Grand Terrace Municipal Code Ch. 1.16 General Penalties

The City Council of the City of Grand Terrace intends to secure compliance with the provisions of this Code. To the extent that such compliance may be achieved by less drastic methods of enforcement the following alternate, separate and distinct methods may be utilized. Each method set forth herein is intended to be mutually exclusive and does not prevent concurrent or consecutive methods being used to achieve compliance against continuing violations. Each and every day any such violations exist constitutes a separate offense. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, each violation of the provisions of this Code may be enforced alternatively as follows:

A. Infraction. Any person violating any of the provisions or failing to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of this Code may be prosecuted for an infraction. Written citations for infractions may be issued by police officers or non-safety employees designated by Grand Terrace Municipal Code Section 1.06.020. Any person convicted of an infraction under the provisions of this Code shall be punishable either by fines as specified:

1. Any and all persons guilty of an infraction under the provisions of this Code shall be punished by a fine as set by resolution of the City Council.

2. Any and all persons guilty of an infraction shall pay the fine within 30 days or be declared delinquent and the fine doubled. Failure to pay within 90 days shall result in a tripling of the fine, and filing of the amount with the county as a tax lien against the property.

B. Misdemeanor. Any person committing an unlawful act or violating any of the provisions or failing to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of this Code may be prosecuted for a misdemeanor. Written citations for misdemeanors may be issued by police officers or by non-safety employees designated by Grand Terrace Municipal Code Section 1.06.020 or by applicable California Statute.

1. Any person convicted of a misdemeanor under the provisions of this Code shall be punished by a fine as set by resolution of the City Council.

2. Any and all persons guilty of a misdemeanor shall pay the fine within 30 days or be declared delinquent and the fine doubled. Failure to pay within 90 days shall result in a tripling of the fine, and filing of the amount with the County as a tax lien against the property.

C. Civil Action. The city attorney, by and at the request of the City Council, may institute an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to restrain, enjoin or abate the condition(s) found to be in violation of the provisions of this Code, as provided by law.

D. Administrative Citation. Upon a finding by the City Official vested with the authority to enforce the various provisions of this Code that a violation exists, he or she may issue an administrative citation under the provisions of Chapter 1.05.

1. Any person found guilty of a violation and receiving an administrative fine under the provisions of this Code shall be punished by a fine as set by resolution of the City Council.

2. Any and all persons found guilty of a violation and receiving an administrative fine shall pay the fine within 30 days or be declared delinquent and the fine doubled. Failure to pay within 90 days shall result in a tripling of the fine, and filing of the amount with the County as a tax lien against the property.

(Ord. No. 369, § 5, 7-22-2025; Ord. 194 § 1, 2000: Ord. 121 § 1(part), 1990)