Twice the Price: BB Guns, Loitering and Other Village Fines Could Increase

On Monday, the Village Board reviewed an ordinance to modernize New Lenox's fee schedule and ticket amounts. The board could vote on the ordinance at its Aug. 22 meeting.

"There are things in there where you'd be charged a sawbuck for walking your donkey on the road," Mayor Tim Baldermann said, jokingly, about updating some of the language and fines for various violations.

Many ticket prices remain the same, though some increase from $25 to $50. Others that weren't necessarily spelled out in current village code as separate violations would have been listed as "other violations," a category that also made that $25 increase. Graffiti, which wasn't listed separately in current code, would be a $100 ticket under the new ordinance.

The violation descriptions listed below do not necessarily mean the act itself is illegal; while in some cases that's true, such as with red light running, other items such as operating a snowmobile are only restricted given certain circumstances. To get a full description of the violations and to learn more about village code, read about the ordinances on Municode.

Here's a breakdown of the proposed updates to fine amounts:

Violation Description Code No. Old Fine New Fine Illegal handicap parking 90-171 $250 minimum $250 minimum Graffiti 54-81 n/a $100 Disorderly conduct, unnecessary noise 54-131 $25 $100 Red light running 90-70 $100 $100 Illegal use of fire hydrants 94-246 $100 $100 Animal regulations Chapter 14 $25 $75 on first offense; $150 on subsequent offenses in calendar year Theft under $150 Chapter 54, article III $75 $75 Building regulations Chapter 18 $50 $50 Illegal construction debris 18-1 $50 $50 Burning regulations Chapter 42, article III $25 $50 Loitering 54-132 $25 $50 Nuisance violations 54-133 $50 $50 Curfew 54-161 n/a $50 Tobacco product offenses 54-162 n/a $50 Weapons/firearms (BB guns and airguns) 54-191 $25 $50 Hunting within villlage 54-211 n/a $50 Solicitors/peddlers Chapter 58 $50 $50 Refuse violations Chapter 70, article III $25 $50 Depositing snow/injurous materials on roadway or sidewalk 74-1 $50 $50 Right-of-way encroachment Chapter 74, article III n/a $50 Incorrectly displaying, or defacing house numbers Chapter 74, article V $25 $50 Traffic violations, except moving violations 90-31(a) n/a $50 Use of motor driven cycles
90-65 n/a $50 No seat belt 90-71 n/a $50 Snowmobile operation Chapter 90, article V $25 $50 first offense; $100 subsequent Village vehicle stickers Chapter 90, article VII $25 $50 Vehicle abandonment Chapter 90, article VIII $25 $50 Watering regulations 94-247 $25 $50 Weeds Chapter 98, article II n/a $50 first offense; $100 subsequent All other violations -- $25 $50 Roller skates/toy vehicles in roadway 90-63 n/a $25 Illegal use of skateboards, roller skates, roller blades 90-66 n/a $25 All non-handicap parking violations Chapter 90, article IV $10 $25 Illegal use of commuter lot 90-170 n/a $25 Truck/trailer/boat zoning 106-38 $25 $25 Sign regulations Chapter 106, article VIII $25 $25