City Gives Auto Park $5,000 Penalty
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Warsaw Hearing Officer Lawrence Clifford issued the penalty for the car dealership at 2255 N. Detroit St. during a hearing Monday at city hall.
The violations include the business displaying balloons on vehicles and having strobe lights attached to light poles that violate city code as being attention-getting devices that are distracting to drivers.
There was a $2,500 civil penalty issued per violation for the two violations, effective immediately.
City code states penalties for violating the city’s sign ordinance are that those who violate the provisions of the ordinance or fail to comply with the requirements for every day of the violation or noncompliance be fined no less than $25 and not more than $2,500.
A hearing was set for April 16 at city hall at 1:30 p.m. to revisit the issue.
Clifford will issue a finding of fact, and inform the dealership of the penalty that has been issued.
Representatives of the business did not attend Monday’s hearing.
Building and planning department officials on March 15 hand-delivered a notice of the hearing to business owners, according to Todd Slabaugh, Warsaw building commissioner.
The penalty was issued as a result of the auto dealership’s failure to comply with the city’s sign ordinance, Slabaugh said.
A hearing was previously set for Dec. 5 for sign violations, but compliance was met in November.
Slabaugh said in January, February, and March the dealership has continued to violate city code.
Violations have been that the business has displaying balloons on the weekends, and strobe lights attached to light poles at the business.
The business also previously had vehicles parked in its green space that has ceased.
Since then Slabaugh said the building and planning department has witnessed on at least three occasions on the weekends that balloons have been displayed at the business and that outdoor revolving lights have been at the business.
The Building and Planning Department also received a complaint from a citizen that the business had an anti-theft feature on the vehicles that caused lights to flash that was distracting to drivers on Ind. 15.
Letters were given to The Auto Park on Nov. 9 and Feb. 14 by the Building and Planning Department concerning the violations of the city sign ordinance.
The letter dated Nov. 9 stated that the Building and Planning Department continues to receive complaints against the business’s willful failure to comply with taking down balloons and streamers at the business.
The letter also stated the business would receive a notice to appear in front of the city’s hearing officer at which time penalties and fines up to $2,500 might be imposed.
The letter dated Feb. 14 stated on or about Feb. 2 the business had a sales event and again displayed balloons on vehicles at the business.
A citizen also made a complaint that the business had an anti-theft feature on vehicles that caused the lights to flash that distracted drivers on Ind. 15.[[In-content Ad]]
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Warsaw Hearing Officer Lawrence Clifford issued the penalty for the car dealership at 2255 N. Detroit St. during a hearing Monday at city hall.
The violations include the business displaying balloons on vehicles and having strobe lights attached to light poles that violate city code as being attention-getting devices that are distracting to drivers.
There was a $2,500 civil penalty issued per violation for the two violations, effective immediately.
City code states penalties for violating the city’s sign ordinance are that those who violate the provisions of the ordinance or fail to comply with the requirements for every day of the violation or noncompliance be fined no less than $25 and not more than $2,500.
A hearing was set for April 16 at city hall at 1:30 p.m. to revisit the issue.
Clifford will issue a finding of fact, and inform the dealership of the penalty that has been issued.
Representatives of the business did not attend Monday’s hearing.
Building and planning department officials on March 15 hand-delivered a notice of the hearing to business owners, according to Todd Slabaugh, Warsaw building commissioner.
The penalty was issued as a result of the auto dealership’s failure to comply with the city’s sign ordinance, Slabaugh said.
A hearing was previously set for Dec. 5 for sign violations, but compliance was met in November.
Slabaugh said in January, February, and March the dealership has continued to violate city code.
Violations have been that the business has displaying balloons on the weekends, and strobe lights attached to light poles at the business.
The business also previously had vehicles parked in its green space that has ceased.
Since then Slabaugh said the building and planning department has witnessed on at least three occasions on the weekends that balloons have been displayed at the business and that outdoor revolving lights have been at the business.
The Building and Planning Department also received a complaint from a citizen that the business had an anti-theft feature on the vehicles that caused lights to flash that was distracting to drivers on Ind. 15.
Letters were given to The Auto Park on Nov. 9 and Feb. 14 by the Building and Planning Department concerning the violations of the city sign ordinance.
The letter dated Nov. 9 stated that the Building and Planning Department continues to receive complaints against the business’s willful failure to comply with taking down balloons and streamers at the business.
The letter also stated the business would receive a notice to appear in front of the city’s hearing officer at which time penalties and fines up to $2,500 might be imposed.
The letter dated Feb. 14 stated on or about Feb. 2 the business had a sales event and again displayed balloons on vehicles at the business.
A citizen also made a complaint that the business had an anti-theft feature on vehicles that caused the lights to flash that distracted drivers on Ind. 15.[[In-content Ad]]
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