(A) Fire Inspectors of the Division of Loss Control/ Investigation and fire officers of the rank of Captain or above are empowered to issue notices of violation when the Inspector or officer has reasonable cause to believe that any person has violated any provision of the current NFPA Code or of this chapter. A copy of the notice will be filed with the town Finance Officer.
(B) The written notice of violation may be delivered in person to the violator, or, if the violator cannot be readily found, the written notice of violation may be mailed by certified mail to the violator's last known address. The notice of violation shall specify the civil penalty to be imposed upon the violator and shall direct the violator to appear before the town's Finance Officer within 15 days to pay the penalty or, alternatively, to pay the penalty by mail. The penalty imposed shall be $100 for violations of NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, as the same may be modified by this chapter, and $25 for other violations of the NFPA Code or of this chapter.
(C) The written notice of violation may specify a period of time during which the violator must correct the violation. If the violation is not corrected within the specified time, the violator shall be guilty of a new and separate offense for each day the violation remains uncorrected.
(D) If the violator does not pay the civil penalty within 15 days after issuance of the written notice of violation, a delinquency charge of $10 shall be added to the amount specified in the notice of violation and notice of the delinquency charge shall be mailed to the violator. The delinquency notice shall also inform the violator that a civil summons will be issued against him/her if the specified penalty and the delinquency charge are not paid within five days after the date of the delinquency notice.
(E) If the penalty and delinquency charge are not paid within the time allowed, the Fire Marshal may have a civil summons issued against the violator for the violation of the NFPA Code or of this chapter. Upon finding a violation, the violator shall be subject to the penalty specified in the notice of violation, the delinquency charge and costs of court, including attorney fees expended by the town in collection of the penalty, in addition to the civil penalty the court imposes.
(F) Nothing in this section shall preclude the issuance of an arrest warrant where appropriate.
(OC, § 3-2-26) Penalty, see § 91.99