A municipal civil infraction citation shall be issued and served by an authorized township official as follows.
(A) The time for appearance specified in a citation shall be within a reasonable time after the citation is issued.
(B) The place for appearance specified in a citation shall be the district court.
(C) Each citation shall be numbered consecutively and shall be in a form approved by the State Court Administrator.
(D) (1) The first copy of the citation (the original citation) shall be filed with the district court.
(2) The second copy of the citation shall be retained by the township.
(3) The third copy (and any duplicate copies, as needed) shall be issued to the alleged violator.
(E) A citation for a municipal civil infraction signed by an authorized township official shall be treated as made under oath if the violation alleged in the citation occurred in the presence of the official signing the complaint and if the citation contains the following statement immediately above the date and signature of the official: “I declare under the penalties of perjury that the statements above are true to the best of my information, knowledge, and belief.”
(F) An authorized township official who witnesses a person commit a municipal civil infraction shall prepare and subscribe, as soon as possible and as completely as possible, an original and any required copies of a citation.
(G) An authorized township official may issue a citation to a person if:
(1) Based upon investigation, the official has reasonable cause to believe that the person is responsible for a municipal infraction; or
(2) Based upon investigation of a complaint by someone who allegedly witnessed the person commit a municipal civil infraction, the official has reasonable cause to believe that the person is responsible for an infraction and if the Township Attorney approves in writing the issuance of the citation.
(H) A municipal civil infraction citation shall be served by an authorized township official as follows.
(1) Except as provided by division (H)(2) below, an authorized township official shall personally serve a copy of the citation upon the alleged violator.
(2) (a) If the municipal civil infraction action involves the use or occupancy of land, a building, or other structure, a copy of the citation does not need to be personally served upon the alleged violator, but may be served upon an owner or occupant of the land, building, or structure by posting the copy on the land or in a manner reasonably calculated to give notice or attaching the copy to the building or structure.
(b) In addition, a copy of the citation shall be sent by first-class mail to the owner of the land, building, or structure at the owner’s last known address.
(Ord. 118.00, passed 6-14-2005)