A. Civil Infraction. A business, licensee or person who violates any provision of this chapter commits a Class 1 civil infraction as set forth in RCW 7.80.120(1)(a). An infraction issued pursuant to this section shall be issued by the town, filed in the Pierce County municipal court and processed in the same manner as other infractions. If a business, licensee, or person cited for failure to obtain a business license appears before the municipal court and provides written evidence that he or she obtained a business license prior to adjudication of the infraction, the monetary penalty shall be reduced to $100.00 and the court may assess court administrative costs of $25.00. The court administrative costs shall be in lieu of the statutory assessments referenced in RCW 7.80.120.

B. Criminal Violation. A person who knowingly violates a provision of this chapter, or commits a repeat violation of this chapter, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by up to the maximum penalty established in RCW 9A.20.021(3). For purposes of this section, “repeat violation” means either a prior committed finding by the Pierce County municipal court of an infraction issued under this chapter, or a committed finding by the hearing examiner of a violation of this chapter by the same business, licensee or person within a five-year period.

C. Injunction. In addition to or as an alternative to any other enforcement or penalty provided for in this chapter, and because a violation constitutes an actual injury to the community, the town may seek injunctive relief or other equitable relief to prevent any activity in violation of this chapter.

D. Collections. Any license fee or penalty due, unpaid and delinquent under this chapter shall constitute a debt to the town. The town may, pursuant to RCW 19.16.500, use a collection agency to collect unpaid license fees or penalties, or it may seek collection by court proceedings, which remedies shall be in addition to all other remedies. [Ord. 606 § 2 (Exh. A), 2021.]