(a) A person who has been charged with a violation of this chapter through an administrative citation shall answer to the charge by appearing in person or through counsel before the hearing officer no later than the 31st calendar day after the date the citation was issued. If the 31st calendar day falls on a day when the court is closed, then the person must appear (in person or through counsel) by the next day that the court is open.
(b) An answer to the administrative citation may be made in either of the following ways:
(1) By returning the citation, on or before the 31st calendar day from the date the citation was issued, with the applicable administrative penalties, fees, and court costs, which action constitutes an admission of liability.
(2) By personally appearing, with or without counsel, before the hearing officer on or before the 31st calendar day from the date the citation was issued and on any subsequent hearing date. The person charged in the administrative citation must be present at the hearing and cannot be represented by anyone other than an attorney who has a license to practice law in Texas, which is in good standing. If the person charged is a corporation or a business entity, the corporation or business entity must be represented by an attorney who has a license to practice law in Texas, which is in good standing. (Ord. Nos. 25927; 30236)