The City Council has determined that it is in the public interest
to address the problems surrounding real properties whose owners,
occupants, or visitors disturb the peace and tranquility of the community,
and the ability of residents of reasonable sensibilities to peacefully
enjoy their own premises in a manner that is free from loud, offensive,
riotous, or otherwise disruptive behavior or nuisance. The City Council
has determined that, in its judgment, failure to address this problem
through reasonable regulation and enforcement will be detrimental
to the public health, safety, and welfare. Therefore, in the exercise
of its Home Rule Authority under the laws of Maine, the City Council
hereby enacts this chapter as a determination of local needs and preferences,
and out of concern for the health, safety, and welfare of the City
of Sanford.
Whenever a building has been visited by the police two or more times in a thirty-day period in response to situations as described in §
114-2, the Police Department or any other agent designated by the City Manager shall notify the owner of the said visits, at the address listed on the City's tax rolls. The City is under no obligation to provide a notice of hot spot designation prior to notice of disorderly house designation.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter or
failing or neglecting or refusing to obey any order or notice of the
Police Department issued hereunder shall be subject to penalties as
provided by state and local laws. In addition, violation of the provisions
of this chapter is a civil penalty pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A. § 4452,
enforced by the Police Department or Code Enforcement Officer. In
any such proceeding, the City may order that the activity in violation
of the code abate, pay a penalty between $100 and $2,500 per violation,
per day, and pay the court costs, attorneys and expert witness fees
incurred by the City.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, article, chapter
or part of this chapter now or through supplementation shall be adjudged
by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment
shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof but shall
be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section,
article, chapter or part thereof directly involved in the controversy
in which such judgment shall have been rendered.