(a) Any Animal Control Officer or law enforcement officer shall have the authority to issue a citation when the officer has probable cause to believe that a person has committed a violation of this article. The person cited may contest the citation in the Municipal Court for the city.
(b) It shall be the duty and responsibility of all law enforcement officers to assist in the enforcement of this article to the extent that it is within their jurisdiction.
(c) Any violation of the article which does not result in injury to any person, entity or property is hereby declared to be an infraction for which there may be imposed by the Municipal Court a maximum penalty not to exceed $500. An individual may contest the citation in Municipal Court. In the event the individual chooses not to contest the citation, the non-contest penalty shall be $50 for the first and second offense. In the event the individual does not pay the non-contest penalty to the City Clerk within 15 days of the date the citation is issued, the Municipal Court may vacate the non-contest penalty and impose a penalty greater than the non-contest penalty, but not to exceed the above-described maximum penalty.
(d) Any violation of this article which results in or caused injury to any person, entity or property shall be prosecuted in the same manner as misdemeanors are prosecuted, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500 or imprisonment in jail not exceeding 60 days or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(e) Any person violating this article three or more times shall be prosecuted in the same manner as misdemeanors are prosecuted, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500 or by imprisonment in jail not exceeding 60 days or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(f) Any person that willfully refuses to accept a citation issued by an Animal Control Officer or law enforcement officer shall be prosecuted in the same manner as misdemeanors are prosecuted, and upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500 or imprisonment in jail not exceeding 60 days or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(Ord. 636, passed 12-21-2009)