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Lockport staff proposes higher administrative fines, clarifies e‑bike/ATV penalties; council asks for ordinance review
Summary
City staff proposed amendments that would raise several administrative fines, align due‑date incentives with a recent Supreme Court ruling, and preserve a $1,000 minimum for unauthorized off‑road vehicles; council asked staff to check pending state text amendments and placed the ordinance on a future action agenda.
Mike (city attorney/staff) presented proposed changes to Lockport’s administrative adjudication code and fines during the June 17 meeting. He said local fines had not been adjusted since 2019 and that a recent Supreme Court decision from the Village of Midlothian requires removing a practice of doubling fines when a resident waits more than 10 days to request a hearing. To comply, Mike proposed incentivizing early payment with a discounted period rather than a punitive doubling.
Recommended fee changes in the staff memo included: parking fines from $30 to $35; equipment violations (headlight, muffler) from $50 to $60; raising some administrative fines closer to moving‑violation levels (examples in staff discussion: raising certain items from $100 to $250); and keeping a $1,000 minimum fine for unauthorized off‑road vehicles and dirt bikes (a minimum that staff said has been targeted at dangerous conduct and property damage). Mike said hearing officers would retain discretion to reduce most fines in appropriate first‑offender or mitigating circumstances, but not for the two non‑reducible categories (off‑road vehicles/dirt bikes and handicapped‑parking violations where state law prohibits reduction).
Councilors raised several operational issues. One member asked whether recent state text amendments (a governor’s bill referenced) affect local ordinances; Mike said the governor had not yet signed the bill and staff will review the final language once available. Councilors also discussed safety and age limits for e‑bikes (16 years referenced) and enforcement on sidewalks and shared paths. Members asked the police chief and city staff to coordinate any needed text amendments before returning the ordinance for action.
In addition, a councilor asked staff to consider extending Frontline temporary on‑street parking permits from two days to four per month; staff said that is a police‑department policy and could be changed administratively.
Council agreed to place Ordinance 26‑016 on a future action agenda after staff reviews the pending state changes and provides any necessary edits.
