CHAPTER 3-7 CIVIL INFRACTIONS


GENERAL PROVISIONS

3-7-1 Definitions

As used in this Chapter:

(a) "Infraction" means a civil offense in which the remedy involved is liquidated damages which has been pre-determined by the Business Council as provided by the infractions procedures in this Code. An infraction is not a crime and the punishment shall not affect or impair the credibility of a witness or otherwise of any person convicted thereof.

(b) "Defendant" means the person against whom an action is file under this Chapter.

(c) "Litter" means all waste material including but not limited to disposable packages or containers thrown or deposited as herein prohibited but not including the wastes of the primary processes of mining, logging, sawmilling, farming, or manufacturing;

(c) "Public" means a location to which the public or a substantial group has access or those individuals present in such location. A "public" place includes, but is not limited to: highways, transport facilities, schools, prisons, apartment houses, places of business or amusement, or any neighborhood.


3-7-2 Duties and Authority of Officers; Warrant not Required

(a) It shall be the duty of tribal law enforcement officers to enforce the provisions of this Chapter without the necessity of procuring a warrant.

(b) A tribal law enforcement officer is authorized to arrest any person who resists, delays, prevents or obstructs any such officer, in the discharge, or attempts to discharge, of any duty under this Chapter or gives a false report to any peace officer. Any persons who is subject to the criminal laws of the Tribes and who is arrested under this Section shall be guilty of a Class C offense and may be prosecuted pursuant to the criminal provisions of this Code. To the extent authorized by law, any person who is not subject to the criminal laws of the Tribes and who is arrested under this Section may be transported without unnecessary delay to the nearest authority for the state of Washington or the United States.


OFFENSES

Property

3-7-30 Trespass

A person commits the infraction of trespass if he:

(a) enters upon the real property of another that is posted to prohibit trespassing, is fenced or contains obvious outward signs of habitability without permission of the owner or the owner's agent;

(b) enters tribal lands that are not specifically posted as open to the public;

(c) being a non-tribal member he enters or remains on a huckleberry patch unless he has the authority of the Business Council or he is the spouse or descendant of a tribal member of his immediate family and is accompanied by such member;

(d) refuses to depart from or re-enters the Colville Reservation in violation of an order of exclusion issued by the Tribal Court as provided by this Code.


3-7-31 Vandalism

A person commits the infraction of vandalism if he:

(a) injures, defaces, damages or destroys:

(1) private property in which any other person has an interest without the consent of such other person;
(2) tribal or other public property without the lawful consent of the appropriate governing body; or
(3) an obvious place of burial.

(b) deposits, throws, or propels any substance upon any highway, roadway runway, or railroad track, or any vehicle while such vehicle is either in motion or stationary.


Public Order

3-7-32 False Reporting

A person commits the infraction of false reporting if he initiates a false alarm or report which is transmitted to a fire department, law enforcement agency or other organization that responds to emergencies involving danger to life or property.

3-7-33 Useor Possession of Alcoholic Beverages at Community Centers

A peson commits the infraction of use or possession of alcoholic beverages at community centers if he uses or possess alcoholic beverages on the premises of any of the District Community Centers.

3-7-34 Harssment

A person commits the infraction of harassment if:

(a) ithout lawful authority, he, by words or conduct directed at another, threatens to:

(1) cause bodily injury in the future to any person;
(2) cause physical damage to the property of a person other than the actor;
(3) subject any person to physical confinement or restraint; or
(4) do any other act which is intended to substantially harm any person with respect to his or her physical or mental health or safety; and

(b) The person by words or conduct places the person threatened in reasonable fear that the threat will be carried out.


3-7-35 Cruelty to Animals

(a) A person commits the infraction of cruelty to animals if he:

(1) maliciously kills, maims or wounds any animal;
(2) overworks, tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, drink or shelter, cruelly beats, or mutilates or cruelly kills any animal;
(3) has custody of or is responsible for an animal and willfully subjects the animal to needless suffering or inflicts any unnecessary cruelty upon the animal;
(4) transports or carries any animal in a cruel and inhumane manner;
(5) causes any animal to fight for his amusement or betting or waging, permits the same to be done on any premises or is present at such fight.

(b) It shall be a defense to a prosecution under this Section if the actor was involved in an accepted veterinary practice or engaged in hunting or fishing in accordance with the provisions of this Code and his actions were not cruel or inhumane under the circumstances. The Court shall use a reasonableness standard when determining whether a defense exists under this Subsection.


Public Health, Safety and Welfare

3-7-36 Public Nuisance

(a) A person commits a public nuisance infraction if without lawful authority to do so, he does any act or fails to do any duty, which act or omission either:

(1) unreasonably annoys, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, or safety of three (3) or more persons;
(2) offends public decency;
(3) unlawfully interferes with, obstructs, or tends to obstruct, or render dangerous for passage, any lake, stream, canal, or basin, or any public park, square, street, highway, or road; or
(4) in any way unreasonably renders three (3) or more persons insecure in life or the use of property.

(b) An act or omission to act which affects three (3) or more persons in the ways specified in this Section is still a nuisance regardless that the extent of the annoyance or damage inflicted on the individuals is unequal.

(c) The presence of a lawful authority under this Section need not be disproved by the Tribes but shall be presented as an affirmative defense.

(d) The commission by act or omission of a public nuisance shall not be punished under this Section if the same conduct constitutes another offense which has also been charged against a defendant.


3-7-37 Failure to Have Sewer Connection

A person commits the infraction of failure to have sewer connected if he fails to have his home connected to the Colville Sewer system, under the Colville Sewer Chapter of this Code and reasonable access to such system is available to his home.


3-7-38 Fireworks

Except as provided by the Business Council, a person commits a fireworks infraction if he sells or uses fireworks within the boundaries of the Colville Reservation.

Fireworks Resolutions 1982-333; 1982-417; 1983-478; 1986-248; 1986-288; and 1983-410 and the "Fireworks Ordinance" Resolution 1974-233, repealed on April 17, 1997 by resolution 1997- 2.


3-7-39 Littering

A person commits the infraction of littering if he:

(a). throws, drops, discards or otherwise disposes of any litter anywhere within the Reservation except in authorized public waste disposal grounds or an authorized receptacle made available for such purpose, or

(b). without lawful permission, stores or allows to accumulate any wrecked, junked or unserviceable vehicles, appliances or implements anywhere on the Reservation.


3-7-40 Violation of Tribal Law

A person commits the infraction of violation of tribal law if he violates any tribal law or any other council enactment intended to preserve the peace, health, safety, welfare and morals of the Reservation, when a punishment for such violation is not provided under any other provision of this Code or the law or enactment itself.


3-7-41 4th of July Celebration Grounds

(a) A person commits a celebration grounds infraction if during the Colville Confederated Tribes Annual 4th of July Celebration and while present on the celebration grounds he:

(1) uses or possesses, without lawful authority, alcoholic beverages, drugs, and or controled substances;
(2) uses fireworks except as authorized by the business Council;
(3) engages in non-traditional gambling except in conformity with tribal Gaming law;
(4) being a concessionaire, he fails to register with the Nespelem Drum and Feather Club;
(5) parks on the inside of the circle without a sticker. In addition to any other remedy provided by the infractions procedures provisions of this Code, any vehicle found in violation of this Subsection shall be towed away at the owner's expense.

(b) The Colville Confederated tribes or the Nespelem Drum and Feather Club shall not be responsible for loss, thefts, or damages.


Administration of Government

3-7-42 Interference with Judicial Process

A person commits the infraction of interference with Judicial process if he:

(a) except as provided by tribal law or procedure, interferes with or attempts to influence any decision of the Tribal court or investigation, prosecution, or settlement of any case; or

(b) unlawfully detains or otherwise interferes with a witness or party to an action while such person is going to or from a court proceeding or attending court.

Nothing in this Section shall effect or limit the lawful authority of the Business Council to carry out its constitutional authority.