Targeting chronic and serious code violators, the Baltimore County Council is considering a bill that would allow enforcement officers to issue immediate fines and crack down on violators who ignore their citations.
Existing enforcement guidelines were established 12 years ago and require officers to issue a correction notice to first-time violators, similar to a police officer issuing a warning to a speeding motorist.
“But the police officer can use his discretion ? we can?t,” said Timothy Kotroco, director of the county?s Department of Permits and Development Management, which oversees code enforcement.
But a bill introduced to the County Council this month could change that, allowing code inspectors the option of issuing a citation to first-time offenders. Council Chairman John Olszewski, D-District 7, said he expects the bill could increase the number of fines the county?s 26 officers issue each year.
“Now, unless someone is really blatant about not fixing the problem, the officers use citations only for leverage,” Olszewski said. “In cases where people abuse the system, the can collect the fine.”
And system abuse is widespread, officials said.
Under existing law, the county must issue citations either in person or through certified mail. With 11,000 cases a year, he estimated his mail expenses near $50,000 annually and said many violators refuse to sign for citations at the post office, aware of their letter?s contents.
The bill, however, allows officers to send citations through regular mail or post them on front doors, saving inspectors from tracking down property owners at night and on the weekend.
The council will likely discuss the proposal at the county?s April 25 meeting.
