Chapter 1.14
ENFORCEMENT OF ORDINANCES
Sections:
1.14.010 Payment of fines and penalties.
1.14.020 Compromise of claims for fines and penalties.
1.14.030 County attorney’s authority to enforce ordinance violations.
1.14.040 Enforcement of county ordinances.
1.14.010 Payment of fines and penalties.
The Office of the Treasurer of Vanderburgh County is hereby authorized to accept the payment of a fine or penalty prescribed by this Code of Ordinances unless an action has been filed in a court of law for enforcement. If an action to enforce an ordinance has been adjudicated in court, only the County Clerk’s Office may accept the payment of any judgment and costs ordered by the Court having jurisdiction of the action.
(1.14.010, Amended, 07/28/2003, Ord. dated 07/28/2003)
1.14.020 Compromise of claims for fines and penalties.
The County Attorney, after consultation with the officer issuing the citation, may compromise and settle any citation for violation of a county ordinance if the amount of the fine or penalty is not specified by ordinance. If a fine or penalty is specified by ordinance, then the amount specified in the ordinance shall be followed.
(1.14.020, Added, 07/28/2003, Ord. dated 07/28/2003)
1.14.030 County attorney’s authority to enforce ordinance violations.
The County Attorney, or his designee, shall have the authority to bring an action in the name of the county to enforce any ordinances in this Code of Ordinances. The County Attorney shall have the authority and discretion not to bring an action to enforce an ordinance violation, if in his professional opinion, there is not sufficient evidence or legal basis to prevail in court. An ordinance citation issued by an enforcement officer may be voided by the County Attorney if the County Attorney has reason to believe that there is not sufficient evidence or legal basis to enforce the citation.
(1.14.030, Added, 07/28/2003, Ord. dated 07/28/2003)
1.14.040 Enforcement of county ordinances.
A. The following persons are authorized to issue citations enforcing County Ordinances:
1. Law enforcement officers of the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office;
2. Any person designated by the Vanderburgh County Health Department to enforce ordinances under that department’s jurisdiction;
3. Any member of the Board of County Commissioners;
4. Any person designated by the Executive Director of the Area Plan Commission to enforce ordinances under the zoning or planning law;
5. The County Surveyor, or their designee, when enforcing drainage or other ordinances under his jurisdiction;
6. The County Inspector and the deputy inspectors of the Department of Weights and Measurers to enforce ordinances under that department’s jurisdiction;
7. The County Parks Manager, or their designee, to enforce ordinances under the jurisdiction of the County Parks and Park’s Facilities;
8. The Building Commissioner, or their designee, to enforce building codes or other ordinances under the jurisdiction of the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Commission; or
9. Any person designated by the Animal Care and Control Department of the City of Evansville; or
10. The Superintendent of the Highway Department, or their designee, when enforcing ordinances under that department’s jurisdiction; or
11. Any other person designated by the Board of County Commissioners.
B. It shall not be necessary for a citation to be issued before the county brings an action to enforce an ordinance.
C. In bringing an action to enforce an ordinance, the county may utilize any remedy or remedies allowed by the laws of the State of Indiana.
D. The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office is designated and hereby authorized to have citation books printed for use by the persons authorized to issue citations under Subsection 1.14.040 A. Citations shall be serially numbered in order to insure that no citation issued by one person shall bear the same number as a citation issued by another person. Each citation book shall consist of twenty-five (25) citations with each citation being in quadruplicate. The first copy of each citation shall be forwarded to the Office of the Vanderburgh County Treasurer, the second copy of each citation shall be given to the person being cited, the third copy of each citation shall be retained by the department of the person issuing the citation, and the fourth copy of each citation shall be forwarded to the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office for archival purposes. Each citation shall be in the form as appears immediately following this subsection.
(Ord. 12-23-025 § 1, amended, 12/5/2023; Chapter 1.14.040 Amended 8/14/2007; 1.14.040, Added, 07/28/2003, Ord. dated 07/28/2003)