City of Miami hearing officer upholds no-shows, signs dozens of paid-agreement orders in ticket appeals

Hearing Officer Dawn Grace Jones presided over the City of Miami’s ticketing appellate hearings, where dozens of property-related civil violation cases were resolved by agreement or marked as failures to appear.

Jones told attendees the hearings are “conducted in a quasi judicial manner,” that all testimony is taken under oath and that her role is to determine whether the violation occurred and whether the person named on the notice is responsible. She said parties who enter an agreement will sign two copies of the order and were given written payment instructions at the podium.

Most appearances ended in signed agreements in which the person present acknowledged the violation and agreed to pay an assessed civil fine. Examples recorded on the hearing record include: Lavita Allman (case 125150, 3075 Jefferson Street) agreeing to pay $250; William Frometa (case 0131938, 6315 Southwest Eighth Street) agreeing to pay $250; Adam Varga (case 123100, 1801 Northwest Second Court and case 125659, 1804 Northwest First Place) agreeing to pay $250 in multiple matters; Kenny Portell (case 131627, 1420 Northwest 20 Sixth Avenue) agreeing to pay $250; Margaret Lucette (case 13345, 95 Northwest 30 Eighth Street) agreeing to pay $250; Robert Gonzales (case 84423, 2828 Southwest 30 Second Avenue) agreeing to pay $250; Pascal Nicole (case 125170, 3090 Kirk Street) agreeing to pay $250; Renee Cuenca/Contreras (case 114800, 1492 Northwest 20…