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Westmont amends administrative hearing code, moves parking adjudication in-house
Summary
The Village Board amended the municipal code to adopt a new statutory basis for administrative adjudication, clean up tow-hearing procedures and create in-house adjudication for parking, standing and vehicle-condition violations, retaining fines at the village level.
The Westmont Village Board on May 29 approved a set of ordinances updating the village’s administrative adjudication procedures, amending tow-hearing rules and creating a separate administrative process for parking, standing and vehicle-condition violations.
Attorney Zemenek told the board the ordinances change the statutory authorization that underpins the village’s administrative hearing system and ease some technical citation requirements while preserving due process. “Less formal formal hurdles to jump over as far as issuing a citation,” Zemenek said, describing one of the practical benefits of operating under the new statute.
The board also approved minor cleanups to the administrative tow-hearing ordinance to ensure the code language matches statutory requirements and corrects typographical references. Zemenek said the tow changes are largely technical and consistent with how Westmont has operated since 2009.
On parking enforcement, the board created a new code division to adjudicate parking, standing and vehicle-condition violations administratively rather than through the circuit court. The new process sets a standard $30 fine for many parking violations, with a 35-day period for a person found liable to pay or appeal; if unpaid after that period, the fine doubles to $60, and unpaid balances may go to collections. Handicap-parking fines remain governed by state statute and carry a $250 fine.
Assistant Village Manager Parker told trustees that fines and fees collected under the village systems will be recorded in the village general fund; he noted enforcement costs are generally larger than fine receipts and that retained fines make up a small portion of enforcement budgets.
Each ordinance passed on roll call votes. Trustee Little moved and Trustee Plowman seconded the primary adjudication update; Trustee Barker moved the tow procedure amendments and Trustee Scales seconded; Trustee Scales moved and Trustee Little seconded the parking adjudication ordinance. All measures passed unanimously.
Village staff said the in-house adjudication will use an appointed third-party hearing officer and a recently contracted software platform (Dacra) to process tickets and schedule hearing dates. Notices of violation will continue to offer opportunities to cure noncompliance before formal adjudication; the stated enforcement goal remains compliance rather than revenue generation.
