Code of the District of Columbia

§ 48–1212. Answer to a notice of violation.

(a) A person shall answer a notice of violation within 14 calendar days of the date the notice of violation was issued.

(b)(1) To answer a notice of violation, a person issued a notice may:

(A) Admit the violation;

(B) Admit the violation, but with an explanation; or

(C) Deny the violation.

(2) No response other than those listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be regarded as an answer.

(c) A person admitting a violation shall, at the time the person submits an answer, pay the applicable civil fine in person or by mail.

(d) A person denying the violation shall receive from the Office of Administrative Hearings within 30 days of the office’s receipt of the answer a notice with information about a hearing date.

(e) If a person to whom a notice of violation has been issued fails to respond to the notice within 14 calendar days of the date the notice was issued, the person shall be found liable for the civil violation and in default and shall be assessed both the civil fine for the violation and an additional penalty equal to the amount of that civil fine.