Sec. 2-1005. Violations; penalty.
A. A person violates this article if the person:
1. Fails to comply with any provision of this article; files any statement or report required by this article which contains materially false information; files any statement or report that omits material information; or fails to comply with any material requirement of this article; or
2. Retains or employs another person to promote or oppose official action for compensation contingent in whole or in part on the passage or defeat of any official action; or
3. Accepts employment or renders service as a lobbyist contingent in whole or in part on the passage or defeat of any official action.
B. Penalty.
1. A first violation of this article constitutes a civil offense with a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000.00 per violation, not to exceed $2,500.00 per violation, and either a suspension from lobbying or a prohibition from registering to lobby with the City for 90 days.
2. A second violation within 84 months constitutes a civil offense with a mandatory minimum fine of $2,000.00 per violation, not to exceed $2,500.00 per violation, and either a suspension from lobbying or a prohibition from registering to lobby with the City for 180 days.
3. A third violation within 84 months constitutes a Class 1 misdemeanor. Upon conviction of a misdemeanor violation under this subsection, and in addition to the Court’s sentence, the lobbyist must either be suspended from lobbying or prohibited from registering to lobby with the City for one year.
C. Each violation of this article constitutes a separate and distinct offense to which a separate penalty or fine may apply.
D. Any civil action or criminal prosecution for a violation of this article must commence within one year after the date on which the violation is alleged to have occurred. (Ord. No. G-4620, § 2, 2004; Ord. No. G-6324, 2017)