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Adjudication Hearings |
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The Village of McCook will hold monthly adjudication hearings on the first Wednesday of every month, at 5:00 pm in the Village Hall Board room. The adjudication hearings will focus on a wide range of cases involving violations of municipal ordinances that were once heard in the Cook County Circuit Court. Having hearings at the Village Hall expedites resolutions, reduces litigation expenses, and allows the Circuit Court to focus on more serious offenses.
The adjudication hearings will handle all parking ticket violations (P) and local village ordinance violations (V.) Any questions in regard to the adjudication hearings can be directed to our records division which can be reached Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4 pm at 708-447-1234.
All parking tickets are due ten (10) days after their issuance. Failure to pay parking tickets within ten (10) days will lead to increased fines and a summons to appear in court. All parking tickets have a hearing date for your convenience to appeal any ticket received.
All Village ordinance violations require a mandatory appearance. Summons will be issued for failure to appear in court. Failure to pay a parking ticket or appearing for a village ordinance ticket will result in a fine being assessed and receiving a summons or judgement.
Hearings
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, not the Village entity that issued the ticket, complaint or notice of violation, hears cases. Law Judges, all of whom are experienced attorneys, are required to undergo State mandated training to be professional, fair, and courteous.
The Adjudication Hearing Officer will hear, or may hear in the future, the following types of cases:
Where to appear:
The Village of McCook Municipal Complex
5000 Glencoe Avenue
McCook, IL. 60525
ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
The Procedure:
A Village inspector, fire chief, investigator or police officer may issue a ticket or notice of violation, or file a complaint against you. A case also may be initiated following a citizen or community complaint.
If you receive a ticket, complaint or notice of violation ordering you to appear at a hearing before the Adjudication hearing officer, you or your representative must be present on the date and time specified. If English is not your first language, you must bring someone to assist you.
Who Must Appear:
The individual contesting/defending charges may represent him or herself, hire an attorney to represent you at your own expense or, in some instances, have an authorized representative attend the hearing on your own behalf. Your representative may be an employee or agent.
In police cases such as drinking on a public way or disorderly conduct, the accused must appear in person, without exception.
If you or your representative fails to appear for the scheduled hearing, you are in default, and the Administrative Law Judge will conduct the hearing in your absence. You will still be subject to any fines or penalties.
Attending Your Scheduled Hearing:
Review the schedule and location information on your ticket, complaint or notice of violation. All hearings start promptly at the time indicated on the notice. Therefore, it is recommended that you arrive in the hearing room a few minutes early.
All Adjudication hearings are on the first Wednesday of the month at 5:00 pm.
Please check your ticket, complaint or notice of violation for the time you must appear.
The Hearing Process:
When the Administrative Law Judge enters the hearing room, he or she will make an opening statement identifying themselves, their role, expectations of a hearing and the order in which cases will be called. When your case is called, you should acknowledge and step to the podium in front of the Administrative Law Judge’s bench.
The ticket, complaint or notice of violation written against you may be enough evidence to prove or disprove the Village’s case. By law, the Village representative who issued the ticket does not normally have to appear in court.
You have the right to tell the Administrative Law Judge your side of the story. This includes using witnesses and physical evidence such as bills, receipts, or photos. Your presentation must deal specifically with the violation before the court. All documents presented may be retained by the Adjudication hearing officer as evidence. There are no public defenders and no right to a jury in these administrative hearings.
The Decision:
After both sides have been heard, the Administrative Law Judge will decide based on the evidence presented. If you are found liable, fines, penalties, and costs may be imposed according to the guidelines set forth in the Village Code.
All fines are made payable to the Village of McCook. Payments can be made at the Police Department or online at https://payquicket.com/payticket
If you disagree with the Administrative Law Judge’s decision, you have 35 days to appeal to the Circuit Court of Cook County, Bridgeview, Illinois. This can be done at the McCook Police Department. Please be advised that you will then be subject to court costs and fines by the Circuit Court of Cook County, which currently start at $207.00.
Please Note…
The information provided on this web site merely summarizes procedures. regulations, and other information. If you have any questions, please call the Village of McCook Police Department at 708-447-1234.
The adjudication hearings will handle all parking ticket violations (P) and local village ordinance violations (V.) Any questions in regard to the adjudication hearings can be directed to our records division which can be reached Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4 pm at 708-447-1234.
All parking tickets are due ten (10) days after their issuance. Failure to pay parking tickets within ten (10) days will lead to increased fines and a summons to appear in court. All parking tickets have a hearing date for your convenience to appeal any ticket received.
All Village ordinance violations require a mandatory appearance. Summons will be issued for failure to appear in court. Failure to pay a parking ticket or appearing for a village ordinance ticket will result in a fine being assessed and receiving a summons or judgement.
Hearings
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, not the Village entity that issued the ticket, complaint or notice of violation, hears cases. Law Judges, all of whom are experienced attorneys, are required to undergo State mandated training to be professional, fair, and courteous.
The Adjudication Hearing Officer will hear, or may hear in the future, the following types of cases:
- Police issued tickets
- Fire code violations
- Parking tickets
- Public passenger vehicle violations
- Unlicensed businesses
- Overflowing garbage dumpsters
- Zoning violations
- Animal violations
- Compliance tickets
Where to appear:
The Village of McCook Municipal Complex
5000 Glencoe Avenue
McCook, IL. 60525
ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
The Procedure:
A Village inspector, fire chief, investigator or police officer may issue a ticket or notice of violation, or file a complaint against you. A case also may be initiated following a citizen or community complaint.
If you receive a ticket, complaint or notice of violation ordering you to appear at a hearing before the Adjudication hearing officer, you or your representative must be present on the date and time specified. If English is not your first language, you must bring someone to assist you.
Who Must Appear:
The individual contesting/defending charges may represent him or herself, hire an attorney to represent you at your own expense or, in some instances, have an authorized representative attend the hearing on your own behalf. Your representative may be an employee or agent.
In police cases such as drinking on a public way or disorderly conduct, the accused must appear in person, without exception.
If you or your representative fails to appear for the scheduled hearing, you are in default, and the Administrative Law Judge will conduct the hearing in your absence. You will still be subject to any fines or penalties.
Attending Your Scheduled Hearing:
Review the schedule and location information on your ticket, complaint or notice of violation. All hearings start promptly at the time indicated on the notice. Therefore, it is recommended that you arrive in the hearing room a few minutes early.
All Adjudication hearings are on the first Wednesday of the month at 5:00 pm.
Please check your ticket, complaint or notice of violation for the time you must appear.
The Hearing Process:
When the Administrative Law Judge enters the hearing room, he or she will make an opening statement identifying themselves, their role, expectations of a hearing and the order in which cases will be called. When your case is called, you should acknowledge and step to the podium in front of the Administrative Law Judge’s bench.
The ticket, complaint or notice of violation written against you may be enough evidence to prove or disprove the Village’s case. By law, the Village representative who issued the ticket does not normally have to appear in court.
You have the right to tell the Administrative Law Judge your side of the story. This includes using witnesses and physical evidence such as bills, receipts, or photos. Your presentation must deal specifically with the violation before the court. All documents presented may be retained by the Adjudication hearing officer as evidence. There are no public defenders and no right to a jury in these administrative hearings.
The Decision:
After both sides have been heard, the Administrative Law Judge will decide based on the evidence presented. If you are found liable, fines, penalties, and costs may be imposed according to the guidelines set forth in the Village Code.
All fines are made payable to the Village of McCook. Payments can be made at the Police Department or online at https://payquicket.com/payticket
If you disagree with the Administrative Law Judge’s decision, you have 35 days to appeal to the Circuit Court of Cook County, Bridgeview, Illinois. This can be done at the McCook Police Department. Please be advised that you will then be subject to court costs and fines by the Circuit Court of Cook County, which currently start at $207.00.
Please Note…
The information provided on this web site merely summarizes procedures. regulations, and other information. If you have any questions, please call the Village of McCook Police Department at 708-447-1234.
