Hoffman Estates dismisses teens' citations

Six of the seven teens ticketed by police in June as part of a crackdown on complaints in the Barrington Square area had their citations dismissed Monday night by Hoffman Estates officials.

However, the other teen was found liable on four tickets. He owes the village $250 in fines but plans on appealing the ruling at Cook County circuit court in Rolling Meadows.

Assistant Village Attorney Dominick DiMaggio handles the adjudication process for Hoffman Estates. He said police issued the tickets on June 26 because they were receiving various complaints from the area, including teens hanging out in the middle of the street and obstructing cars.

"We're not saying it's you guys," DiMaggio told the teens. "We got so many complaints that night."

DiMaggio said there was an "impropriety" that caused the tickets to be pulled at the July 19 hearing, preventing hearing officer Cheryl Axley from reviewing the tickets.

Trustee Cary Collins, who didn't attend Monday's proceedings, attended the July hearing and talked with police, claiming the tickets were unfairly issued and that police were harassing the teens. Some of them were ticketed for loitering in front their homes.

Without Axley and DiMaggio's consent, the tickets were then pulled. Later that night Axley wrote an e-mail to Mayor William McLeod ripping Collins for subverting the adjudication system, which Collins denied. The letter read that Collins should have spoken on the teens' behalf during the hearing. Axley presides over hearings twice a month to rule on village infractions including parking tickets. She had little to say on Monday.

"I do believe and agree there has been a very potential violation of due process," she said.

Joseph Delahunt Sr., whose son was ticketed, remained angry and said his son had nothing to do with the problems DiMaggio and Axley cited.

After the tickets were dismissed, the teens exited with one of them raising their hands saying, "I'm out of jail!" Another let out celebratory obscenities. In Axley's e-mail, she wrote she was concerned that Collins was teaching the youngsters to disrespect authority.

DiMaggio warned the teens were receiving a single reprieve and that the village would "fully prosecute" if they were cited once more. DiMaggio also said police reserved the right to ticket the teens again and cite them with violations to state statutes.

Apparently, that's what happened to Blake Thomas after the hearing. Thomas, 18, wasn't part of the fist-pumping crew. But he said later that night he was driving home in a 1998 Cadillac Catera when he pulled over near the library off Hassell Road. It marked the third time he was pulled over for tinted windows by the same officer, he said.

Thomas said his windows comply with the law. His family remains fuming after they said three police officers entered their home without a warrant in issuing the tickets. Monday night, officer Hugh Lynch wrote Thomas a ticket with an I-Bond for $75, Thomas said.

"My windows were actually rolled down when he pulled me over this time," Thomas said.