Royal Palm Beach magistrate orders $1,500 fine after RV, cords blocked sidewalk at 146 Valencia Street

Special Magistrate Amity Barnard on Feb. 26 found that a recreational vehicle parked in the swale at 146 Valencia Street constituted an "irreparable or reversible violation" of village code and ordered a $1,500 fine to cover penalties and administrative costs.

The finding followed testimony from Andrew Amiante, a code inspector with the Village of Royal Palm Beach, who said he observed an RV being used for living and sleeping, with an extension cord and hoses routed over the sidewalk creating a tripping hazard. "RV being used for living and sleeping, an extension cord hooked up to the RV over the sidewalk, which created a tripping hazard," Amiante testified while offering dated photographs and a notice of violation into evidence.

Village attorneys submitted three exhibits into the record: the notice of violation and notice of hearing with an affidavit of service; verification of ownership; and dated photographs of the violation. The village attorney told the magistrate the municipality was seeking a $1,500 fine, including administrative costs, rather than the higher fine authorized under state law: "We're not asking for [the $5,000 fine]. The village ... is asking for a $1,500 fine," the village attorney said.

Kenneth Harris, who identified himself as the husband of property owner Sybil Moyse, disputed that the RV was being lived in and said the cords were in place to charge a malfunctioning battery and to run a fan while repairing the unit. "The RV was not being lived in. It... was malfunctioning electrically. So I was charging the battery," Harris said, adding that a friend had been at the property but was not residing in the RV.

Amiante told the magistrate he first observed cords connected to the RV on Feb. 18, 2025. When he returned on Feb. 24 the cords were not connected, though the RV remained in the swale. By the morning of the Feb. 26 hearing the RV had been removed, Amiante said. Village public works had also filed a complaint that workers could not access the sidewalk to perform repairs because of the cords and the vehicle’s placement. The village attorney confirmed service of the notice by posted affidavit dated Feb. 19.

Barnard said the village code does not permit an RV parked in the swale with cords or hoses connected and that such a setup presented safety and code-compliance problems. "I find that there was an irreparable or reversible violation at 146 Valencia Street with the non movement of a recreational vehicle in addition to cords and lines across the sidewalk," the magistrate said, and ruled in favor of the village's requested fine.

Barnard also confirmed the notice of violation had been served by posting and said the property owner would receive a formal order in the mail.

The hearing record contains photographic exhibits and the magistrate’s order; the village will issue the written order and any instructions for payment or compliance.