Normal, IL - Official Website

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About Ordinance Violations

1. What are ordinance violations?: Ordinance violations are charges issued by municipal governments for violations of local municipal rules. They are not considered criminal matters. They are not recorded as criminal charges and no criminal record results from an ordinance violation conviction.

2. What options do I have available if I receive an ordinance violation?

You have two options:

You may pay a settlement by mail, in person at City Hall or online prior to your court date, and thereby avoid a court appearance. Settlement is not an admission of guilt, but it bars you from challenging or disputing the citation or the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the citation. By making payment you accept these terms. Pay online.
You may appear in court and plead either guilty or not guilty. If you plead not guilty, the matter will be set for trial. If the court finds that the town has not proven the charge, you will be found not guilty and you will not owe anything. If you plead guilty or are found guilty after trial, you will be required to pay a fine plus court costs. A payment plan will be set by the court.

Please note: A guilty plea in court or a finding of guilt after trial for the violation of unlawful possession of alcohol or unlawful consumption of alcohol will result in a report to the Secretary of State causing a suspension of your driver’s license.

3. Where can I find a copy of the ordinance which I am accused of violating?: All Town ordinances can be found in the Town of Normal Municipal Code.

4. How can I avoid coming to court?: Most persons issued a citation can avoid court by paying a settlement at City Hall. A settlement can be paid on-line, in person or by mail.

5. Under what circumstances can I plead not guilty and contest a charge?: You can always contest a charge. You have an absolute right to plead not guilty. You are presumed innocent until the Town of Normal proves your guilt. The Town has the burden of proof. Unlike a criminal charge however, the Town need only prove you guilty by a preponderance of the evidence. The Town need not prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

6. What is the procedure for contesting a charge?: If you wish to contest a charge, you must appear in court on the date and at the time indicated on the citation. In court, you must plead not guilty. A date will be designated for a trial.

7. Can someone else appear in court on my behalf (for example, a friend or family member)?: Only a licensed attorney may appear on your behalf.

8. What are my rights with respect to a trial?: The Town of Normal will present its case. You have the opportunity to question the witnesses testifying against you. Then you may testify on your own behalf and present witnesses to support your case. The Town will question your witnesses. The judge (or jury) will weigh the evidence presented by both parties and determine the outcome.

9. Do I need an attorney?: You may represent yourself or be represented by an attorney. Because you cannot go to jail for ordinance violations, no public defenders or court-appointed lawyers are available for ordinance violation cases.

10. What type of trial is available?: You may have either a bench or a jury trial.

11. What is a bench trial?: A bench trial is a trial in which the judge alone determines whether the Town has proven you guilty.

12. When is a jury trial available?: You have the right to a trial by jury. However, you must demand a jury trial at your first court appearance. You will also be required to pay a jury fee before obtaining a jury trial. The jury fee is non-refundable.

13. What is the probability that I will win my case?: Nobody can say with certainty that you will win or lose your case. Your chances of being successful in court depend on the strength of the testimony and evidence against you and the evidence you present on your behalf. The Town does not need to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but only by a preponderance of the evidence.

14. What happens if I win in court?: You will be found not guilty and no fine or court costs will be assessed against you.

15. What happens if I lose in court?: You will be fined and ordered to pay costs. You will also receive a record of an ordinance violation conviction. The fine is set by the judge and may be more or less than that offered as a settlement prior to the trial. If you are found guilty of unlawful consumption of alcohol or unlawful possession of alcohol, your driver's license will be suspended by the State of Illinois.

16. How much is the fine?: Most fines range from $25 to $500. Court costs are in addition to the fine. Typical court costs are approximately $100.

17. If found guilty, how much time am I given to pay the fine and court costs?: The judge will order the fine and costs be paid by a certain date or by installments. Your personal financial condition will determine the amount of time or size of payment you make.

18. What are the consequences of pleading guilty in court?: You will be fined and assessed court costs. For unlawful possession of alcohol or unlawful consumption of alcohol, a guilty plea will also result in suspension of your driving privileges.

19. What are some advantages to pleading guilty in court?: You may be given a longer period of time in which to pay the fine and costs. You also may be able to work out a payment schedule to pay the fine and court costs.

20. What are some disadvantages to pleading guilty in court?: You will incur costs in addition to a fine. You may incur a higher fine than that offered by the Town as a settlement. By appearing in court, you will then have a court record, which becomes part of a public record and is easily accessible when doing a background check. A settlement with the Town is also a matter of public record, but rarely do background checks include a check for an ordinance violation.

21. What are the advantages of pleading not guilty?: The only way to be found not guilty and avoid a fine and court costs is to plead not guilty.

22. What are the disadvantages of pleading not guilty?: You will have an additional court appearance for trial. If you lose, you may receive a higher fine than that offered by the Town for a guilty plea.

23. Is public service work available instead of a fine?: No, public service work is not available for ordinance violations.

24. Will the ordinance violation affect my driver's license?: Pursuant to State law, a court conviction or disposition of supervision for unlawful possession or consumption of alcohol will be sent to the Secretary of State for license suspension or revocation. (Payment at City Hall is not a conviction.) Any misuse of a driver's license or possession of a false ID may be sent to the Secretary of State for license action.

25. When is my court date?: For ordinance violation citations already filed in court, you may go to the public access site of the Circuit Clerk of McLean County and search for your name. For all other cases, you may contact the Legal Department during regular business hours at (309) 454-9507.

26. Who is eligible to pay a settlement at City Hall?: Most offenders may pay at City Hall or online. The Town reserves the right to withdraw any settlement offer and reject any payment sent for purposes of settlement.

27. What if I have a prior ordinance violation?: You will most likely be allowed to pay at City Hall or online. If you have more than one prior ordinance violations, you may be permitted to settle out of court only by agreement with the Town's Legal Department. If you have more than one prior ordinance violation citations, if allowed to settle at City Hall, you will most likely be required to pay an increased settlement amount. The Town reserves the right to refuse any settlement offer.

28. What if I receive multiple ordinance violations arising out of a single incident?: Multiple Offenses: If you receive more than one ordinance violation citation arising out of a single incident, pay only the most serious charge (the highest settlement amount.) If the charge due is the same dollar amount on multiple citations, you can decide which violation you pay. If you receive multiple violations and any one of these does not appear on the list on the front, call the Legal Department at (309) 454-9507. Payment of the most serious offense will cause the other offenses to be dismissed.

29. How can I pay the settlement?: You may pay by mail, in person at City Hall or online. You must sign the back of your citation and include this with your payment. Payment should be made to the Town of Normal. Cash, check, money order, or credit cards are acceptable forms of payment. You can also pay online.

30. How long do I have to pay the settlement?: You must pay the settlement prior to the date of your court appearance.

31. May I make partial payments?: No. Only payment in full is accepted in settlement for ordinance violations.

32. Where do I send the citation and payment?: Town of Normal
Legal Department
11 Uptown Circle
P.O. Box 589
Normal, IL 61761

33. What happens if I do not pay the settlement by the court date?: If you have not paid the settlement by your court date, you must appear in court on that date. You may plead guilty or not guilty. If you plead guilty a payment plan or pay-by date will be given to you. You will also be required to pay court costs. If you plead not guilty, the matter will be set for trial. You will not owe anything unless you are found guilty by the court.

34. What happens with my citation if I pay the settlement?: If the ticket was already filed in court, it will be dismissed. If it has not been filed in court, the Town will keep a record at City Hall, and it will not be filed in court.

35. Why is it called a settlement?: By paying and signing the settlement agreement, and after acceptance by the Town, you release any claim you may have against the Town and the Town releases its right to prosecute you for the violation.

36. How much do I have to pay?: Section 17.9-3 of the Municipal Code of the Town of Normal contains a list of offenses which may be settled for specified amounts.

37. Whom can I contact for more information?

You can contact the Town of Normal Legal Department with any questions: