Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
The Public Safety Committee for the Village of Schaumburg has recommended that the Village of Schaumburg allow police officers to write local Municipal Violation tickets for first-time negligent driving offences. The measure is intended to go after drivers who are using hand-held cellphones while they are driving instead of hands-free devices. Village officials claim that the judges at the Rolling Meadows Courthouse are taking these tickets too lightly and not punishing offenders enough.
If this measure is adopted by the Schaumburg Village Board, police officers will have the option of writing a local Municipal Ordinance Violation ticket, issue written warnings, or issue a State Citation for a ticket violation which allow offenders an opportunity to go to Court and contest the ticket in Court, in front of an actual Judge. The fine for the Schaumburg Municipal Violation will be $75.
What’s a little troubling about this proposal is that the Public Safety Committee is proposing that the definition of negligent driving be defined more broadly than what current state law defines as negligent driving. According to one of the trustees of the Schaumburg Village Board, “the definition of negligent driving can be relevant even when an officer can’t prove a handheld cell phone was the cause.” In other words, if the police officer had a hunch, or was guessing, based on his experience, that a handheld device was being used, that would be enough to allow them to issue a ticket. I would like to see what the final ordinance says, but it seems to me as if officers will be allowed to issue these tickets based on a mere hunch without any proof. That does not seem very fair to me and could be open to a legal challenge which could cause Schaumburg’s taxpayers to pay the legal bills for a court fight.
All Schaumburg criminal cases and traffic ticket cases are heard at the Rolling Meadows Courthouse. The Rolling Meadows Courthouse is part of the Cook County Judicial Circuit. However, the Village of Schaumburg also issues Village Ordinance Violations, or Municipal Ordinance tickets, for certain offenses. While Schaumburg Municipal Violation tickets are not criminal matters, some of the things that are considered Municipal Ordinance Violations are similar to criminal cases. An example would be Retail Theft, or Shoplifting. If you are charged with a Retail Theft in Schaumburg, the Village of Schaumburg may issue a Municipal Ordinance Violation ticket requiring that you appear before a Hearing Officer. The Hearing Officer is an Administrative Law Judge. While cases like that do not carry the possibility of going to jail or having a criminal conviction, if a case like this were to appear in a background search, it could cause an employer to refuse to hire you. That’s why it’s important that if you are facing a Municipal Ordinance Violation, you hire an experienced Municipal Violation attorney who has experience handling cases like this and can make sure that this matter does not appear in a background search. In addition, Municipal Ordinance Violation cases can carry substantial fines which have to be paid or else will appear on your credit report and will be turned over to a collection agency.
Schaumburg Municipal Ordinance Violation cases are heard on the second floor of the Rolling Meadows Courthouse. In addition, the Village of Schaumburg conducts Municipal Court at Village Hall on the first Wednesday of every month. For Schaumburg Municipal Ordinance Violation cases at the Rolling Meadows Courthouse, you will appear before a Circuit Court Judge. For Schaumburg Municipal Ordinance Violation cases at the Schaumburg Village Hall, you will appear before an Administrative Law Judge. In both places, The Village Attorney will be representing the Village of Schaumburg.
Municipal Ordinance Violation lawyer, James Dimeas, is a nationally-recognized, award-winning Municipal Violation attorney. James Dimeas has been fighting criminal cases throughout Schaumburg, Chicago, Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County and Lake County for over-27 years. James Dimeas was named a “Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer” by The National Trial Lawyers. Attorney and Practice Magazine gave James Dimeas the “Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorney Award for Illinois.” The National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys gave James Dimeas the “Top 10 Attorney Award for the State of Illinois”. James Dimeas was named a “Best DUI Attorney” and a “Best Criminal Defense Lawyer in Chicago” by Expertise. The American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys named James Dimeas a “10 Best Attorney for Client Satisfaction.” The American Society of Legal Advocates named James Dimeas a “2018 Top 100 Lawyer.” James Dimeas is rated “Superb” by AVVO, the highest rating possible for any criminal defense lawyer in the United States. James Dimeas is one of the leading criminal defense attorneys in Schaumburg.
If you are being charged with a Municipal Ordinance Violation in Schaumburg, or in any town, you can contact James Dimeas anytime for a free and confidential consultation. You can always talk to James Dimeas personally by calling him anytime at 847-807-7405.
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