Chapter 6.32
HEARING
Sections:
6.32.020 Right to cross-examine.
6.32.010 Time of hearing.
All hearings required pursuant to this title shall be conducted by the chief of police or by a person designed by him or her who shall not have been directly involved in the subject action. Hearings shall be held not more than ten days from the date of the receipt of the request for the hearing and shall be conducted in an informal manner consistent with due process of law. A hearing may be continued if the hearing officer deems it necessary and proper or if the owner or custodian shows good cause. The chief of police or the person designated by him or her shall render a brief written decision which shall be final. Failure to conduct a hearing required by this title shall have no bearing on any criminal prosecution or violation of any provisions of this title or state law. (Ord. 1060 § 1 (part), 1999: prior code § 6.32.010)
6.32.020 Right to cross-examine.
Each party during a hearing shall have the right to call and examine witnesses; to introduce exhibits; to cross-examine opposing witnesses on any matter relevant to the issue even though that matter was not covered in the direct examination; to subpoena any witness to testify; and to rebut the evidence against the party. If the owner or custodian does not testify in his or her own behalf, the owner or custodian may be called and examined as if under cross-examination. (Ord. 1060 § 1 (part), 1999: prior code § 6.32.020)
6.32.030 Conduct of hearing.
Hearings need not be conducted according to technical rules relating to evidence and witnesses. Any relevant evidence shall be admitted if it is the sort of evidence on which responsible persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious affairs, regardless of the existence of any common law or statutory rule which might make improper the admission of such evidence over objection in civil actions. Hearsay evidence may be used for the purpose of supplementing or explaining any direct evidence but shall not be sufficient in itself to support a finding unless it would be admissible over objection in civil actions. The rules of privilege shall be affective to the same extent that they are now or hereafter recognized in civil actions and irrelevant and unduly repetitious evidence shall be excluded. (Ord. 1060 § 1 (part), 1999: prior code § 6.32.030)