§ 14-3. Creation, jurisdiction, and powers.

(a)

Pursuant to Charter section 6.2 there exists a municipal court in and for the city.

(b)

The municipal court has original jurisdiction of all criminal cases arising under the Charter, this Code, and other ordinances of the city, with power to punish violations thereof by imposing fines and penalties as authorized by this Code or any ordinance.

(c)

The municipal court has original jurisdiction of all civil cases arising under the Charter, this Code, and other ordinances of the city, with power to assess and collect civil penalties, order and enforce by contempt abatement of nuisances, enforce subpoenas issued by the city council, and perform other responsibilities prescribed by the Charter, Code, and other ordinances of the city.

(d)

The municipal court has the jurisdiction and powers of an administrative hearing officer, where so provided by this Code or other ordinance of the city.

(e)

The municipal judge is authorized to issue search warrants for the inspection of premises or property by municipal or city-county officials or inspectors in accordance with the Colorado Municipal Court Rules as promulgated and from time to time amended by the state supreme court. The municipal court may also issue such audit warrants for the audit and examination of books and records required to be maintained by vendors who are required to collect and periodically transmit sales, use or other excise taxes. The municipal court may further issue such inspection warrants for the inspection and examination of any structure or property if it satisfactorily appears that the applicant for the warrant is required to make the inspection by any provision of this Code or other ordinance of the city or any regulation or routine policy of inspection and enforcement and that for the purpose of making a complete inspection the applicant is required to go upon privately owned premises or enter a privately owned structure. But nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to require the issuance of a warrant for emergency inspections or in any other case where warrants are not required by law.

(f)

For purposes of hearing cases involving persons accused of violating any provision of the Charter, this Code, or other ordinances of the city, the municipal court is a qualified municipal court of record and shall comply with requirements of state law and regulations for courts of record. The municipal court shall furnish the record to any party wishing to appeal from a judgment of the municipal court acting as a court of record for transcription at such party's expense.

(g)

In all cases where a judge acts as an administrative hearing officer under this Code or other ordinance of the city, the judge shall conduct hearings under the procedures prescribed by chapter 2, article II, division 3.

(h)

Except as otherwise provided in this Code, the municipal court shall be conducted under the procedures prescribed by the Colorado Municipal Court Rules and C.R.S. tit. 13 [§ 13-1-101 et seq.].