(A) The local liquor control commissioner may revoke or suspend any license issued by him or her if he or she determines that the licensee has violated any of the provisions of the Illinois Liquor Control Act (235 ILCS 5/1-1 et seq.) as now in effect or hereafter amended, or any valid ordinance or resolution enacted by the City Council or any applicable rule or regulations established by the local liquor control commission or the state commission which is not inconsistent with the law. In lieu of suspension or revocation, the local liquor control commissioner may instead levy a fine on the licensee for such violations. The fine imposed shall not exceed $1,000 for each violation; each day on which a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation. Not more than $10,000 in fines under this section may be imposed against any licensee during the period of his or her/its license. Proceeds from such fines shall be paid to a general corporate fund of the municipal treasury.
(B) However, no such license shall be so revoked or suspended and no license shall be fined except after a public hearing by the local liquor control commissioner with a three day written notice to the licensee affording the licensee an opportunity to appear and defend. All such hearings shall be open to the public and the local liquor control commissioner shall reduce all evidence to writing and shall maintain an official record of the proceeding. If the liquor control commissioner has reason to believe that any continued operation of a particular licensed premises will immediately threaten the welfare of the community he/she may, upon the issuance of a written order stating the reason for such conclusion and without notice or hearing, order the licensed premises closed for not more than seven days, giving the licensee the opportunity to be heard during that period, except that is such licensee shall also be engaged in the conduct of another business or businesses on the licenses premises such order shall not be applicable to other such business or businesses.
(C) The local liquor control commissioner shall within five days after such hearing, if he/she determines after such hearing that the license should be revoked or suspended or that the licensee should be fined, state the reason or reasons for such determination in a written order, and either the amount of the fine, the period of suspension, or that the license has been revoked, and shall serve a copy of such order within five days upon the licensee.
(D) The licensee, after the receipt of an order of suspension or revocation, shall have the privilege within a period of 20 days after the receipt of such order of suspension or revocation of appealing the order to the state commission for a decision sustaining, reversing, or modifying the order of the local liquor control commissioner. If the state commission affirms the local commissioner's order to suspend or revoke the license at the first hearing, the appellant shall cease to engage in the business for which the license was issued, until the local commissioner's order is terminated by its own provisions or reversed upon rehearing or by the courts.
(Ord. 94-22, passed 11-24-94)