[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Palmer as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[An ordinance to adopt the new Code of the Town of Palmer is currently before the Town Council. Upon adoption it will be included as Article I of this chapter.]
[Adopted 7-11-2007 (Ch. 1, § 1-2, of the 2007 Code)]
To provide a fair and enforceable way to deal with violations of this Code of Ordinances, the Town of Palmer has provided for two methods of imposing a penalty.
A.
Criminal complaint. Whoever violates any of the provisions of this Code of Ordinances may be penalized by indictment or on complaint brought in the District Court. Except as may otherwise be provided by law or by the specific section of the Code of Ordinances and as the District Court may see fit to impose, the maximum penalty for any violation of these provisions shall be $300 for each offense. Each day on which a violation exists shall be deemed to be a separate offense; or
B.
Noncriminal disposition. Whoever violates any provision of this Code of Ordinances may be penalized by a noncriminal disposition as provided in MGL c. 40, § 21D and may be punished by a noncriminal fine of a specific amount for the first offense, the second offense, and for the third and subsequent offenses as noted within each ordinance. Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
(1)
The violator has 20 calendar days to pay the noncriminal penalty and to correct the cause of the violation within the time lines as specified in the ordinance that is the subject of the violation.
(2)
If the penalty remains unpaid after 20 calendar days, the fine will be doubled and the violator will be given an additional 20 days to pay the fine.
(3)
If the penalty remains unpaid after the second twenty-day grace period, the fine will again be doubled and turned over to the Town Treasurer for collection. Penalties turned over to the Town Treasurer will be treated identical to property tax delinquencies and, where applicable, a lien will be placed against real properties.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
(4)
If the issue that caused the noncriminal violation still exists after 72 hours beyond the time line found in the applicable ordinance, the violator will be assessed, in addition to any penalties, all costs the Town incurs to correct the violation.
(5)
Anyone with an outstanding noncriminal disposition will be denied any license, permit, approval, reapproval or transfer until the outstanding disposition has been paid in full.