Commission to reference state code for penalties after debate on severity and fairness

Oct 8, 2026

Rather than setting local dollar amounts in the ordinance, staff proposed referencing Code of Virginia penalty provisions; commissioners debated fairness for low‑income residents and emphasized the court process as the venue for fine determinations.

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Staff recommended replacing outdated dollar amounts from the 1988 ordinance with a reference to the Code of Virginia penalty provisions to avoid having to update local fines every time the state changes penalty ranges. Commissioners noted that state limits can be significantly higher than the county's current amounts but accepted the rationale that a court, not administrative staff, ultimately determines fines and remedies.

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