Section 16. Any person who has received a notice of violation issued in accordance with this chapter who, within the prescribed time, fails to pay the same or fails to request a hearing before the municipal hearing officer or who fails to appear at the time and place of the hearing, shall be deemed responsible for the violation as stated in the notice of violation. Such finding of responsibility shall be considered prima facie evidence of the violation in a civil proceeding regarding that violation and shall be admissible as evidence in a subsequent criminal proceeding. If a person fails to appear at the scheduled hearing without good cause, the appeal shall be dismissed and the violator shall waive any further right of appeal. If the condition which caused the notice of violation to issue continues to exist, the finding of responsibility may also be used by a municipality as prima facie evidence of the existence of a violation in any proceeding to suspend or revoke any license, permit or certificate issued by such municipality relative to that building, structure or premises pending the correction of the condition.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts
Section 2 - Effective Date of Chapter in Municipality
Section 3 - Procedures for Payment of Municipal Fines; Power to Revoke or Rescind
Section 4 - Procedures for Payment of Fines Determined by Majority Vote
Section 5 - Sidewalk Snow and Ice Removal; Penalties for Non-Compliance; Standards for Clearance
Section 6 - Municipal Hearing Officer
Section 7 - Administrative Disposition of Noncriminal Violations
Section 9 - Affixing of Violation Tags
Section 10 - Retention and Delivery of Violation Notice Copies
Section 11 - Schedule of Fines for Violations
Section 13 - Challenge to Validity of Violation Notice
Section 14 - Written Request for Hearing; Time and Location of Hearing
Section 15 - Appeal of Decision of Municipal Hearing Officer
Section 16 - Effect of Failure to Pay, Request Hearing or Appear
Section 17 - Payments of Fines, Penalties or Assessments to the General Fund of Municipality