CHAPTER 153
FORMERLY
SENATE BILL NO. 34
AS AMENDED BY
SENATE AMENDMENT NOS. 1 & 2
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND THE SENTENCES FOR MISDEMEANORS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE :
Section 1. Amend § 4206(c), Title 11 of the Delaware Code, by adding to the end thereof the following:
"Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any municipality with a population greater than 50,000 people, any offense under the building, housing, health or sanitation code which is classified therein as a misdemeanor, the sentence for any person convicted of such a misdemeanor offense shall include the following fines and may include restitution or such other conditions as the court deems appropriate:
(1) For the first conviction: no less than $250, nor more than $1,000;
(2) For the second conviction for the same offense; no less than $500, nor more than $2,500; and
(3) For all subsequent convictions for the same offense: no less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000.
In any municipality with a population greater than 50,000 people, a conviction for a misdemeanor offense, which is defined as a "continuing" or "ongoing" violation, shall be considered a single conviction for the purposes of paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subsection. For all convictions subsequent to the second, the minimum fines required herein shall not be suspended, but such amounts imposed over the minimum may be suspended or subject to such other conditions as the court deems appropriate. The provisions of this subsection relating to municipalities with a population greater than 50,000 people shall not apply to offenses or convictions involving single family residences that are occupied by an owner of the property."
Section 2. Amend § 5917(a), Title 11 of the Delaware Code, by adding to the end thereof the following:
"Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any municipality with a population greater than 50,000 people, any offense under the building, housing, health or sanitation code which is classified therein as a misdemeanor, the sentence for any person convicted of such a misdemeanor offense shall include the following fines and may include restitution or such other conditions as the court deems appropriate:
(1) For the first conviction: no less than $250, nor more than $1,000;
(2) For the second conviction for the same offense: no less than $500, nor more than $2,500; and
(3) For all subsequent convictions for the same offense: no less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000.
In any municipality with a population greater than 50,000 people, a conviction for a misdemeanor offense, which is defined as a "continuing" or "ongoing" violation, shall be considered a single conviction for the purposes of paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subsection. For all convictions subsequent to the second, the minimum fines required herein shall not be suspended, but such amounts imposed over the minimum may be suspended or subject to such other conditions as the court deems appropriate. The provisions of this subsection relating to municipalities with a population greater than 50,000 people shall not apply to offenses or convictions involving single family residences that are occupied by an owner of the property."