(a) A person who fails to answer an administrative citation as required by Section 27-16.15 of this chapter is considered to have admitted liability for the violation charged. Upon proof of service by the city, the hearing officer shall issue, in writing, an administrative order of liability and assess against the person charged with the violation an appropriate amount of administrative penalties, fees, and court costs.
(b) The hearing officer shall assess an additional $36 administrative penalty for each violation (other than a violation of Section 49-21.1 of this code) for which a person is found liable, which amount will be placed in the Dallas Tomorrow Fund or the Dallas Animal Welfare Fund, as applicable. In no case may the total amount of administrative penalties assessed against a person for a violation exceed the maximum penalty established by city ordinance for the particular violation, and in no case may the total amount of administrative penalties, including the $36 administrative penalty, assessed against a person for a violation be less than the minimum penalty established by city ordinance for the particular violation.
(c) Within seven calendar days after the hearing officer files the administrative order of liability with the municipal court clerk, the municipal court clerk shall send a copy of the order to the person charged with the violation. The copy of the order must be sent by regular United States mail to the person's last known address as defined in Section 27-16.14(c). The administrative order must include a statement:
(1) of the amount of the administrative penalties, fees, and court costs;
(2) of the right to appeal to municipal court before the 31st calendar day after the date the hearing officer's order is filed with the municipal court clerk;
(3) that, unless the hearing officer's order is suspended through a properly filed appeal, the administrative penalties, fees, and court costs must be paid within 31 calendar days after the date the hearing officer's order is filed;
(4) that, if the administrative penalties, fees, and court costs are not timely paid, the penalties, fees, and costs may be referred to a collection agency and the cost to the city for the collection services will be assessed as costs, at the rate agreed to between the city and the collection agency, and added to the judgment; and
(5) that the city may enforce the hearing officer's administrative order by:
(A) filing a civil suit for collection of the administrative penalties, fees, and court costs;
(B) obtaining an injunction to prohibit specific conduct that violates the order or to require specific conduct necessary for compliance with the order; or
(C) both (A) and (B). (Ord. Nos. 25927; 29403; 29618; 30236)