§ 1-12. General penalty for violations of Code; continuing violations.

(a)

Whenever in this Code or in any ordinance of the city an act is prohibited or is made or declared to be unlawful or an offense or a misdemeanor, or wherever in such Code or ordinance the doing of any act is required or the failure to do any act is declared to be unlawful, and no specific penalty is provided therefor, the violation of any such provision of this Code or any such ordinance shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000.00 for violations of all such provisions that govern fire safety, zoning, or public health and sanitation, including dumping of refuse, and not exceeding $500.00 for all other violations; provided, however, that no penalty shall be greater or less than the penalty provided for the same or a similar offense under the laws of the state. Each day or fractional part thereof any violation of this Code or of any ordinance shall continue shall constitute a separate offense.

(b)

Unless otherwise specifically stated within the provisions of this Code, any violation of this Code or of any ordinance set forth herein that is punishable by a fine that does not exceed $500.00 does not require a culpable mental state, and a culpable mental state is hereby not required to prove any such offense.

(c)

Unless otherwise specifically stated within the provisions of this Code, any violation of this Code or of any ordinance set forth herein that is punishable by a fine that exceeds $500.00 shall require a culpable mental state of intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence.

(Code 1992, § 1-5; Ord. No. 841, § 2, 11-9-2005; Ord. No. 1021, § 1, 5-7-2014)

State law reference

Amount of fine or penalty imposed by the city, V.T.C.A., Local Government Code § 54.001; abatement of health nuisances, V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code § 341.011 et seq.; jurisdiction of municipal court, V.T.C.A., Government Code § 29.003; execution of judgment, Vernon's Ann. C.C.P. art. 43.01 et seq.