(A) (1) Whenever in this chapter, code or any ordinance of the city an act is prohibited or is made or declared to be unlawful or an offense or a misdemeanor, or whenever in such chapter, code or any ordinance the doing of any act is required or the failure to do any act is declared to be unlawful or a public nuisance, the violation shall be punished by a fine:
(a) Not to exceed $4,000 if the provisions govern fire safety or public health and sanitation, including vegetation and litter violations and the dumping of refuse; or
(b) Fixed by state law if the violation is one for which the state has fixed a fine.
(2) Whenever in this chapter, code or any ordinance of the city an act is prohibited, or the doing of a specific act is required, and in the event of the committing of an act which is prohibited or the failure to correspond to an act which is required, such act or omission constitutes an offense and unlawful conduct and is hereby declared to be against the peace and dignity of the state and the city. All such violations of this chapter, code or any ordinance are punishable by a fine as provided for in this section and shall be under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Court in and for the city.
(B) Except as otherwise specified, a culpable mental status is not required for the commission of an offense under this chapter, code or any ordinance of the city, or under any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to or under the authority of this chapter, code or any ordinance of the city.
(C) A Code Enforcement Officer, Fire Marshal or peace officer is authorized to enforce any and all of the provisions of this chapter, code or any ordinance through such means as making inspections, giving notice of violations, issuing citations and filing charges with the Municipal Court.
(D) (1) A person issued a citation for a violation of the city’s code of ordinances shall, on or before the appearance date indicated on the citation, enter a plea to each charge indicated on the citation in accordance with Tex. Code of Criminal Procedure § 27.14.
(2) A person commits an offense if the person fails to appear or enter a plea on or before the appearance date indicated on the issued citation. A violation is a Class C misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine as provided in division (A)(1) above.
(3) Municipal Court Judges shall have the authority to issue an arrest warrant, in accordance with Tex. Code of Criminal Procedure § 45.014, to compel the attendance of a person described under division (D)(2) above.
(Ord. 2014-10, passed 4-15-2014)