Fort Lauderdale couple faces reduced fines

Fort Lauderdale officials say Gary and Jeanne Platonoff now face a proposed $600 penalty instead of the $5,000-a-day fines they feared over code violations at a rental house. (cbsnews.com) The Platonoffs were cited in February after a city inspector found grass growing through driveway cracks, stains on exterior awnings, peeling paint, debris on the swale and a pickup truck with expired tags. City records say the couple corrected all of the violations by March 4. (cbsnews.com) The fight turned on the city’s treatment of some items as repeat violations. CBS Miami reported that the awnings, peeling paint and debris had been cited nearly three years earlier. (cbsnews.com) Under Florida’s code-enforcement statute, repeat violations within five years can draw fines of up to $5,000 per day. The law also lets municipalities use a special magistrate to hear cases and assess penalties. (leg.state.fl.us) (fortlauderdale.gov) Ari Pregen, the couple’s attorney, told CBS Miami a judge had previously waived fines because the couple promptly fixed those earlier violations too. He said owners are not told the actual daily fine until they appear before a special magistrate. (cbsnews.com) The city says it is not seeking the statutory maximum here. Belal Jaber, Fort Lauderdale’s media relations manager, said the notice referenced a maximum of $5,000 per day, but the city is proposing $50 per day for 12 days, or $600 total. (cbsnews.com) That hearing was scheduled for Thursday before a special magistrate. Fort Lauderdale says its code-enforcement system is meant to handle alleged violations through that quasi-judicial process. (cbsnews.com) (fortlauderdale.gov) For the Platonoffs, the immediate risk has narrowed from a feared five-figure or larger bill to a proposed $600 fine. The legal dispute over how repeat violations are charged is headed to the magistrate. (cbsnews.com)