Illinois Code § 17

§ 17.

Violations, Administrative Action and Review. Violations of this Act shall be classified as follows: (a) Category I Violations, which include: (i) Technical violations causing no harm to persons or property. (ii) Prior practices or conditions that have been voluntarily remedied. Category I violations shall be handled by a warning notice issued by the Commission to the warehouseman stating that such practices shall not be allowed to recur. Receipt of such notice shall be acknowledged by the warehouseman. (b) Category II Violations, which include: (i) Practices or conditions that if continued could cause significant loss to depositors. (ii) Practices or conditions that if continued could cause serious hazard to public health or safety. (iii) Operating a personal property warehouse without a license. The Commission may, upon its own motion and shall upon the verified complaint in writing of any person setting forth facts which if proved would constitute a Category II violation, investigate the actions of any person or persons operating a personal property warehouse. The Commission shall issue a formal notice to the warehouse operator that he is required to take proper and immediate steps to correct the practices or conditions, and that failure to do so could be cause for revocation of license and other legal penalties as provided in this Act. The warehouse operator shall, if he believes that the complaint is improper, unjust, or unfounded, request a hearing which shall be set up in conformance with established practice for Commission administrative hearings. If the warehouse operator fails to correct the alleged practices or conditions, or fails to request a hearing within a stipulated time, his license shall be revoked, and the Commission may impose civil penalties in the amount provided under the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law. The Commission may also seek appropriate judicial action. In the case of practices or conditions that constitute serious hazard to public health or safety, the Commission shall cooperate with the appropriate federal, state, and local agencies or authorities. (c) Category III Violations, which include: (i) Conversion of a depositor's goods to the warehouseman's own use. (ii) Practices or conditions that have caused significant loss or damage to depositors. The Commission may, upon its own motion and shall upon the verified complaint in writing of any person setting forth facts which if proved would constitute a Category III violation, investigate the actions of any person or persons operating a personal property warehouse. The Commission shall issue a formal notice to the warehouse operator that he is required to take proper and immediate steps to correct the practices or conditions, and that failure to do so will be cause for revocation of license and additional legal penalties as provided in this Act. The warehouse operator shall, if he believes that the alleged violation is unfounded, request a hearing which shall be set up in conformance with established practice for administrative hearings. If the warehouse operator fails to correct the alleged practices or conditions, or fails to request a hearing within a stipulated time, the operator's license shall be revoked, and the Commission may impose civil penalties in the amount provided under the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law. The Commission may also seek appropriate judicial action. In connection with any investigation or hearing conducted by the Commission under this Act, the Commission, over the signature of the Chairman of the Commission, is authorized to issue subpoenas and to bring before the Commission any person or persons in this State and to take testimony either orally or by deposition or by exhibit. The Chairman of the Commission is authorized to issue subpoenas for any or all documents relating to complainant records. The Chairman of the Commission or his designee may administer oaths to witnesses at any hearing which the Commission is authorized by law to conduct. The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, as amended, and the rules and regulations adopted thereunder shall apply to and govern all administrative actions taken by the Commission, where applicable, unless otherwise prescribed by this Act. Judicial review of final administrative decisions may be had in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Review Law, as now or hereafter amended. (Source: P.A. 96-515, eff. 1-1-10.)