Policy Text
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GENERAL ORDER
TITLE ACCREDITATION
Civil Citations for Enforcement of City CALEA Chapters 1.2.6
Ordinances
PRIOR REVISIONS:
07/06/16, 04/30/20,
PROPONENT UNIT
09/17/24
Operations Bureau
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment A -City of
Gainesville Ordinances
enforceable with a Civil
Citation.
NUMBER ISSUE DATE REVISION DATE TOTAL PAGES
40.21 07/01/1998 01/23/2025 11
I. PURPOSE: This procedure provides guidelines for issuing civil citations for violations of city
ordinances.
II. POLICY: The purpose of issuing civil citations is to expedite compliance with city codes in
situations where the offense is considered to be correctable prior to irreparable property
damage, or is considered a nuisance, recurring, or is a serious threat to the public health, safety
or welfare. The civil citation process is not designed to supplant existing remedial processes,
but rather, it should be used to supplement long-range problem solutions. [CALEA 1.2.6]
III. DEFINITION:
Warning Notice: An “Alachua County Uniform Warning Notice to Correct Violation” which
(except for exceptions listed in section IV, C, 3) must be issued to a violator prior to the
issuance of an “Alachua County Uniform Code Citation” (civil citation).
A warning notice has a maximum enforcement period of 30 days after it is issued and each civil
citation usually must be preceded by a valid warning notice.
Exception: Warnings for noise violations are good for one year from date of issuance.
Civil Citation: An “Alachua County Uniform Code Citation” may be used for citing violations of
city ordinances.
The “Alachua County Uniform Code Citation” may not be used for citing violations of state
statutes and may only be used for city ordinances listed in section VI
Reasonable Time Period: A judgmental decision regarding a time period that is reasonable to
enable an offender to discontinue or correct the violation being committed. Depending on the
circumstances, such reasonable time period may be immediately but, shall not exceed 30 days.
IV. PROCEDURE:
A. City Departments Authorized to Issue Civil Citations:
Scope: Sworn Members, PSTs, Records and Legal
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Department Department Code
Gainesville Police 001
Gainesville Fire Rescue 002
Building, Codes and Standards 003
Code Enforcement 004
Solid Waste 005
B. Issuing Warning Notices/Civil Citations: A warning notice/civil citation should only be
issued to a person when, based upon personal investigation, the officer has probable
cause to believe that the person has committed a civil infraction in violation of a city
ordinance. [CALEA 1.2.6]
1. The officer/agent writing the warning notice does not have to be the officer/agent
writing the civil citation (e.g., Code Enforcement can write the warning notice and
the Police Department can write the civil citation).
2. Prior to issuing a warning notice or civil citation, the officer must call the teletype
operator to determine if the subject has been previously warned or cited for the
violation. This information is needed to determine if the subject will be issued a
warning notice, a civil citation and if the violation is a first, second, third, etc.
violation.
3. The civil citation process can be used for citing juveniles who violate applicable
city ordinances.
C. Issuing Warning Notices:
1. Initial Warning: Prior to issuing a civil citation (and unless the violation comes
under one of the listed exceptions) a warning notice must be issued to the
person, advising that they have committed a violation of a city ordinance. [CALEA
1.2.6]
The officer shall establish a reasonable time period within which the person must
correct or discontinue the violation.
2. Completing the Form:
i. Date and Time Issued: Enter the date and time issued in the appropriate
boxes.
ii. Warning Notice Number: Each warning notice is pre-numbered. This
number is used for tracking purposes and must be given to the radio
dispatcher for entry into the Civil Citation Database.
iii. Complete the Name Block: Include the violator’s full name, DOB, driver’s
license #, social security #, etc. in these blocks.
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iv. Business Name and Address Blocks: The business name only applies if a
business is involved.
The address information is for the person receiving the warning notice,
not a business address.
v. Location and Nature of Violation: Enter the location of the violation and
describe the violation being committed. Enter the City Code being
violated.
vi. Corrective Action Necessary: Enter the corrective action which must be
taken by the violator.
vii. Failure to correct this Violation: Enter the time given to correct the
violation, from zero amount of time to a maximum of 30 days.
Noise ordinance violations are usually given a 15-minute warning period.
viii. Issuing Agency and Officer Information: Complete the agency and
officer’s information. The issuing officer’s name and ID# must be clearly
printed on the line next to “Official Issuing Notice.”
ix. Person Receiving Notice: The violator must sign the warning notice.
3. Warning Notice Exceptions: There are four exceptions to the warning notice
requirement. Citations may be issued without warning in the following instances:
i. The violation is a repeat violation of the same offense.
ii. The officer has reason to believe that the violation presents a serious
threat to the public health, safety or welfare.
iii. The violation, if continued, would be irreversible or irreparable.
iv. The offense is for a violation of Chapter 28 (vehicles for hire) or a violation
of Chapter 14.5, Article 3 (towing or immobilizing vehicles on private
property).
D. Completing the Civil Citation: Each form is pre-numbered and must be accounted for.
[CALEA 1.2.6]
1. First Section:
i. Obtain a case report number and write it above the citation number.
ii. If applicable, obtain the Warning Notice Number of the previously issued
warning from the teletype operator, and write it above the citation number.
iii. In City of block, enter Gainesville and check the City Ordinance block.
iv. In Issuing Agency block, enter Gainesville Police.
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v. In Department Code block, enter the Police Department code number 001.
2. Second Section:
i. Enter Date and Time of Violation (do not use military time).
ii. Enter the full Name of the Violator, valid mailing address, telephone
number and physical description of the violator. Citations should not be
issued to a person who does not have a valid mailing address to provide
for the citation. The officer should consider other resolutions if the subject
cannot provide a valid mailing address.
iii. Under Identification, enter the offender’s driver’s license data, social
security information or any identification which can be validated by the
enforcement officer on-scene, an officer cannot accept a Community ID
Card not issued by a state or governmental agency.
iv. Complete the Vehicle Information, if applicable, and Location of the
Violation. Check the Incorporated block.
3. Third Section:
i. In Code / Section No. block, enter the appropriate municipal code by title
and reference number.
ii. In Description of Violation blocks, enter a detailed description of the
actions or activities that constitute a violation of the code, being as
comprehensive and descriptive as space will allow in describing the
actions that violate the code by using the code’s verbatim language
whenever possible.
iii. In Offense block, check whether this violation is the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or
other (meaning a higher number of citations). This information can be
obtained from the teletype operator.
iv. In Class of Violation block, enter the class of the violation, according to the
code (see item F of this procedure).
v. Next to Requires Mandatory Court Appearance, check [ ] Yes or [ ] No.
a. If yes, write the appropriate preset court date on the line next
to