Teens express frustration, anger to tickets in various ways

When covering stories that involves teenagers, like the loitering ticket fiasco in Hoffman Estates, it's always fun to see how young adults react to the spotlight.

There's no short supply of those stories covering Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211. Often I talk to star students taking home awards. Some are shy. Others are needlessly cocky. Some are humble, satisfied with their accomplishments, but ready for more in college and the real world.

Occasionally you come across an unworldly poised young person. The way Jeff Engelhardt addressed the media after his family tragedy comes to mind.

As for the loitering ticket incidents, the teens and their parents felt they weren't doing anything wrong. They claim they were just standing in front of the homes, the target of overzealous police officers who just didn't like them. The tickets, according to village officials, were a reaction to complaints in the Barrington Square area about teens who routinely gathered in the middle of the streets.

Frustration was a common bond between these teens, but not all of them expressed their anger the same way. Some let snide comments slip under their breath walking out of the police station. Others politely walked away quietly without staring down anyone, addressing village officials without raising their voice or any name calling.

It's like watching professional sports. Some players zip their lips and let their superior play speak for them. Others choreograph entertaining celebratory dance routines that anger their opponents on the other team. Police officers hearing those snide comments might get frustrated like one of those opponents.

Six of the teens cited with loitering were given a warning and walked out without paying fines. The seventh faces $250 in fines, but was given an additional ticket on Monday bringing the total to $325. He's dealing with tickets for loitering, two for tinted windows on his car and for a loud car stereo. He's appealing those tickets in Rolling Meadows. We'll see what a Cook County circuit court judge says.