Politics & Government
Special Magistrate Plan Gets Final Approval
The city will use a special magistrate program to handle red light camera, code enforcement, nuisance abatement and animal control citations.
New Port Richey City Council members voted to give final approval Tuesday, June 18, to a passel of ordinance changes that allow them to start a special magistrate program to handle red light camera, code enforcement, nuisance abatement and animal control citations.
Officials have touted the special magistrate program as a way to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
Florida cities with red light cameras are thinking of adopting special magistrate systems due to legislation.
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A special magistrate is a licensed attorney who can hear citation cases and liens. This special magistrate can hear cases that the court system hasn’t been able to hear yet.
In addition to being used for red light cameras, the special magistrate will be involved with hearing code enforcement, nuisance abatement and animal control citation, cases and also could be involved with the city's pending vehicle impoundment program.
Find out what's happening in New Port Richeywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
This was the second of two votes needed to aprove the ordinance. Te first was taken June 4.
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