(A) Any person cited for a violation of this chapter shall be deemed to be charged with a non-criminal infraction, except where otherwise indicated.
(B) An animal control officer or a law enforcement officer shall have discretion to either issue a warning with no civil penalty or issue a citation for a civil penalty in the amount designated in § 90.99 or in the applicable section
(C) A mandatory court appearance may be issued for certain aggravated violations of the ordinance resulting in the unprovoked biting, attacking, or wounding of persons and/or domestic animals; violations resulting in the destruction or loss of personal property; second or subsequent violations of animal cruelty laws; or violations resulting in the issuance of a third or subsequent citation to a person.
(D) Any person cited for a civil infraction under this chapter shall sign and accept a citation acknowledging receipt of the citation and indicating a promise to appear in county court if such person wishes to contest the charges. Under F.S. § 828.27(5), any person who willfully refuses to sign and accept a citation issued by an officer shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in F.S. §§ 775.082, 775.083, or 775.084.
(E) In the event an animal is impounded for violation of this chapter and the owner of the animal abandons the animal to the animal control division, the owner remains liable for the civil penalties imposed for violations of this chapter.
(F) Any person issued a citation for violation of § 90.12 may have the citation dismissed upon presentation to the city Animal Control Division of a valid, current rabies vaccination, identification tag, and license, for the animal in question with in 15 days of the issuance of the citation.
(H) Any person who fails to pay the civil penalty within the time allowed, or fails to appear in court to contest the citation, shall be deemed to have waived his right to contest the citation; and judgment may be entered against the person in the County Court for an amount up to the maximum civil penalty.
(Ord. 2000-63, passed 6-13-00; Am. Ord. 2007-20, passed 1-9-07)