§ 6-5. Penalties.

(a)

A person who has been convicted of a municipal offense described in this chapter has committed a civil infraction punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed five hundred five dollars ($505.00).

(b)

The police department and animal control officer and all officers under its supervision may issue a citation for a civil penalty pursuant to the powers and authority contained in F.S. § 828.27, for the violation of any provision of this chapter. A five-dollar ($5.00) surcharge shall be assessed and collected upon each civil penalty imposed for violation of an ordinance relating to animal control or cruelty as authorized by F.S. § 828.27. The proceeds from such surcharge shall be used only to assist in paying for the costs of training for animal control officers in accordance with the requirements of F.S. § 828.27 and as said statute may be later revised. Said civil penalty shall be paid to the city. For violations of this chapter, the civil penalty shall be assessed and paid in the following amounts:

 First offense ..... $ 50.00

 Second offense ..... 75.00

  Third and any subsequent offense ..... 100.00

Any subsequent offense after the third offense shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00), unless otherwise listed under the specific ordinance of the violation.

(c)

A defendant may pay a civil penalty as specified above in lieu of appearing in county court. A defendant may exercise this option by paying the specified fine at the police department within ten (10) days of their violation.

(d)

The civil penalty shall be paid within ten (10) days of the date of issuance of the citation and, if not paid by such time, the city shall proceed to enforce such violation as otherwise provided by law.

(Ord. No. 1998-01, § 1, 4-6-98; Ord. No. 2005-09, § 3, 5-2-05; Ord. No. 2011-22, § 2, 11-7-11; Ord. No. 2017-01 , 2-6-17)