Fines for minor offenses are on their way back.
The Haines Borough Assembly recently introduced an ordinance that will empower police and some borough employees to write tickets for offenses ranging from illegal dumping to letting your dog run at large.
Due to an April 2013 change in the court system, police and other borough employees like the harbormaster were unable to write tickets for many minor offenses. The change required municipalities to create an official fine schedule with precise amounts for violations.
The ordinance contains a list of violations with accompanying fine amounts, including failure to clean up after an animal ($50), use of a motorized vehicle in the Chilkat River beaches recreational zone ($100), consumption of alcoholic beverages in public ($100) and use of fireworks in the townsite ($100).
The 35-page ordinance contains about 250 minor offenses and accompanying fines.
The ordinance has been a long time coming. The issue of being unable to write tickets for minor offenses came to the public’s attention in July 2014 when 11 people were caught on a surveillance camera dumping household trash in dumpsters at the Small Boat Harbor.
In explaining why police weren’t ticketing dumpers caught on camera, former police chief Bill Musser referenced problems in code that made enforcement difficult.
The issue also came up at a May Port and Harbor Advisory Committee meeting, when discussion drifted toward boat owners tying up illegally at the Letnikof dock. Committee member Don Turner Jr. asked why the people weren’t being ticketed.
“There is an unresolved issue as far as issuing tickets to folks that are not following moorage regulations,” harbormaster Shawn Bell responded.
In an interview after the meeting, Bell said the issue affects his ability to enforce rules “on a fairly minor scale.”
“The folks that use our facility are great and easy to get along with. For the vast majority of the time, all that is required is a friendly reminder and an explanation of the rules,” Bell said.
The ordinance also would empower the Haines Animal Rescue Kennel to ticket.
According to manager David Sosa, staff has been working extensively with the borough attorney to develop the ordinance. “Staff has worked with the borough attorney to vet the list and the attorney provided input on new state guidelines for fines that help us come in line with state law and what is normal in other communities,” he said.
Tickets are paid through the courts, not the borough. Appeals also go through the courts.
The assembly forwarded the ordinance to the Government Affairs and Services Committee and the Public Safety Commission for review.
The ordinance’s first public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14.