Palos Park offers
Administrative Adjudication
The Village of Palos Park offers Administrative Adjudication
as an alternative to court. This process addresses a wide
range of cases involving violations of municipal ordinances
that were previously heard in the Cook County Circuit Court.
Such hearings, which take place at Village of Palos Park
Kaptur Administrative Center, expedites resolutions, reduces
litigation expenses, and allows the Circuit Court to focus
on more serious offenses. These hearings are also more
convenient for residents who wish to contest a ticket or
citation.
An administrative hearing is a civil (not a criminal)
proceeding. Cases filed in adjudication are punishable by
fines and a variety of other penalties, excluding jail time.
Under the administrative hearing system, an Administrative
Law Judge hears cases and not the municipal entity that
issued the ticket, complaint, or notice of violation. Law
Judges, all of whom are experienced attorneys, are required
to undergo State mandated training to be professional, fair,
and courteous. In Palos Park’s Administrative Adjudication
process, the following types of cases may be heard.
Police Issued Tickets
Parking Tickets
Zoning and Ordinance Violation Tickets
Administrative Tow Fees
Administrative Hearing:
The Procedure
A Village Inspector, Code Enforcement Officer, Community
Service Officer, or a Police Officer may issue a ticket,
notice of violation, or file a complaint against an
individual. In most cases, their ticket will give the option
to request a hearing date. Anyone receiving a ticket,
complaint, or notice of violation, who has not paid the fine
will automatically receive a hearing notice in the mail.
This notice will inform the individual of their hearing date
and time to appear. Anyone who cannot speak English must
bring someone to assist them.
A continuance is not allowed unless the Administrative Law
Judge finds good cause. Lack of preparation is not
considered good cause. If an individual or their
representative fail to appear for the scheduled hearing on
cases other then parking and equipment violations, they may
be found in default, and the Administrative Law Judge may
conduct the hearing in their absence. For parking and
equipment violations the following hearing process will take
place.
A citation is issued, if payment is not received within 30
days, a hearing will be automatically assigned. If payment
is not received and the first hearing date is not attended,
the fine doubles and another hearing notice is sent.
Attending a Scheduled Hearing
Anyone receiving a hearing notice should review the schedule
and location information on the notice. Currently, all
hearings are held the third Tuesday of every month at 1:00
p.m. The location of the hearing is 8999 west 123rd in Palos
Park. A clerk at the hearing has a list of hearings
scheduled for that day. All hearings start promptly at the
time indicated on the notice. Therefore, it is recommended
that individuals arrive a few minutes early. Upon entering
the hearing room, individuals must check in with the clerk
and sit down until the case is called.
The Hearing Process
When the Administrative Law Judge enters the hearing room,
he makes an opening statement identifies himself, his role,
expectations, and the order in which cases are called. When
a case is called, the individual should acknowledge it and
step to the podium in front of the Administrative Law
Judge’s bench. The hearing begins immediately and
individuals are given an opportunity to present testimony
and evidence. All live testimony is given under oath and
recorded. The ticket, complaint, or notice of violation may
be enough evidence to prove or disprove the Village’s case.
By law, the Village representative who issued the ticket,
complaint, or notice of violation is not required to appear
in court. The ticket, complaint, or notice of violation must
properly cite several pieces of information, including the
date, time, and location of the offenses, the ordinance
violated, and the identity of the person named. Anyone has
the right to tell the Administrative Law Judge his or her
side of the story. This includes using witnesses and
physical evidence such as bills, receipts, or photos. That
presentation must deal specifically with the violation
before the court. The Village may retain all documents
presented as evidence. There are no public defenders and no
right to a jury in administrative hearings.
Audio and video equipment, newspapers, magazines, food,
drink, and chewing gum are not allowed in the hearing room.
Disruptive people will be removed from the hearing room and
risk having their cases heard without them.
The Decision
After both sides have been heard, the Administrative Law
Judge makes a determination based on the evidence presented.
If he finds the individual liable, fines, penalties, and
costs may be imposed according to the guidelines set forth
in the Village’s municipal code. The Administrative Law
Judge’s decision is a written document provided to the
individual at the end of the hearing. Payments can be made
to the clerk at the hearing location. Acceptable forms of
payment include MasterCard, Visa, Discover, personal check,
cash, or money order.
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