Md. Code Regs. 15.01.11.09

Current through Register Vol. 52, No. 1, January 10, 2025

Section 15.01.11.09 - Civil Penalty

A. The Department may impose a civil penalty on a shelter that violates the requirements of this chapter or Agriculture Article, § 2-1704, Annotated Code of Maryland, which requires shelters to adopt a written protocol for reclaiming animals, up to $500 for each violation.

B. Before imposing any civil penalty under this chapter, the Department shall consider the following:

(1) The nature and gravity of each violation;

(2) The willfulness of the violation and the extent to which the existence of the violation was known to the shelter but uncorrected by the shelter; and

(3) A history of prior violations, if any.

C. The Department shall issue a written notice of violation to the shelter owner upon finding that a violation has occurred or is ongoing. The written notice of violation shall include:

(1) A statement of the regulation violated by the shelter;

(2) A description of the evidence of a violation;

(3) A statement informing the shelter of the right to an informal meeting with the Department;

(4) The amount of the proposed civil penalty;

(5) A statement of the remedial action necessary to bring the shelter into compliance; and

(6) A reasonable amount of time, as determined by the Department, to correct a violation.

D. A shelter may petition the Department for a contested case hearing on a violation and penalty within 30 calendar days of the issuance of the notice of violation by the Department.

E. Unless a shelter requests a contested case hearing, the shelter shall promptly pay the penalty. Payment of a penalty is not a substitute for compliance. If the shelter continues to violate this chapter, the Department may impose additional civil penalties.

Md. Code Regs. 15.01.11.09

Regulation .09 adopted effective 45:8 Md. R. 419, eff. 4/23/2018