Spitting not a crime anymore? BG works to update fees and fines

That whole spitting on the sidewalk thing could disappear from Buffalo Grove list of no-nos.

The village board this week discussed adding and adjusting some fees and fines, while eliminating others.

One elicited a wry comment from Village President Jeffrey Braiman.

“I’m really concerned about eliminating the fine for spitting,” he said, referring to an old ordinance that outlawed spitting on the sidewalks.

The village staff said it’s an outdated fine that is not being used.

When Braiman asked for comment from Police Chief Steven Casstevens, the chief responded, “I don’t think we have a significant issue.”

Also gone is the fee for village stickers, which are no longer being issued.

New fees under discussion include a $50 fee for a commercial soliciting license, a $60-$85 fine for trespassing and a $20 fee for fingerprint background check by public request.

Adjustments to existing fees could include changing the fine for false alarms. There is no fine for the first two violations, but $75 for the third violation. With the adjustment, the fine would be $75 for the second violation and $125 for the third.

The fine for parking violations would also go up, but only if they aren’t paid on time. The first late fee increases from $25 to $50 and the third from $45 to $75.

Village staff said the increases and additions they are proposing actually come closer to reimbursing the village for the costs of these offenses. They added in many cases the existing fees and fines are below what comparable communities charge.

For example, the increase in the residential zoning variation fee from $75 to $125 was justified by noting the $75 fee does not cover the village’s expense for publication, mailings, staff time and attorney review.

A memo from staff that answered questions from trustees about the fees and fines was presented at Monday’s committee of the whole meeting.

One item stood out for Trustee Michael Terson, who saw that the village had issued no tickets in 2012 for pushing snow on the roadway.

Terson wondered whether, as with the spitting issue, the village should also remove that item from the books.

But Village Manager Dane Bragg said that the village’s policy is to try to gain compliance first before issuing penalties.

“I would not recommend removing that violation,” Bragg said. “I think it could be a serious safety issue. In light snows, it’s probably not that big of a deal, but if we get a really big, heavy snow, it could cause some real major problems.”