Ridge could make hay from lawbreakers' pay

Violators could avoid day in court by paying fine

By Meg Sullivan

Chicago Ridge village officials want to ticket and fine some lawbreakers, then send them on their way instead of clogging the local and county courts.

Chicago Ridge Police Chief Tim Baldermann at Tuesday’s Village Board meeting suggested the village revise its ticketing system to give offenders of crimes such as possession of cannabis and public intoxication a chance to pay a fine instead of appearing in court.

Trustees voted Dec. 1 to approve an ordinance stating that retail thefts of merchandise worth more than $100 will be heard at the Cook County 5th District Courthouse in Bridgeview, while thefts less than $100 would be handled through a village court. Perpetrators would be given citations and fined, but would not be arrested or face criminal charges.

Typically, when a citation is given by an officer, the offender must appear in local ordinance court on a Saturday. Accused lawbreakers may soon have the option of paying a fine and avoiding court.

Baldermann explained that no new ordinances would have to be created because the village already has ordinances in place regarding drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct.

“Possession of cannabis can slide right in with drug paraphernalia and public intoxication can go under disorderly conduct,” he told the board. “If we can set a ticket amount, like a parking ticket, there’s a good chance people will pay right on the spot. Our local ordinance tickets do not currently have a spot for fines. For me, these are not $50 offenses, they are $150 to $500 fines and people will pay them because they don’t want to hire an attorney and go to Bridgeview.”

Baldermann said even the local ordinance courts are jammed.

“Saturday courts ran until 4:30 p.m. this week,” he said.

The chief said the proposed fines for first and second offenses for such violations, which the board will review, “are not cheap but realistic.”

“If we say, ‘first offense is $250, second offense is $500’, a lot will say ‘I’ll just pay it and I’m out of here,” Baldermann said. “There’s no drain on the local court system, it’s a heck of a lot easier.”

Trustee Brad Grove said he hopes to include local ordinance offenses such as excessive garbage on a property when revising the issuing of tickets.

“I’m sure with every single ordinance violation you can assign a fine and you can wipe out Saturday court,” Baldermann said.

Trustee Mike Davies said the court option will always be available for people that would like to appear to contest tickets.

This is part of the December 17, 2009 online edition of The Reporter.

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