(a) If a civil fine is assessed under this article, it must be in accordance with this section. A fine may not be waived or modified by a hearing officer, or by a municipal court on appeal, when a vehicle owner is found liable for a school bus stop arm violation, except that additional penalties and other costs may be added in accordance with this section.
(b) The owner of a motor vehicle liable for a school bus stop arm violation shall pay a civil fine of $300 for each violation.
(c) An additional $25 late payment penalty will be assessed if the vehicle owner fails to:
(1) answer a school bus stop arm citation within 30 calendar days after its date of issuance;
(2) appear at a hearing scheduled to adjudicate the school bus stop arm violation charge; or
(3) after being found liable, pay all civil fines, penalties, fees, and costs assessed for a school bus stop arm violation within the time designated by the hearing officer, or by the municipal court on appeal.
(d) A penalty assessed under Subsection (c) of this section may be waived by a hearing officer, or by a municipal court on appeal, if the vehicle owner can establish that:
(1) through no fault of the owner:
(A) no notice of the school bus stop arm violation was received as required by this article;
(B) no notice of the hearing officer’s order was received as required by this article; or
(C) payment of the civil fine assessed for the school bus stop arm violation was not posted in a timely manner; or
(2) the penalty was assessed in error. (Ord. 28654)