The growth and reach of government regulation is hard to ignore. Today, virtually every aspect of commerce and many aspects of everyday life are subject to a multiplicity of regulatory codes and statutes that govern activities as mundane as the disposal of household cleaning products and construction of a backyard swing set. Building codes, for example, govern not only the construction of new structures, but also regulate the subsequent use and occupancy of buildings after construction is complete. Environmental regulations have evolved from regulating essential environmental assets, such as clean water and clean air, to protecting less obvious resources such as slopes, views, trees and historic structures.
As we move toward increasingly stricter and more extensive government regulation of business and personal activities, knowledge of how best to respond to such enforcement actions becomes more important for every stakeholder: employer, contractors, worker, government and citizen. This article will provide readers a brief overview of how regulatory codes are typically enforced and discuss strategic options available to persons facing a civil, administrative or criminal prosecution.
Police Power
