If you are appearing in-person, you should try to arrive at court at least 15 minutes before your scheduled hearing time.  We grant a 60-minute grace period for each case, as some may run beyond the scheduled hearing time.  A TLC employee will check you in and show you where to sit.  They will then come and get you when it is time for your hearing.  Hearings usually last 30 to 45 minutes, once testimony begins.  Afterwards, you can wait for a copy of the Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) decision or you can ask to have it mailed to you.

If you are appearing by telephone, a TLC employee will call you on the day of the hearing approximately 15 minutes before the hearing starts.  We grant a 60-minute grace period for each case, as some may run beyond the scheduled hearing time.  You should be prepared to receive the call anywhere between five (5) minutes before, or 60 minutes after, the scheduled hearing time.  Hearings usually last 30 to 45 minutes, once testimony begins.  A copy of the ALJ’s decision will be mailed to you after the hearing.

No matter how you participate, all hearings will follow the same general process:

• All people present who are participating will be sworn in by the ALJ.

• Both you and the person being accused of breaking TLC rules will have the chance to tell the ALJ what happened.

• You will also be able to question each other, so be prepared to tell your side of the story.

• The ALJ will listen to both sides and make a decision as to what happened (a “finding of fact”) as well as whether any TLC rules were broken and what the penalty, if any, should be (a “finding of law”).

• When the testimony is finished, the ALJ will then ask everyone to leave the courtroom so he or she can write the decision.

• Both you and the person accused of breaking the rules will receive a copy of the ALJ’s final decision, which will also include a description of the penalty if the person being accused is found guilty.

TLC Administrative Law Judges can only make decisions about the TLC rules and only apply penalties as provided for in the TLC rules.  They cannot provide arbitration services.  The hearing is not an appropriate time or place to make an individual “deal” with the person you filed the complaint against.

Things to Know About Our Courts

It is the TLC’s policy not to disclose any personal information that is in the TLC’s possession, whether that information relates to licensees, witnesses, or any other individuals, except as may be required by law, including a court order or subpoena.  Therefore, if you submit a complaint, the TLC will not disclose your identity, address or other personal information to anyone outside the TLC.  However, if you agree to testify at a hearing, your identity must be disclosed on the record of the hearing.

You can only file one complaint about an incident. Any other passengers present at the time of the incident can also testify at the same hearing.