You need a lawyer.
Not a law violation, but an ordinance or regulation violation.
My understanding is there is no due process as we know it in criminal violations.
I ran into this dealing with the FAA, they can impose huge fines without ever having to go to court.
I think it would be helpful if you would provide the background, as to what is the ordinance, what was done/allegedly done to violate, what communication there has been, etc. The way the problem has been stated is a little cryptic, IMHO.
Usually rare they issue fines on first notice.
All an administrative “court” is concerned with is did the administrator dot the i’s and cross the t’s. They did? You’re screwed. And whether they did or didn’t, “they did”.
There is NO due process in admin law. It’s entirely undefined “externally” as in, via the Constitution or Bill of Rights. It is only defined “internally”, meaning, it has to be defined within the language of the admin law being invoked. Eg; lawn ordinance 231.97 says ________ and the remedy is ooops, left that part out. It is also fortified by the so-called “police power” tacitly granted to the state/county government, as in zoning.
Think about trying to get the zoning changed on a piece of property you own; to build a nice little 2500 sq ft concrete block factory on your residential street. Never happen.
That is why it is so loved by those of a totalitarian mindset. If you wish to fight admin law on Constitutional grounds, you first have to make the argument that the Constitution applies and that is not only very hard to do, it will probably cost you well into 5 figures.
The question is “What process is due?”. There will be an administrative appeal process spelled out in whatever ordinance covers this “offense”.
The “friend of the court” system is almost entirely administrative “judges” and bureaucrats.
All of these “administrative” judges and court employees need to be stripped of all authority.
Administrative judges, referees, and courts, are nothing more than a state and county level extortion racket.
Minimal due process in a non-emergency administrative context consists primarily of proper notice of the charge or claim, a meaningful hearing and opportunity to present evidence and argument in your behalf, a neutral and fair decision-maker, and an opportunity to appeal. Statutes and ordinances commonly give specific form to these rights and add additional ones. In most administrative hearings, a well-informed and carefully prepared layman can do a good job of representing himself or a family member, but pitfalls are many and not always obvious.