Pubdate: Wed, 06 Oct 2004 Source: Capital Times, The (WI) Copyright: 2004 The Capital Times Contact: http://www.captimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/73 Author: Judith Davidoff LANDLORDS COULD FACE STIFF PENALTIES Illegal skateboarders and dope smokers won't feel the sting of a series of proposed city fine increases, but owners of loud cars and bad landlords would pay plenty. Ald. Mike Verveer is proposing to at least double the fines on nearly 100 ordinance violations. Some fines would see even bigger jumps: Landlords who fail to give 24-hour notice before entering a tenant's apartment, for instance, would be subject to a $784 citation, up from $71. The fine for landlords who seize a tenant's personal property would go from $102 to $784. Fines that won't change are $65 for illegal skateboarding, $164 for underage consumption of liquor off a licensed premise, and $102 for the "casual" possession of marijuana. Among other fines that would increase under Verveer's proposal: . Vandalism: $288 to $412. . Retail theft: $164 to $288. . Abuse of animals: $164 to $288. . Motor vehicle noise: $71 to $164. . Child enticement: $300 to $1,280. . Failure to obtain a building permit: $102 to $288. . Littering: $71 to $164. Verveer said he is decreasing at least one fine: the penalty for setting off illegal fireworks. Because police officers reported they were reluctant to enforce the law and hit people with a $660 fine, Verveer is suggesting the penalty be knocked down to $412. The downtown alderman said the proposed hikes are aimed at promoting voluntary compliance of the city's laws, but acknowledged they would also bring much needed cash to the city. "Obviously, it will have a positive influence on city revenues," Verveer said on Tuesday. Some ordinance violations, such as retail theft and vandalism, are big revenue generators, he said. Other penalties are rarely invoked because police instead charge the individual under state criminal law for such offenses as child enticement, he added. Verveer estimated the increased fines, which he plans to introduce to the City Council on October 19, would produce about $200,000 in additional revenues. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz's $193 million budget, introduced to the City Council Tuesday night, already incorporates the as-yet unapproved forfeitures into its bottom line. The mayor's budget is also counting on some $200,000 in additional revenue from alcohol-related ordinance violations, which the City Council approved Tuesday night. Last year, after Cieslewicz introduced his 2004 budget, Verveer introduced a budget amendment that raised permit and license fees and was estimated to generate $700,000 in additional revenues. City Comptroller Dean Brasser said the estimate was on target. "Generally speaking, all general fund revenues are tracking close to budget this year," he said. City Council members used some of that additional revenue last year to add items to the mayor's budget. Verveer, for instance, funded janitor positions that had been cut. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin