(a) It shall be the duty of the Police Department, acting in accordance with the instructions issued by the Mayor of the Village of Put-in-Bay, to report:
(1) The location of a vehicle that is, or has been, parked in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter;
(2) The State license number of such vehicle and the State of issue;
(3) The time the officer detected such violation of the provisions of this chapter; and
(4) Any other facts the knowledge of which is necessary for thorough understanding of the circumstances attending such violation.
(b) Each officer shall attach to a vehicle found in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter a notice to the owner or operator thereof that said vehicle has been parked in violation of the provisions of this chapter and instructing such owner or operator to pay the appropriate fee within five days of the time of the violation specified in the notice and an additional fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) if paid after the lapse of five days from the time of said violation. The failure to post such fee as provided in this division shall constitute a minor misdemeanor.
(c) Upon the lapse of the five-day grace period, and the imposition of the fifteen dollar ($15.00) fine increase set forth in division (b) of this section, if the said fine remains unposted, a letter shall be sent to the registered owner of the vehicle, by regular U.S. mail, postage prepaid, indicating that a parking violation fee remains unposted and that failure to pay the fine and fee within 30 days shall result in the filing of a misdemeanor charge. Said notice shall also contain a legible copy of the notice issued pursuant to division (b) of this section or shall contain all pertinent information contained therein.
(d) If no fee is posted within the 30-day period referenced in division (c) of this section, or no defenses have been raised pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code or under these Codified Ordinances, the Police Department shall issue a misdemeanor citation and summons by certified mail to the operator or owner of the vehicle during the time the violation occurred. If the motor vehicle is a rental vehicle (upon proper documentation provided to the Police Department by the rental agency clearly showing the party who rented the vehicle), the citation and summons shall be sent to the operator of the vehicle at the time of the violation. If no documentation or unclear documentation is provided to the Police Department, the citation and summons shall be issued to the agency (person or firm) who or which rented the vehicle. The citation and summons shall direct either the operator or owner (leaser or renter) of the vehicle which the violation notice identifies to appear either in Ottawa County Municipal Court or the Mayor's Court of the Village.
(Ord. 772-00. Passed 4-13-00.)