(a) A person who is personally or constructively served with a parking ticket charging a parking infraction may answer the charge by appearing personally before the Parking Violations Bureau or by mail, within ten days from the date of the infraction. The answer shall be in one of the following forms:
(1) An admission that the person committed the infraction, by payment of any fine arising out of the parking infraction to the violations clerk of the Bureau.
(2) A denial that the person committed the infraction and a request for a hearing. A person who denies that he committed a parking infraction shall have his parking ticket charge transferred to the Columbiana County Municipal Court, and all further proceedings shall be held in accordance with the rules of the Court.
(b) If a person who is issued a parking ticket fails to timely answer, as provided as set forth above, the failure to answer shall be considered an admission that the person committed the parking infraction, and a default civil judgment in the amount of the fine, penalties, and costs due may be entered against the person. A default judgment entered pursuant to this section may be filed with the Municipal Court at any time within three years after the date of issuance of the parking ticket charging the parking infraction out of which the judgment arose. This division applies to any ticket issued for an offense that would be a parking infraction on or after the effective date of this section if the ticket was issued within three years prior to the effective date of this section.
(c) As required by Ohio R.C. 4521.08(C), judgments and default judgments filed with the Columbiana County Municipal Court pursuant to this division shall be maintained in a separate index and judgment rolls from other judgments rendered in that court. Computer printouts, microfilm, microdot, microfiche, or other similar data recording techniques may be utilized to record such judgments. When a judgment or default judgment is filed with the court, execution may be levied, and such other measures may be taken for its collection as are authorized for the collection of an unpaid money judgment in a civil action rendered in that court. The court may assess costs against the judgment debtor for each parking infraction, to be paid upon satisfaction of the judgment.
(Ord. 35-01. Passed 12-3-01.)