(A) Any person, whether as principal, agent, employee or otherwise, interfering, obstructing or preventing, or causing the interference, of the enforcement or performance of any of the provisions of this chapter or the provisions of any code adopted by this chapter, by the Building Official or other authorized persons, and any person violating any of the provision of this chapter, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment not exceeding six months or by fine not exceeding $1,000, or by both fine and imprisonment. Notwithstanding the classification of a violation of this chapter as a misdemeanor, at the time an action is commenced to enforce the provisions of this chapter, the trial court, upon recommendation of the City Attorney, may reduce the charged offense from misdemeanor to an infraction.
(B) Any person convicted of an infraction under this chapter shall be punished by:
(1) A fine not exceeding $100 for a first violation;
(2) A fine not exceeding $200 for the second violation of this chapter within one year; and
(3) A fine not exceeding $500 for each additional violation of this chapter within one year.
(C) Any person found guilty of violating this chapter shall comply with provisions which he or she has been convicted of violating and shall abate and correct the illegal conditions which he or she has brought about by the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, improvement or conversion of which he or she has been convicted. The conviction and punishment of any violation shall not relieve such person of liability to be compelled in appropriate civil or criminal proceedings to correct prohibited conditions or remove prohibited structures.
(D) Each day that a violation continues shall be regarded as a new and separate offense.
(1995 Code, § 4.70.050) (Ord. 02-1910, passed 11-19-2002)