[1]
Note: Prior legislation: Ordinance 16094. For the statutory provisions regarding municipal courts, see Chapter 7.30 RCW et seq.
The Municipal Court of the City of Tacoma, in addition to powers retained under Chapters 3.30 through 3.74 RCW as now or hereafter amended, shall have jurisdiction over all offenses defined by any ordinance of the City, and all other actions brought to enforce or recover any license, penalty, or forfeiture declared or given by any such ordinance, and full power to forfeit bail bonds and issue execution thereon, and full power to forfeit cash bail, and full power and authority to hear and determine all causes, civil or criminal, arising under such ordinance, and pronounce judgment in accordance therewith, and full power to issue all warrants and processes necessary to effectuate the ordinances of the City. The Municipal Court shall have jurisdiction to impose a fine or imprisonment, or both such fine and imprisonment, in all cases where such penalty shall be prescribed by ordinance; provided that the Municipal Court shall in no event impose a greater punishment than a fine of $5,000.00 or imprisonment for one year, or both such fine and imprisonment, unless otherwise expressly provided by statute; and it may suspend and revoke vehicle operators' licenses in the cases provided by law; provided, however, that jurisdiction to determine or review civil penalties under the Code of Ethics in Chapter 1.46, the sewage disposal and drainage regulation ordinance in Chapter 12.08, and the solid waste ordinance in Chapter 12.09 of the Official Code of the City of Tacoma shall reside first in the Hearing Examiner until an appeal in the form of a trial de novo is filed with the Municipal Court.
(Ord. 19223 § 1, 1970-11-04; Ord. 22600 § 60, 1981-12-29; Ord. 25481 § 2, 1994-05-03; Ord. 25546 § 1, 1994-08-02; Ord. 25584 § 1, 1994-10-11; Ord. 25619 § 1, 1994-11-01)
The court shall have continuing jurisdiction and authority to suspend the execution of all or any part of its sentence upon stated terms, including installment payment of fines, for a period not to exceed two years after imposition of sentence, unless a different time period is expressly provided by state law.
(Ord. 19223 § 1, 1970-11-04; Ord. 25545 § 1, 1994-08-02; Ord. 28018 Ex. A, 2011-09-27)
After a conviction, the court may defer sentencing the defendant and place him/her on probation and prescribe the conditions thereof, but in no case shall it extend for more than two years from the date of conviction. During the time of the deferral, the court may, for good cause shown, permit a defendant to withdraw his plea of guilty, permit him to enter a plea of not guilty, and dismiss the charges against him.
(Ord. 19223 § 1, 1970-11-04; Ord. 24020 § 7, 1988-01-26)
Deferral of sentence and suspension of execution of sentence may be revoked if the defendant violates or fails to carry out any of the conditions of the deferral or suspension. Upon the revocation of the deferral or suspension, the court may impose the sentence previously suspended or any unexecuted portion thereof. In no case shall the court impose a sentence greater than the original sentence, with credit given for time served and money paid on fine and costs.
(Ord. 19223 § 1, 1970-11-04)