70.77.252 - Civil penalty -- Notice -- Remission, mitigation, review.

Civil penalty — Notice — Remission, mitigation, review.

(1) The penalty provided for in RCW 70.77.250(6) shall be imposed by a notice in writing to the person against whom the civil fine is assessed and shall describe the violation with reasonable particularity. The notice shall be personally served in the manner of service of a summons in a civil action or in a manner which shows proof of receipt. Any penalty imposed by RCW 70.77.250(6) shall become due and payable twenty-eight days after receipt of notice unless application for remission or mitigation is made as provided in subsection (2) of this section or unless application for an adjudicative proceeding is filed as provided in subsection (3) of this section.

     (2) Within fourteen days after the notice is received, the person incurring the penalty may apply in writing to the chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection, for the remission or mitigation of the penalty. Upon receipt of the application, the chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection, may remit or mitigate the penalty upon whatever terms the chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection, deems proper, giving consideration to the degree of hazard associated with the violation. The chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection, may only grant a remission or mitigation that it deems to be in the best interests of carrying out the purposes of this chapter. The chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection, may ascertain the facts regarding all such applications in a manner it deems proper. When an application for remission or mitigation is made, any penalty incurred under RCW 70.77.250(6) becomes due and payable twenty-eight days after receipt of the notice setting forth the disposition of the application, unless an application for an adjudicative proceeding to contest the disposition is filed as provided in subsection (3) of this section.

     (3) Within twenty-eight days after notice is received, the person incurring the penalty may file an application for an adjudicative proceeding and may pursue subsequent review as provided in chapter 34.05 RCW and applicable rules of the chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection.

     (4) Any penalty imposed by final order following an adjudicative proceeding becomes due and payable upon service of the final order.

     (5) The attorney general may bring an action in the name of the chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection, in the superior court of Thurston county or of any county in which the violator may do business to collect any penalty imposed under this chapter.

     (6) All penalties imposed under this section shall be paid to the state treasury and credited to the fire services trust fund and used as follows: At least fifty percent is for a statewide public education campaign developed by the chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection, and the licensed fireworks industry emphasizing the safe and responsible use of legal fireworks; and the remainder is for statewide efforts to enforce this chapter.

[2002 c 370 § 20.]

Notes: Severability -- 2002 c 370: See note following RCW 70.77.126.