Howard County (Map, News) - Giving Howard’s hearing examiner the ability to impose fines for violations such as unlicensed vehicles or contractors working odd hours will make help solve these problems quicker, county officials said.

“We believe this will expedite resolution,” said Steve Lafferty, deputy director of the Department of Planning and Zoning.

The County Council is considering two measures that would allow the county’s hearing examiner to enforce subdivision and land development as well as zoning regulations.

State lawmakers last year passed legislation authorizing the county to seek these changes.

County zoning inspectors can cite violations, but they have to go through the courts to impose the fines.

Under this legislation, the hearing examiner would hear the violations, levy fines, direct abatement and issue stop-work orders, according to county officials.

“These actions would streamline the process for resolving violations and expedite compliance,” Lafferty wrote in a memo to county officials explaining the legislation.

Fines are $250, and common violations include unlicensed vehicles, home-based businesses and new buildings’ setbacks that don’t meet the minimum, said Kimberley Flowers, a planning and zoning deputy director.

Howard’s bill is modeled after Baltimore County’s process, Flowers said, where code enforcers can issue fines and cite first-time violators.

Howard’s League of Women Voters lauded the measure.

“We have been pushing for clear, efficient zoning enforcement in this county, and now we have legislation that would [provide] that,” said Co-President Grace Kubofcik.

Bridget Mugane, president of the Howard County Citizens Association, also spoke in favor of the changes, saying some zoning violations can present serious health and safety hazards.

Unregistered cars leaking oil into the ground, unauthorized businesses and trees being cut down on protected land are a few of the common violations Mugane sited.

“These are instances when speed, fast action, is of the essence,” she told the council this week.

smichael@baltimoreexaminer.com