8-4-310 Forging signatures.

   Whenever it may be necessary, in order to procure a license, permit, grant, or privilege of any kind or to obtain a referendum vote on any proposition, to secure signatures to a petition for the same under the provisions of this Code or under any law or ordinance affecting the whole or any part of the city, it shall be unlawful for any person, individually, or any firm or corporation by its members, officers or agents, to forge the signature or procure the forging of the signature to the same of any person who is by law qualified to sign such petition, or to sign or procure the signing of a fictitious name to such petition, or to procure the signature to the same of the person qualified to sign such petition by payment of money or other valuable thing to the person so signing.

   Any person that shall violate the provisions of this section by forging a signature, signing a fictitious name, or purchasing a signature, or by procuring the doing of same, shall be fined not less than $5.00 nor more than $200.00 dollars for each offense, and the signing or procuring of each false or fraudulent name to such petition shall be regarded as a distinct and separate offense.

(Prior code § 193-23)

8-4-315 Fraud relating to official documents.

   (a)   For purposes of this section, "official documents" refers to any document produced by a government agency, including but not limited to a driver's license, identification card or paper, or certificate relating to a foreign citizen's resident status, such as visa, entry, citizenship and resident alien documents. A person commits fraud relating to official documents when he:

      (i)   misrepresents to any person that a document is official or that a document has been produced by, produced on behalf of, or authorized by the I.N.S. or any other government agency, when the document in fact has not been produced by a government agency; or

      (ii)   misrepresents to any person that he is legally authorized or otherwise qualified to obtain or dispense official documents; or

      (iii)   makes any false or misleading statement regarding any person's eligibility to obtain permanent resident status in the United States.

   (b)   Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500.00 nor more than $2,000.00, plus the actual costs incurred by the victim that can be directly attributed to the fraud. To the extent permitted by law, the cost shall be payable to the person who incurred them.

   (c)   In addition to the penalties specified in subsection (b) of this section, violators of this section are subject to all applicable enforcement provisions in Title 4 of the Municipal Code, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and to orders of injunctive relief entered by a court or administrative agency of competent jurisdiction.

(Added Coun. J. 7-29-98, p. 75082; Amend Coun. J. 1-17-13, p. 45384, § 1)

8-4-320 Deceptive advertising.

   No person shall, with intent to sell or in anywise dispose of merchandise, securities, service, or anything offered directly or indirectly to the public for sale or distribution, or with intent to increase the consumption thereof, or to induce the public in any manner to enter into any obligation relating thereto, or to acquire title thereto or any interest therein, make, publish, disseminate, circulate, or place before the public, or cause directly or indirectly to be made, published, disseminated, circulated, or placed before the public, in this city, in any newspaper or other publication sold or offered for sale upon any public way, or other public place, or on any sign upon any public way or other public place, or in any handbill or advertisement posted upon any public way or public place, or on any placard, advertisement, or handbill exhibited or carried in any public way or public place, or on any banner or sign flying across the public way or from any house, an advertisement of any sort regarding merchandise, securities, service, or anything so offered to the public, which advertisement contains any assertion, representation, or statement which is untrue, deceptive, or misleading. Any person violating any provision of this section shall be fined not less than $25.00 nor more than $200.00 for each offense.

(Prior code § 193-24)

8-4-321 International wire transfers – Posting of notice required.

   A person engaged in the business of transmitting money by wire to a location outside the United States of America shall post a sign in a conspicuous location on the premises where such transactions occur. The sign shall be in English, Spanish and Polish, in capital letters of no less than 18 point type, and shall state as follows:

      In Addition To The Fees Applicable To This Transaction, A Currency Conversion Rate Will Be Applied To This Transaction If This Transaction Is Paid Out In A Currency Other Than United States Dollars. This Currency Rate Constantly Changes. Please Ask The Clerk For Information Concerning Fees And The Currency Exchange Rate Applicable To This Transaction.

   Any person who violates this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than $100.00 and not more than $500.00, for each offense, or incarceration of not less than ten days and not more than 30 days for each offense, or both a fine and incarceration. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. Nothing in this section shall apply to a bank or trust company that is organized under state, federal or foreign law or to any affiliate thereof.

(Added Coun. J. 5-20-98, p. 68166)

8-4-325 Deceptive practices – Residential real estate.

   (a)   No person shall engage in any act of consumer fraud or unfair method of competition or deceptive practice in connection with any contract which may result in the foreclosure on any residential real estate that is situated within the city. Nothing in this section shall be construed as permitting the regulation of any business to the extent that such regulation is not permitted under the statutory or home rule powers of the city.

   (b)   The commissioner of business affairs and consumer protection shall be charged with the enforcement of this section, and may institute an action in the department of administrative hearings to determine liability and seek remedies provided in this section.

   (c)   Any person who violates this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500.00 and not more than $10,000.00, and may be ordered to pay restitution and may be subject to other equitable relief.

(Added Coun. J. 8-30-00, p. 39074, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. V, § 5)

8-4-330 Recruitment restrictions.

   No person shall force, threaten to use force, intimidate or coerce another to join any group, club or organization. This section shall not apply to persons engaged in lawful concerted activities governed and protected by the federal statute commonly known as the "National Labor Relations Act".

   Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than $500.00 for each offense or shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of not more than six months or both.

(Prior code § 193-26)

8-4-340 Charitable entertainments – Restriction on promotional materials.

   No person shall use any ticket, poster, placard, badge, or other advertisement in the promotion of any dance, bazaar, picnic, game, theater, or other entertainment or performance purporting to be given for charitable purposes unless the names of the persons or organizations intended to be benefited by the receipts from such entertainment or performance are stated on such ticket, poster, placard, badge, or other advertisement.

   Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than $10.00 nor more than $200.00 for each offense.

(Prior code § 193-27)

8-4-350 Enhanced penalties for offenses committed in public transportation safety zones.

   (a)   Definition. For purposes of this section, "public transportation safety zone" means:

      (1)   any bus, train, or other form of transportation operated by a transportation authority that is funded, in whole or in part, with public funds;

      (2)   in, or within 100 feet of, any building, real property, or parking area under the control of a public transportation authority that is funded, in whole or in part, with public funds; and

      (3)   within 100 feet of any bus shelter or sign designating the location of a bus stop utilized by a transportation authority that is funded, in whole or in part, with public funds.

   (b)   Penalties.

      (1)   The following enhanced penalties shall apply to violations of Sections 8-20-075 and 8-20-085 of this Code that occur in public transportation safety zones:

         (A)   the penalty for a first offense shall be a fine of not less than $1,000.00 nor more than $5,000.00, and incarceration for a term not less than 120 days nor more than six months;

         (B)   the penalty for a second offense shall be a fine of not less than $5,000.00 nor more than $15,000.00, and incarceration for a term not less than 150 days nor more than six months; and

         (C)   the penalty for a third or subsequent offense shall be a fine of not less than $10,000.00 nor more than $20,000.00, and incarceration for a term of six months.

      (2)   The following enhanced penalties shall apply to violations of Section 8-20-060 of this Code that occur in public transportation safety zones:

         (A)   the penalty for a first offense shall be a fine of not less than $1,000.00 nor more than $5,000.00, and incarceration for a term not less than 30 days nor more than six months;

         (B)   the penalty for a second offense shall be a fine of not less than $5,000.00 nor more than $15,000.00, and incarceration for a term not less than 90 days nor more than six months; and

         (C)   the penalty for a third or subsequent offense shall be a fine of not less than $10,000.00 nor more than $20,000.00, and incarceration for a term of six months.

      (3)   The following enhanced penalties shall apply to violations of Section 8-24-020 of this Code that occur in public transportation safety zones:

         (A)   the penalty for a first offense shall be a fine of not less than $500.00 nor more than $1,000.00, and incarceration for a term not less than 30 days nor more than six months;

         (B)   the penalty for a second offense shall be a fine of not less than $1,000.00 nor more than $2,000.00, and incarceration for a term not less than 90 days nor more than six months; and

         (C)   the penalty for a third or subsequent offense shall be a fine of not less than $2,000.00 nor more than $5,000.00, and incarceration for a term of six months.

(Added Coun. J. 9-11-13, p. 59905, § 1)

Editor's note – Coun. J. 10-3-01, p. 68130, § 4, repealed a former § 8-4-350, which pertained to promotion of marriage.