§ 8019 - Environmental ticketing - Vermont Statutes

§ 8019. Environmental ticketing

(a) The secretary and the board each shall have the authority to adopt rules for the issuance of civil complaints for violations of their respective enabling statutes or rules adopted under those statutes that are enforceable in the judicial bureau pursuant to the provisions of chapter 29 of Title 4. Any proposed rule under this section shall include both the full and waiver penalty amounts for each violation. The maximum civil penalty for any violation brought under this section shall not exceed $3,000.00 exclusive of court fees.

(b) A civil complaint issued under this section shall preclude the issuing entity from seeking an additional monetary penalty for the violation specified in the complaint when any one of the following occurs: the waiver penalty is paid, judgment is entered after trial or appeal, or a default judgment is entered. Notwithstanding this preclusion, the agency and the board may issue additional complaints or initiate an action under chapter 201 of this title, including a monetary penalty when a violation is continuing or is repeated, and may also bring an enforcement action to obtain injunctive relief or remediation and, in such additional action, may recover the costs of bringing the additional action and the amount of any economic benefit the respondent obtained as a result of the underlying violation in accordance with subdivisions 8010(b)(7) and (c)(1) of this title.

(c) The secretary or board chair and his or her duly authorized representative shall have the authority to amend or dismiss a complaint by so marking the complaint and returning it to the judicial bureau or by notifying the hearing officer at the hearing.

(d) Subsequent to the issuance of a civil complaint under this section and the conclusion of any hearing and appeal regarding that complaint, the following shall be considered part of the respondent's record of compliance calculating a penalty under section 8010 of this title:

(1) The respondent's payment of the full or waiver penalty stated in the complaint.

(2) The respondent's commission of a violation after the hearing before the judicial bureau on the complaint.

(3) The respondent's failure to appear or answer the complaint resulting in the entry of a default judgment.

(4) A finding, after appeal, that the respondent committed a violation. (Added 2009, No. 54, § 57, eff. June 1, 2009.)