(a) The amount of any unpaid fee, the payment of which is required under this chapter, shall constitute a debt due to the City. The City Attorney may institute a civil suit in the name of the City to recover any such unpaid fee. No civil judgment shall bar or prevent a criminal prosecution for each and every violation of this chapter.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person who is the owner or operator of any business required to pay a fee pursuant to this chapter to continue operation of such business after such fee has become past due and remains unpaid. Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be fined in a sum no greater than $500.00. Each day of such violation shall constitute a separate offense.

(c) Notwithstanding the above, no civil action shall be commenced for collection of delinquent service fees when such amount of unpaid fees is $50.00 or less or when in the discretion of the City Attorney the amount of the delinquency or other factors indicate such action is not prudent. (Ord. 17505 § 2, 5-9-00. Code 1981 § 13-125. Code 1995 § 42-40.)