§ 70-33. Enforcement; violations; penalties.

The police department of the city, acting through certified law enforcement officers, or parking enforcement specialists, as designated pursuant to F.S. § 316.640(3)(c)1 and 2, shall issue municipal parking tickets, on ticket forms authorized by the city manager, to the operator, if the motor vehicle is attended, and, if the motor vehicle is unattended, shall attach such ticket, issued to the owner, to the vehicle in a conspicuous place. The ticket shall specifically describe the illegally parked motor vehicle, indicate its location, specify the nature of the violation, indicate the amount of the fine, and give notice to the violator that the violator must pay the fine within ten days. If the fine is not paid within the ten-day period, the violator shall be assessed an additional $15.00 delinquency fee. Failure to pay the fine amount and delinquency fee shall result in prosecution by the city. For purposes of prosecution, the county court is hereby designated as the tribunal to hear and dispose of violations under this section. The appearance before the county court of persons who fail to comply with the provisions of this section will be compelled by the issuance of a summons by the clerk or any deputy clerk of the court. Failure to appear in response to a summons shall be deemed as a waiver of the right to contest the citation and, in such case, judgment may be entered against the violator for an amount up to the maximum civil penalty and may also result in suspension of the violator's driver's license by the department of highway safety and motor vehicles. The schedule of fines and delinquency fees to be assessed under this section shall be $100.00 for handicapped parking violations and $30.00 for all other parking violations or if the violator provides to the city clerk proof of a permit of license plate authorizing use of such parking space which was valid at the time the violation occurred and a signed affidavit that the vehicle in violation was transporting the owner of the permit or license plate at the time the violation occurred and, upon payment of a $15.00 administrative fee, the clerk shall dismiss the parking ticket.

(Code 1981, § 19-27; Ord. No. 2000-54, § 1, 11-14-00; Ord. No. 2012-21, § 1, 10-2-12)