Where is the motivation in code violations? The disarray itself or the fine amount?

[Mike Schorah]

Where is the motivation in code violations? Is it in the disarray itself or in the fine amount?

I ask this because after contacting 40 code enforcement entities, there seems to be 2 styles of enforcing code violations.

One style of enforcement is code enforcement waits, sends notices, waits, sends another notice, waits, gets a judge involved. Then after a period of time, the property owner gets fined. These lists are usually much longer and have 10-20 people in a month’s time on the list for tall grass or trash/debris.

The other style of enforcement is code enforcement gives the property owner a very limited amount of time to correct the violation, for instance less than a week. Then code enforcement has the sole authority to fine $500-$1,000 per day. As you can imagine, these lists are very short… usually only about 2-3 violators per year.

So which type of list would be more efficient to market to?

Also, some only give closed cases.