South Cook News

In response to a surge of unannounced intercity bus drop-offs depositing illegal immigrants in suburban areas, Tinley Park Village officials implemented a comprehensive ordinance aimed at curbing these incidents.

Passed on December 19, the ordinance grants police the authority to take immediate actions, including citations, impounding or other appropriate measures, against intercity bus drivers attempting unscheduled stops in Tinley Park to unload passengers.

Tinley Park Village Manager Pat Carr emphasized the importance of preventing unannounced drop-offs and ensuring that transportation companies are not transporting individuals who should not be traveling with them, particularly amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis involving illegal immigrants.

"At the end of the day, we want to know—if they’re dropping off people unannounced, or if they have a reservation out of the area, because of this humanitarian crisis—to make sure they’re not transporting anyone that’s not supposed to be traveling with them," Carr said, according to Patch.

The ordinance, ratified by the Tinley Park Village Board, reinforces two earlier executive orders requiring intercity bus drivers to apply for permission to make unscheduled stops within Tinley Park at least five days prior to the requested date of arrival.

The application process mandates background checks on passengers aged 18 and above, limiting unscheduled stops to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays, with no stops permitted on weekends or village holidays.

Noncompliance with these regulations can result in fines of $750 for drivers making unscheduled stops without prior approval.

The communities of New Lenox and Cicero also recently ratified similar ordinances.

In addition to the bus-related ordinance, Tinley Park officials have clarified penalties for hotel and motel violations, limiting stays to 28 days with no extension allowed without a 14-day break between stays.

Violations may lead to a $750 fine, escalating with additional fines for each subsequent day after the initial occurrence. Further, any hotel, motel, or extended-stay hotel failing to comply for 30 days or more may face business and liquor license revocation.

The enforcement of these measures is underscored by an executive order from Tinley Park Mayor Mike Glotz, granting the Tinley Park Chief of Police authority to pursue criminal charges against unscheduled intercity bus operators, drivers and third-party employees who attempt or successfully discharge passengers in ways endangering their health, safety, or welfare.

“The Chief of Police is hereby authorized to pursue criminal charges against any (i) unscheduled intercity bus operator, (ii) unscheduled intercity bus driver, or (iii) third-party employees who are charged with the oversight of the passengers, when such individual attempts to or does discharge passengers where such actions endanger the health, safety or welfare of passengers,” the executive order reads.

These actions follow a recent trend where buses, deterred by fines preventing them from dropping illegal immigrants in Chicago, have increasingly resorted to suburban areas, placing a strain on local police resources.

Municipalities across the Chicagoland area, including Lockport, Joliet, Fox River Grove, Elmhurst, and Kankakee, have witnessed unannounced drop-offs, prompting emergency ordinances and orders to manage the unexpected influx of migrants.

In response to the challenges posed by this surge, the Aurora City Council has also mandated transportation companies to provide advance notice of bus arrivals, aligning with regulations in Chicago.

The coordinated efforts reflect a regional response to the complex issues arising from unannounced bus drop-offs and aim to address concerns about the strain on local resources and potential vulnerabilities for migrants in unfamiliar areas.