(A) Delinquent fees.
(1) All fees and registration forms must be returned to the Fire Prevention Bureau within 30 days of having been mailed. Failure to respond within this 30-day period will result in a default notice being sent by the Fire Official. If the registration and fees are not returned within 15 days of the default notice having been mailed, penalties will be imposed pursuant to the Uniform Fire Code. Failure to pay the registration fee or any penalties assessed shall result in a person being liable for a further penalty upon conviction for nonpayment or nonregistration. The penalty upon conviction is $100 for each offense.
(2) Collection of any unpaid fee or penalty shall be enforced through the Township Municipal Court or a court of competent jurisdiction.
(B) Authorization to bill and institute litigation for costs. The Fire Chief or his/her designee is hereby authorized to bill and collect the costs due from any person responsible for said costs and, where necessary, to direct the Fire Department Solicitor to institute litigation for the recovery of such costs.
(1) No relief of responsibility for ownership transfer. No property owner shall be relieved of the responsibility for costs of fire suppression arising under circumstances present during his/her ownership solely by reason of the fact that he/she has transferred ownership of the property before or after the fire giving rise to the costs.
(2) Additional actions and remedies. The remedies provided in this section shall supplement any remedies available to the Fire Department by state law or are cumulative as other township ordinances and shall not preclude the Fire Department from taking any other action to recover costs associated with fire suppression services and the mitigation and removal of dangerous and hazardous conditions.
(Ord. 312-17, passed 12-27-17)