A pre-hearing settlement offer is when the city lawyer or representative offers to settle or end the case against you for an agreed upon fine or penalty if you agree to plead liable to the violation. Please note that pre-hearing settlements are not available for parking tickets. Many code offenses are Strict Liability or Vicarious Liability offenses. In Strict Liability offenses, it is not a defense that you didn't mean to break the law. The hearing, while less formal than a state court trial, still follows a basic structure to ensure fairness and due process of law.
All testimony is under oath and recorded.
The hearing officer will begin by giving his or her opening remarks, which outlines the hearing process. Since the city initiated the case against you it has to present its evidence before you are even asked to present a defense. That simply means that it must set forth the necessary allegations that a code violation may have occurred. Please note that in certain instances, federal and state case law allows the city to present its case through the sworn Notice of Violation , without requiring the presence of the ticketing police officer or city inspector. The hearing officer reviews the city's case to see if it has alleged all the necessary elements required by law.