§ 8-49. Collection and recovery of civil penalties.

(1)

(a)

The county shall provide for the appropriate guidelines and procedures for the administration, collection, record keeping, reporting and accountability of penalties assessed under this code.

(b)

A certified copy of an order imposing a fine, costs of investigation and prosecution and other penalties such as repair costs and restitution; may be recorded in the public records and thereafter shall constitute a lien against real and personal property owned by the violator. Upon petition to the circuit court, such order shall be enforceable in the same manner as a court judgment by the sheriffs of this state, including execution and levy against the personal property of the violator, but such order shall not be deemed to be a court judgment except for enforcement purposes. A fine imposed pursuant to this code and this section shall continue to accrue until the violator comes into compliance or until judgment is rendered in a suit filed pursuant to this section, whichever occurs first. A lien arising from a fine imposed pursuant to this section runs in favor of the local governing body, and the local governing body may execute a satisfaction or release of lien entered pursuant to this section. After three (3) months from the filing of any such lien which remains unpaid, a special master may authorize the local governing body attorney to foreclose on the lien or to sue to recover a money judgment for the amount of the lien plus accrued interest. No lien created pursuant to the provisions of this part may be foreclosed on real property which is a homestead under § 4, Art. X of the State Constitution. The money judgment provisions of this section shall not apply to real property or personal property which is covered under § 4(a), Art. X of the State Constitution.

(2)

Monies collected pursuant to this article shall be used to supplement future enforcement activities of the principal office.

(3)

The principal office and/or Hernando County shall be entitled to recover the costs of investigation and prosecution in addition to any penalty provided according to this code, adopted board rules and/or approved fee schedule, as part of the penalty levied pursuant to a citation.

(Ord. No. 2001-21, § 1, 12-18-01)