Which of the following represents a violation of current laws where previous penalties were not effective?

A repeat violation refers to a situation where the same code infraction has occurred more than once, indicating that previous attempts to rectify the situation through penalties or enforcement actions have not succeeded in preventing the violation from occurring again. This suggests that the enforcement measures in place were insufficient to ensure compliance, thereby necessitating a reevaluation of the enforcement strategy or perhaps stronger penalties to effectively address the ongoing issue. Recognizing a repeat violation is crucial for code enforcement officials, as it often requires a more targeted approach to ensure compliance and protect community standards.

The other options describe different forms of violations but do not specifically highlight the aspect of prior ineffective penalties leading to reoffending. For example, a reoccurring violation might imply consistent violations, but it doesn't emphasize the failure of previous penalties as strongly as the term "repeat violation." A simple violation refers to straightforward breaches of the code, while a complex violation pertains to more intricate or multifaceted breaches, neither of which necessarily incorporate the context of past penalties being ineffective.