(a) The owner of a dog that has become a stray or any other person convicted of a violation of this article shall be punished for the offense as follows:
(1) A fine of $50 if the offense did not occur within two years of the occurrence of a previous offense under this article;
(2) A fine of $100 if the offense occurred within two years of the occurrence of one previous offense under this article; or
(3) A fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000, imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or both, if the offense occurred within two years of the occurrence of two or more previous offenses under this article or if the person convicted has a previous conviction under § 12-7.2 involving the same dog.
(b) For the purposes of this section:
(1) An offense shall be deemed to have occurred on the date of the summons or citation identifying the offense; and
(2) A person who commits an offense within two years of the occurrence of a previous offense shall be subject to the escalating fine of subsection (a), even if the dogs involved in the offenses differed.
(Sec. 13-23.9, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.)) (1990 Code, Ch. 7, Art. 4, § 7-4.9) (Am. Ords. 00-68, 05-007)