Chapter 3.46
CHARGES – INSUFFICIENT FUNDS AND OTHER DISHONORED CHECKS

Sections:

3.46.010    Assessing charge for insufficient funds or dishonored checks.

3.46.020    Authority of director for delinquent accounts.

3.46.010 Assessing charge for insufficient funds or dishonored checks.

A charge as established by the taxes, rates and fees schedule adopted by ordinance shall be assessed against any person who has made payment to the city by check for any fee or charge when such check is returned by the bank against whom it has been drawn due to insufficient funds on account, closure of the account, or any other reason resulting in the nonpayment of the check. The penalty shall be paid prior to the application of any payment against the fee or charge initially assessed. (Ord. 1237 § 2 (part), 2005: Ord. 900 § 1, 1992).

3.46.020 Authority of director for delinquent accounts.

The finance director, or his/her designee, shall have the authority to refer delinquent accounts of any type owed to the city or any of its departments, including, but not limited to, fees, taxes, penalties, and interest, to an agency for collection. The finance director shall also have the authority to write off accounts that are over one year old, in an amount not to exceed $500.00 per account. This write-off option shall be utilized only after it has been determined by the finance director, or his/her designee, that there is no cost-effective means of collecting the account. Prior to assigning any account to a collection agency, the finance director, or his/her designee, shall ensure that the procedural requirements of RCW 19.16.500, or any successor statute, have been met. (Ord. 1505 § 2 (part), 2013; Ord. 1426 § 4 (part), 2011; Ord. 1408 § 1, 2010).