Information About Champaign Ordinance Violations In Response To Coronavirus

Press release from the City of Champaign:

March 19, 2020

A recent Administrative Order issued by Circuit Judge Thomas J. Difanis and Covid-19 Precautionary Measures memo from Associate Judge Anna M. Benjamin have postponed most proceedings at the Champaign County Courthouse as a result of the COVID19 pandemic, including Champaign ordinance violation (OV) court.

The postponed Champaign ordinance violation dates include:

· March 31, 2020

· April 14, 2020

· April 17, 2020

· April 28, 2020

· May 5, 2020

Individuals who were previously scheduled or ordered to appear for court on a City of Champaign ordinance violation case should not appear on these dates. Cases are being rescheduled for dates in late May and June and notices of these dates will be mailed out in the upcoming weeks.

No warrants will be issued by the court and no penalties will be imposed by the City during this time. Court ordered payments are still in effect. Information on how you can make these payments during the Champaign County Courthouse closure can be found on the Circuit Clerk’s website. If you are experiencing a hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are unable to make your court-ordered payments, please contact the Legal Department to report the hardship.

If you receive a new City of Champaign ordinance violation with one of the above court dates listed, you should not appear in court on that date. You will receive a letter in the upcoming weeks which will provide you with additional time to pay your fine and a new court date if you wish to contest your violation.

All impacted individuals will receive important information regarding court dates and payment dates by mail. Notices will be sent to the last known address on file. If you have moved, please contact the City of Champaign Legal Department, in addition to the Circuit Clerk’s Office, to update your address. To check on the status of your case, please visit www.champaigncircuitclerk.org.

For more information, contact the City Legal Department at 217-403-8765 or visit our website at www.champaignil.gov/legal.

This press release was produced by the City of Champaign. The views expressed here are the author’s own.