Transparency
Freedom Of Information Act Requests (F.O.I.A.) • Public Communications • Adjudication Program Information • Downtown Parking Permit Program • Municipal Code • Budget • SPD Policy Manual • Personnel Complaint
Freedom Of Information Act Requests (F.O.I.A.)
Download
To obtain information, records, and reports from the Sandwich Police Department under the Freedom of Information Act (F.O.I.A.) a written request must be made and submitted to the Support Services Division. Oral and phone requests will NOT be honored. The F.O.I.A. request form can be downloaded via the link above. A physical copy of the form may also be obtained at the Sandwich Police Department at any time.
Please note that the Sandwich Police Department has 5 business days to process the F.O.I.A. request, apply for a F.O.I.A. request extension, or deny the request. Commercial purpose requests provides the Department with 21 days to process the request. All extension and denials of a request will be answered in writing and will state the reasons for such request or denial.
There is no charge for approved letter or legal sized black and white copies up to 50 pages. Beyond 50 pages, the cost is .15 cents per page. Copies of records in sizes other than legal or letter size and color copies are assessed a charge for the actual reproduction of the requested items. Records requested in electronic format may be assessed a charge for the purchase of the recording medium. Other fees may be applied if this request is for commercial purposes.
If you have any questions please contact one of our F.O.I.A. Officers, Wendy Flowers or Mary Bryant, Monday – Friday (excluding holidays) during normal business hours at 815-786-7261.
Adjudication Program Information
COMPLIANCE CITATIONS:
In lieu of taking law enforcement action at the state level, officers have the ability to issue city compliance tickets instead of state citations or state criminal complaints for some offenses. The compliance tickets are then processed via our city adjudication program. If you are issued a city compliance ticket you will need to follow the instructions on the bottom of the citation. There are two options, explained below (illustration to the left).
1) “COURT APPEARANCE REQUIRED” – You must appear at the court date written on the ticket. Some offenses involving a minor may have the box labeled “PARENT MUST APPEAR” checked as well, in which case the parent or guardian of the involved minor MUST appear in court with the minor.
COURT ADDRESS: 128 E. Railroad St (City Hall Annex), Sandwich, Illinois 60548.
COURT DATE/TIME: The 3rd Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m.
2) “NO COURT APPEARANCE REQUIRED” – If this box is checked, there is NO appearance required as long as the fine (written in the box above the instructions) is paid within 14 days of issuance of the compliance citation. Instead of payment you may choose to appear at the court date written on your compliance citation and be seen by the Hearing Officer.
PAYMENT: If there is NO court date required, payment can be made at the Sandwich Public Safety Center, 1251 E. 6th St, Sandwich, Illinois 60548. Please note our older citations still reflect our old police department address. We DO NOT conduct business at 308 E. College St. any longer.
ADMINISTRATIVE TOWS:
If you were arrested for certain offenses provided by Illinois Statute (625 ILCS 5/11-208.7) and City of Sandwich Municipal Code (Section 82-405) you are subject to your vehicle being impounded and held pending a $500 administrative tow fee. If you have been noticed via a Sandwich Police Tow Report (photograph to the left) that your vehicle has an admin hold placed on it, you will see a section with an optional court date and time if you wish to object to the admin tow fee.
COURT ADDRESS: 128 E. Railroad St (City Hall Annex), Sandwich, Illinois 60548.
COURT DATE/TIME: The 3rd Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m.
If you wish to have an emergency preliminary hearing you must file written appeal with the Chief of Police within twenty-four (24) hours of the time that the vehicle was impounded. A hearing will then be scheduled within forty-eight (48) hours from the time the vehicle was impounded, excluding weekends and holidays. If after a hearing it is determined that the driver (or arrestee) was not in violation of the described offense, the vehicle will be returned without penalty or fees.
PAYMENT: To release the admin tow hold on your vehicle, payment must be made at the Sandwich Public Safety Center, 1251 E. 6th St, Sandwich, Illinois 60548. Please note our older documents still reflect our old police department address. We DO NOT conduct business at 308 E. College St. any longer. The $500 administrative tow fee may be paid by cash or credit card; however, please note that a 5% convenience fee will be added for all credit card transactions. Once payment is made a release slip will be issued. The release slip should be presented to the tow company which signifies that release of the car has been authorized by the Sandwich Police Department. All tow and storage fees incurred during the administrative hold is the responsibility of the vehicle’s owner. Tow and storage fees are set by the individual tow companies. No tow or storage fees are collected by the Sandwich Police Department, nor is the Sandwich Police Department compensated by any portion of a tow or storage fee.
Downtown Parking Permit Program
Starting in late 2023 the Sandwich Police Department took over facilitating the Downtown Parking Permit Program. This program was developed to assist residents in the downtown area to be able to park their vehicles in close proximity to their residences while honoring the posted parking restrictions in the downtown area (specifically no parking 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.).
Residents who live in the downtown apartments and are able to show proof of residency are eligible to purchase a parking permit for $25 at the Sandwich Police Department. The parking permit expires one (1) year from the date of purchase. The permit may be purchase by cash or credit card (with an additional 5% processing fee).
Please be aware of the following guidelines and restrictions:
1) Each permit can only be associated with one vehicle. At the time of purchase, the associated vehicle information will be recorded and entered into our computer system.
2) This parking permit is non-transferable. This means you can not transfer your parking pass to another person. Upon termination of the use of your parking placard, you must return it to the Sandwich Police Department.
3) If you get a new vehicle you must update your vehicle information with the Sandwich Police Department.
4) A properly permitted vehicle may be parked overnight in City Lot #1 (Railroad St between Main St. and Wells St.) or City Lot #2 (Railroad St. between Wells St. and Veterans Park). Please see the map to the left for clarification. A parking placard DOES NOT allow a vehicle to remain parked overnight on a street that prohibits parking from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. or any other restricted parking zone.
5) While parked overnight in City Lot #1 or City Lot #2, the vehicle must have it’s parking placard displayed on the rearview mirror. Vehicles that do not have a placard properly displayed will be subject to a city compliance citation. .