested by the city;
         (b)   Appearing in court for a formal hearing before a judge, with the opportunity of being represented by an attorney.
   (C)   The citation shall also inform the alleged violator of all of the following:
      (1)   That if the alleged violator desires to admit responsibility "with explanation" in person or by representation, the alleged violator must apply to the court in person, by mail, by telephone, or by representation within the time specified for appearance and obtain a scheduled date and time for an appearance;
      (2)   That if the alleged violator desires to deny responsibility the alleged violator must apply to the court in person, by mail, by telephone, or by representation within the time specified for appearance and obtain a scheduled date and time to appear for a hearing, unless a hearing date is specified on the citation;
      (3)   That a hearing shall be an informal hearing unless a formal hearing is requested by the alleged violator or the city;
      (4)   That at an informal hearing the alleged violator must appear in person before a judge or district court magistrate, without the opportunity of being represented by an attorney;
      (5)   That at a formal hearing the alleged violator must appear in person before a judge with the opportunity of being represented by an attorney.
   (D)   The citation shall contain a notice in boldfaced type that the failure of the alleged violation to appear within the time specified in the citation or at the time scheduled for a hearing or appearance is a misdemeanor and will result in entry of a default judgment against the alleged violator on the municipal civil infraction.
(1993 Code, § 32-4) (Ord. passed 6-12-1995)
§ 32-5 MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS BUREAU.
   (A)   Bureau established. The city hereby establishes a Municipal Ordinance Violations Bureau ("Bureau") as authorized under Public Act 236 of 1961, § 8396, being M.C.L.A. § 600.8396, to accept admissions of responsibility for municipal civil infractions in response to municipal civil infraction violation notices issued and served by authorized city officials, and to collect and retail civil fines and costs as prescribed by this Code or any ordinance.
   (B)   Location; supervision; employees; rules and regulations. The Bureau shall be located at City Hall, and shall be under the supervision and control of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall adopt rules and regulations for the operation of the Bureau.
   (C)   Disposition of violations. The Bureau may dispose only of municipal civil infraction violations for which a fine has been scheduled and for which a municipal civil infraction violation notice (as compared with a citation) has been issued. The fact that a fine has been scheduled for a particular violation shall not entitle any person to dispose of the violation at the Bureau. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent or restrict the city from issuing a municipal civil infraction citation for any violation or from prosecuting any violation in a court of competent jurisdiction. No person shall be required to dispose of a municipal civil infraction violation at the Bureau and may have the violation processed before a court of appropriate jurisdiction. The unwillingness of any person to dispose of any violation at the Bureau shall not prejudice the person or in any way diminish the person's rights, privileges and protection accorded by law.
   (D)   Bureau limited to accepting admissions of responsibility. The scope of the Bureau's authority shall be limited to accepting admissions of responsibility for municipal civil infractions and collecting and retaining civil fines and costs as a result of those having committed the offense or who admits responsibility only with explanation, and in no event shall the Bureau determine, or attempt to determine, the truth or falsity of any fact or matter relating to an alleged violation.
   (E)   Municipal civil infraction violation notices. Municipal civil infraction violation notices shall be issued and served by authorized city officials under the same circumstances and upon the same persons as provided for citations as provided in § 32-3(6) and (7)(a) of this chapter. In addition to any other information required by this Code or other ordinance, the notice of violation shall indicate the time by which the alleged violator must appear at the Bureau, the hours during which the Bureau is open, the amount of the fine scheduled for the alleged violation, and the consequences for failure to appear and pay the required fine within the required time.
   (F)   Appearance; payment of fines and costs. An alleged violator receiving a municipal civil infraction violation notice shall appear at the Bureau and pay the specified fine and costs at or by the time specified for appearance in the municipal civil infraction violation notice. An appearance may be made by mail, in person, or by representation.
   (G)   Procedure where admission of responsibility not made or fine not paid. If an authorized city official issues and serves a municipal civil infraction notice and if an admission of responsibility is not made and the civil fine and costs, if any prescribed by the schedule of fines for the violation are not paid at the Bureau, a municipal civil infraction citation may be filed with the district court and a copy of the citation may be reserved by first-class mail upon the alleged violator at the alleged violator's last known address. The citation filed with the court does not need to comply in all particulars with the requirements for citations as provided by Public Act 236 of 1961, §§ 8705 and 8709, being M.C.L.A. §§ 600.8705 and 8709, but shall consist of a sworn complaint containing the allegations stated in the municipal civil infraction notice and shall fairly inform the alleged violator how to respond to the citation.
(1993 Code, § 32-5) (Ord. passed 6-12-1995)
§ 32-6 SCHEDULE OF CIVIL FINES ESTABLISHED.
   (A)   A schedule of civil fines payable to the Bureau for admissions or responsibility by persons served with municipal civil infraction notices is hereby established. The fines for the violations listed below shall be as follows:
      First offense    $ 50
      First repeat offense    $150
      Second repeat offense    $300
      (1)   Chapter 14 of the Charlotte City Code- Buildings and Building Regulations.
      (2)   § 26-26 of Chapter 26 of the Charlotte City Code-Environment.
      (3)   § 26-27 of Chapter 26 of the Charlotte City Code-Environment.
      (4)   §§ 26-41 through 26-47 of Chapter 26 of the Charlotte City Code-Environment.
      (5)   §§ 30-26 and 30-27 of Chapter 30 of the Charlotte City Code-Fire Prevention and Protection.
      (6)   Chapter 50 of the Charlotte City Code- Solid Waste.
      (7)   Chapter 58 of the Charlotte City Code- Streets, Sidewalks and Other Public Places.
      (8)   Chapter 68 of the Charlotte City Code- Utilities.
      (9)   Chapter 70 of the Charlotte City Code- Vegetation.
      (10)   Chapter 82 of the Charlotte City Code - Zoning.
      (11)   §§ 26-71 of Chapter 26 of the Charlotte City Code - Environment.
      (12)   §§ 26-72(1) of Chapter 26 of the Charlotte City Code - Environment.
      (13)   §§ 26-72(3) of Chapter 26 of the Charlotte City Code - Environment.
      (14)   §§ 26-72(5) through (11) of Chapter 26 of the Charlotte City Code - Environment.
      (15)   § 34-8 of Chapter 34 of the Charlotte City Code - Offenses.
      (16)   §§ 34-10 and 34-11 of Chapter 34 of the Charlotte City Code - Offenses.
      (17)   § 34-14 of Chapter 34 of the Charlotte City Code - Offenses.
      (18)   § 34-322 of Chapter 34 of the Charlotte City Code - Offenses.
      (19)   Chapter 38 of the Charlotte City Code - Parks.
      (20)   Chapter 74 of the Charlotte City Code - Vehicles for Hire.
      (21)   § 10-5 of the Charlotte City Code - Removal of Dog and Cat Droppings.
      (22)   § 10-6 of the Charlotte City Code - Dogs on Leashes.
      (23)   § 52-1, §§ 52-26 through 52-99 of Chapter 52 of the Charlotte City Code - Property Maintenance and Nuisance Abatement.
   (B)   A copy of the schedule, as amended from time to time, shall be posted at the Bureau.
(1993 Code, § 32-6) (Ord. passed 6-12-1995; Ord. passed 8-28-1995; Ord.. passed 7-10-2006(3); Ord. passed 9-22-2008; Ord. 2019-07, passed 10-28-2019; Ord. 2022-08, passed 11-28-22)
§ 32-7 AUTHORIZED CITY OFFICIAL.
   Any city police officer, the building officials and all other individuals or agencies authorized by Council are hereby designated as authorized city officials to issue civil infraction citations (directing alleged violators to appear in court) or municipal civil infraction violation notices (directing alleged violators to appear at the Municipal Ordinance Violations Bureau) as provided in this Code.
(1993 Code, § 32-7) (Ord. passed 6-12-1995)