I live in city with administrative adjudication court, where an administrative law judge appointed by the city, decides guilty or not guilty on code violations that aren’t misdemeanors or punishment by jail or felonies. It’s either guilty or not guilty, no jury trials, and judge has little discretion on fine. I feel like I’m getting nickeled and dimed by the city which has done that on multiple properties. They also won’t allow me to appear personally and I’m not sure my cellphone will allow me to participate fully. They try to rush the cases also and gave me only a month to prepare on all the cases. Some of them they didn’t even give a chance to plead by the date specified they just set it for trial, and said that since I plead not guilty on the other places they assumed I would do the same on that case. I’m in the process of selling the properties and was hoping to do so before court as the fines are higher the second time.,and they are rushing this so they can do so. House are vacant and need some repairs for the most part. Anything helpful I can do to get due process, and a delay. I feel like the agency is set up solely to tilt things in the cities favor. --107.242.xxx.xx

I would go sit in on that court several times before determining how to plead not guilty, you may be able to do this using certified mail to the clerk of court. --76.188.xxx.xxx

The plea is only by mail, and they don’t allow you to sit in, as the hearings are now conducted only online or telephonically, presumably this change is because of Covid. The regular courts are open in person but the city run system is not. --107.242.xxx.xx

--47.139.xx.xx

It’s considered a hearing so hearsay is admissible. The only reason the city uses that method is it’s faster for them to get their outcome, and judge doesn’t have as much discretion on fine or punishment. So if you had a roof leak violation up high from a storm, judge would not give more time to fix, and can simply fine you the set rate. --107.242.xxx.xx

By me they charge for every year a property is vacant and has no utilities. Fine increases every year. At some point folks walk away and stop paying the taxes and fines. There is an occupied junk property next to one of my houses. Roof had a hole the size is a basketball for several months. Code violations have no teeth. Finally during the winter they nailed on a piece of plywood. Still the roof is shot and shingles keep blanketing the grass. It makes it hard to attract better tenants. It sounds like you are being fleeced. One thing by me they will cut your weeds and bill you if you don't respond in ten days. --172.58.xxx.xx

It would appear that you might be in the city's cross hairs. So without knowing why, you need to take the necessary action in getting out of the spotlight. --24.101.xxx.xxx

I’m selling the buildings, but they will try to fine me as much as possible before then. I’m not looking to spend much on the buildings. So just wanted to delay them from repeatedly ticketing me, without doing the actual work so I can sell. --107.242.xxx.xx