349.04 ANSWER TO CHARGES.
(a) A person who is served with a parking ticket charging the commission of a parking infraction may answer the charge by personal appearance at the Mansfield Municipal Building during normal business hours or by mail. The answer shall be made within five calendar days of the issuance of the parking ticket and shall be:
(1) An admission that the person committed the parking infraction by payment of the fine.
(2) An admission that the person committed the parking infraction, with an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the parking infraction.
(3) A denial that the infraction occurred and a request for a hearing.
A denial must be written on a separate appeal form available at the Police Department when a denial is entered. Otherwise, the person need only pay the fine to the Clerk in the Utility Collections Department.
(b) When a person denies that he has committed a parking violation and it cannot be resolved by the Traffic Unit of the Police Department as Clerk of the Mansfield Parking Ticket Violations Bureau in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4521.06, which is incorporated herein by reference, he shall be granted a hearing which shall be civil in nature. The Law Director's Office shall set a date for the hearing and notify the person, in writing, of the date, time and place of the hearing. The hearing shall be conducted by the Law Director or his designee, acting as Hearing Examiner in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4521.08 which is incorporated herein by reference.
(c) A person who admits that he committed a parking infraction shall, and a person who admits that he committed a parking infraction with explanation may, when he makes his answer, pay the fine arising out of the infraction admitted, to the Clerk in Utility Collections.
(d) If a person fails to timely answer to a parking ticket citation, after that person has been personally or constructively served with the citation, charging the offense, the City of Mansfield Parking Violations Bureau shall issue a notice of infraction and shall proceed pursuant to Ohio R.C. 4521.07. Failure to answer a charge may result in the imposition of additional penalties set forth in this chapter.
(Ord. 98-051. Passed 3-17-98.)