UNLICENSED FIRMS IN LANCASTER EYE 30-DAY AMNESTY.Byline: Daily News LANCASTER Lancaster, city, England Lancaster (lăng`kəstər), city (1991 pop. 43,902) and district, county seat of Lancashire, NW England, on the Lune River. -- City officials announced a 30-day amnesty amnesty (ăm`nəstē), in law, exemption from prosecution for criminal action. It signifies forgiveness and the forgetting of past actions. period during November for businesses operating with no city business license or one that has expired ex·pire v. ex·pired, ex·pir·ing, ex·pires v.intr. 1. To come to an end; terminate: My membership in the club has expired. 2. . The amnesty period is a precursor precursor /pre·cur·sor/ (pre´kur-ser) something that precedes. In biological processes, a substance from which another, usually more active or mature, substance is formed. In clinical medicine, a sign or symptom that heralds another. to stepped-up enforcement action against unlicensed businesses. ``In the past, the city has been a bit casual about enforcing violations, but it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a we took business licensing more seriously,'' said Mayor Henry Hearns. ``Businesses need to understand that licensing is not a penalty, but rather a protection.'' He said licensing fees enable city officials to control illegal street vendors and other illegitimate ILLEGITIMATE. That which is contrary to law; it is usually applied to children born out of lawful wedlock. A bastard is sometimes called an illegitimate child. business that competes with legitimate local businesses. City officials said the system also provides visibility to licensed businesses because their information is posted on the city Web site. Also, customers like to know that a business is legitimate and up to code, city officials said. For 30 days starting Nov. 1, business owners can go to City Hall to obtain a business license, and penalties will be waived for previously operating without a license. For a business that has been operating without a license or with an expired license, the penalty fee is normally 50 percent of the licensing fee multiplied mul·ti·ply 1 v. mul·ti·plied, mul·ti·ply·ing, mul·ti·plies v.tr. 1. To increase the amount, number, or degree of. 2. Mathematics To perform multiplication on. by the number of years of operating without a current license. City government recently hired an enforcement officer to track down every business operating without a license. Beginning in November, businesses operating without a current license will receive a warning letter, giving them 30 days to bring their business license up to date. Owners of unlicensed businesses can come into City Hall during November to have penalty fees waived, even without a letter, if they pay their license fees in full. Annual business license fees range from $80 to $255, depending on the number of employees the business has, plus an annual processing fee of $35 for a new application or $20 for a renewal. Businesses that take advantage of the amnesty will still need to pay the processing fee and the licensing fees for each year in operation, up to a maximum of four years, but not the penalty fee. For more information, business owners can call the Business License Department at City Hall, (661) 723-6237. |
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