(A) An authorized city official who witnesses a person committing a municipal civil infraction shall prepare and subscribe, as soon as possible and as completely as possible, an original and the required copies of a municipal civil infraction citation.
(B) An authorized city official may issue a municipal civil infraction citation to a person if:
(1) Based upon an investigation, the official has reasonable cause to believe that the person is responsible for a municipal civil infraction; or
(2) Based upon an investigation of a complaint by someone who allegedly witnessed the person commit a municipal civil infraction, the official has reasonable cause to believe that the person is responsible for a municipal civil infraction and if the prosecuting attorney or City Attorney approves in writing the issuance of the citation.
(C) Municipal civil infraction citations shall be served by an authorized city official as follows:
(1) Except as provided by division (C)(2) below, an authorized city official shall personally serve a copy of the citation upon the alleged violator.
(2) If the municipal civil infraction involves the use or occupancy of land, a building, or another structure, then a copy of the municipal civil infraction citation does not need to be personally served upon the alleged violator, but may be served upon an owner or occupant of the land, building, or structure by posting a copy on the land or attaching a copy to the building or structure. In addition, a copy of the municipal civil infraction citation shall be sent by first-class mail to the owner of the land, building, or structure at the owner’s last known address. For the purposes of this chapter, the owner shall be presumed to be the person or entity designated or listed on the tax rolls maintained by the city for the land, building, or structure.
(Ord. 147, passed 8-10-1998)