Sec. 1-6. - General penalty for violations of code.

(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 an 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 punished by a fine of not less than $1.00 and not more than $500.00 except:

(1)

A fine or penalty for the violation of a rule, ordinance, or police regulation that governs fire safety, zoning, or public health and sanitation, other than the dumping of refuse, may not exceed $2,000.00; and

(2)

A fine or penalty for the violation of a rule, ordinance, or police regulation that governs the dumping of refuse may not exceed $4,000.00.

(b)

However, no penalty shall be greater or less than the penalty provided for the same or similar offense under the laws of the state. Each day any violation of this Code or of any ordinance shall constitute a separate offense.

(c)

The city may bring a civil action, as necessary, to enjoin any threatened violation of this Code for the protection of public health and safety.

(d)

Unless otherwise specifically set forth in this Code, or in state law as adopted, allegations and evidence of culpable mental state are not required for proof of an offense for which the maximum fine is $500.00 or less.

(Code 1979, ch. 1, § 5; Ord. No. 2018-13, § 1, 8-14-18; Ord. No. 2021-41, §§ 1, 2, 10-26-21; Ord. No. 2022-09, § 1, 2-22-22; Ord. No. 2024-08, § 2, 3-12-24)

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.