Barrington to settle some tickets locally

Barrington trustees decided Monday to establish an adjudication process that would allow people cited with code and ordinance violations to address them through a local administrative process rather than the county court system.

The process would save the village expenses, in the form of staff time, since police officers and other employees would not have to travel to the Cook County courthouse in Rolling Meadows to testify in cases.

It could also prevent residents and others cited from missing time of from work to attend court and eliminate their court costs, which are up to $135 per case.

“We look to this as a way of adequately processing, not only for savings for the village, but for the citizens so that they have a way to respond,” Trustee Paul Hunt said.

Only some village code violations will be able to be challenged and moved to the adjudication process, where they will be reviewed by a village-appointed hearing officer. They include cases involving parking tickets, disorderly conduct, fighting, underage alcohol possession, curfew violation and possession of drug paraphernalia. A total of 488 such cases could have been heard locally since 2010, according to the village.

Officials have not yet begun the search for a hearing officer, Village President Karen Darch said, and might even consider joining with another local town with an already established system.

Though no definite plans have been made yet as to where the hearings will be held or who will be presiding over the cases, Darch believes the process will be in the best interest of the village and its residents.

“It will be easier since issues will be heard in the community rather than having folks travel,” she said.