(55 ILCS 5/5-41055)

Sec. 5-41055. Collection of unpaid fines or other sanctions.

(a) Any fine or other sanction or costs imposed, or any part of any fine or other sanction or costs imposed, remaining unpaid after the exhaustion of or failure to exhaust procedures for judicial review under the Administrative Review Law is a debt due and owed to the county and, as such, may be collected in accordance with applicable law. Any subsequent owner or transferee of property takes subject to this debt if a notice has been filed pursuant to Section 5-41050.

(b) After expiration of the period within which judicial review under the Administrative Review Law may be sought for a final determination of the code violation, the county may commence a proceeding in the circuit court of the county for purposes of obtaining a judgment on the hearing officer's findings, decision, and order. Nothing in this Section prevents a county from consolidating multiple findings, decisions, and orders against a person or property in such a proceeding.

(c) Upon commencement of the action, the county shall file a certified copy of the findings, decision, and order, which shall be accompanied by a certification that recites facts sufficient to show that the findings, decision, and order were issued in accordance with this Division 5-41 and the applicable county ordinance. Service of the summons and a copy of the petition may be by any method provided by Section 2-203 of the Code of Civil Procedure or by certified mail, return receipt requested, provided that the total amount of fines or other sanctions and costs imposed by the findings, decision, and order does not exceed $5,000.

(d) If the court is satisfied that the findings, decision, and order were entered within the requirements of this Division 5-41 and the applicable county ordinance and that the respondent had an opportunity for a hearing under this Division 5-41 and for judicial review as provided in Section 5-41045:

(1) The court shall render judgment in favor of the county and against the respondent for the amount indicated in the findings, decision, and order plus court costs. The judgment has the same effect and may be enforced in the same manner as other judgments for the recovery of money.

(2) The court may issue other orders or injunctions, or both, requested by the county to enforce the order of the hearing officer or to correct a code violation.

(Source: P.A. 90-517, eff. 8-22-97.)