St. Louis REALTORS® adopted the Ethics Citation Program to improve the process of reporting and resolving certain ethics complaints. The Citation Program is limited to specific Article violations of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics as listed on the table for citable offenses (see link below). It is an alternative to the ethics hearing process.
The Citation Program is part of St. Louis REALTORS®’ ongoing effort to ensure fairness and integrity in real estate transactions according to the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. The Citation Program intends to increase professionalism in the marketplace for our membership, streamline the ethics hearing process, and protect the interests of the general public.
How the Citation Program Works:
- A REALTOR®, or member of the public, files an Ethics Complaint through the St. Louis REALTORS® Ethics Complaint process.
- The Complaint goes to the Grievance Committee for review.
- If the Grievance Committee decides the Articles cited in the Complaint make the case eligible for the Citation Program, the case goes to a Citation Panel.
- If the Citation Panel determines enough evidence to support the Complaint, they will issue a fine to the REALTOR® based on the Citation Violation Fine Schedule. There is no hearing unless the Respondent requests one within a given time frame.
- The Respondent is given 20 days to request a due process hearing.
- If Respondent requests a due process hearing within the required time frame, the Complaint goes through the normal Ethics Hearing process.
- If the Respondent accepts the Citation or fails to request a due process hearing within the required time frame, the fine must be satisfied.
Why the Citation Program?
For Complainants, the Citation Program works faster than the normal Ethics process by not participating in the lengthy and time-consuming ethics complaint and hearing process—allowing St. Louis REALTORS® to quickly discipline unethical conduct. The Complaint must assert an alleged violation of only the Articles included in the Citation Program (see link below) for the Citation Process to be implemented.
Respondents who elect to participate in the Citation Program have the opportunity to avoid a time-consuming hearing process and obtain a quick resolution of ethics violations. The Citation Program is a confidential process that provides fairness to all parties.