(a) (1) In this section, the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) "Commission" means the planning and zoning commission or a similar
body of a county.
(3) "Local legislative body" means:
(i) A board of county commissioners;
(ii) A county council; or
(iii) The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore.
(4) "Zoning official" means a county employee with the duty of
enforcing the zoning ordinance.
(b) A local legislative body of a county may provide a civil penalty for a
zoning violation, which shall be enforced as provided in this section.
(c) (1) A zoning official may deliver a citation to a person believed to be
committing a civil zoning violation.
(2) (i) The zoning official shall keep a copy of the citation.
(ii) The citation shall bear a certification attesting to the truth of the
matters set forth in the citation.
(3) The citation shall contain:
(i) The name and address of the person charged;
(ii) The nature of the violation;
(iii) The location and time of the violation;
(iv) The amount of the fine;
(v) The manner, location, and time in which the fine may be paid; and
(vi) The cited person's right to elect to stand trial for the violation.
(d) (1) A fine not exceeding $500 may be imposed for each violation.
(2) The local legislative body also may:
(i) Establish a schedule of additional fines for each violation; and
(ii) Adopt procedures for the collection of the fines.
(e) (1) A person who receives a citation may elect to stand trial for the
offense by filing with the zoning official a notice of intention to
stand trial.
(2) The person electing to stand trial shall give notice at least 5 days
before the date set forth in the citation for the payment of fines.
(3) After receiving a notice of intention to stand trial, the zoning
official shall forward the notice to the District Court having venue,
with a copy of the citation.
(4) After receiving the citation and notice, the District Court shall
schedule the case for trial and notify the defendant of the trial date.
(5) All fines, penalties, or forfeitures collected by the District Court
for zoning violations shall be remitted to the county in which the
zoning violation occurred.
(f) (1) If a person who receives a citation for a violation fails to pay the
fine by the date of payment set forth on the citation and fails to file
a notice of intention to stand trial, a formal notice of the violation
shall be sent to the owner's last known address.
(2) If the citation is not satisfied within 15 days after the date the
formal notice of violation is mailed, the person shall be subject to an
additional fine not exceeding twice the amount of the original fine.
(3) If the person who receives the citation does not pay the citation by
the 36th day after the formal notice of violation is mailed, the zoning
official may request the District Court to adjudicate the violation.
(4) After the zoning official requests adjudication, the District Court
shall schedule the case for trial and summon the defendant to appear.
(g) In a proceeding before the District Court, a violation shall be
prosecuted in the same manner and to the same extent as a municipal
infraction under Article 23A, § 3(b)(7) through (15) of the Code.
(h) The governing body of a county may authorize the county attorney to
prosecute a civil zoning violation.
(i) If the District Court finds that a person has committed a civil zoning
violation, the person shall be liable for the costs of the court
proceedings.
(j) The finding by the District Court of a violation under this section is
not a criminal conviction and does not impose any of the civil
disabilities ordinarily imposed by a criminal conviction.
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