(a) A person who violates a provision of this article, or who fails to perform a duty required of him under this article, commits an offense. A person is guilty of a separate offense for each day or part of a day during which a violation is committed, continued, or permitted.
(b) An offense under this article is punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000 and, upon a first conviction, not less than $50.
(c) The minimum fine established in Subsection (b) will be doubled for the second conviction of the same offense within any 24-month period and trebled for the third and subsequent convictions of the same offense within any 24-month period. At no time may the minimum fine exceed the maximum fine established in Subsection (b).
(d) As an alternative to imposing the criminal penalty prescribed in Subsection (b), the city may impose administrative penalties, fees, and court costs in accordance with Article IV-b of Chapter 27 of this code, as authorized by Section 54.044 of the Texas Local Government Code, for an offense under this article. The alternative administrative penalty range for an offense is the same as is prescribed for a criminal offense in Subsection (b).
(e) The culpable mental state required for the commission of an offense under this article is governed by Section 1-5.1 of this code. (Ord. Nos. 20599; 25927; 26585)