Ask The Parking Ticket Geek – City Sticker Edition
Do you know if you are still required to buy a city “sticker” for a motorcycle even if the bike is not being used but was licensed for this year. I renewed my license but then had to move my bike to storage since I do not have a place to keep it at my current address.
I have heard rumors that since the City Clerk is now integrated with the state’s license registration system that you will receive a ticket in the mail if you do not purchase the city sticker for a currently registered vehicle….quite annoying if true.
Thank you,
Stored Bike
Dear Stored Bike,
Don’t waste your money.
The municipal code is pretty clear on this. As long as the vehicle doesn’t drive on a Chicago street, it does not need a city sticker. If it’s in storage, you don’t need it.
As far as the City Clerk mailing tickets to you for not having a city sticker by cross referencing the Secretary of State’s database, I have not heard anything about this. I wouldn’t rule this out for the future though. Those money grubbing whores at City Hall are looking for any way to raise money on the backs of motorists. But as of now, it’s only a rumor.
Very truly yours,
The PTG
Hey Geek,
I have a question. Would I still receive ticket for an expired city sticker if I don’t renew by June 30th? I plan on getting on July 15th (paycheck). Thank you so much for all the help.
Thanks,
Nicole
Dearest Nicole,
As long as you have a city sticker on your windshield by 11:59:59 on July 15th, you will not get a ticket for failure to display a city vehicle sticker.
Get to a Currency Exchange on the 15th to get your sticker, but be prepared to wait. This late in the game, lines for city stickers at Currency Exchanges can be long.
Very truly,
The Geek
Geek,
Add me to the list of people ticketed for displaying the new city sticker – violation “No city sticker or improper display”.
Of course, the ticket photos show the new sticker clearly on the passenger side windshield. Arrgh! I assume contesting by mail with the proper documentation should be enough?
-Jon
Jon-
I don’t see how you lose.
The ticket writer is just brain dead. How do you do that job and not know what the new stickers look like? C’mon now!
Don’t forget to point out to the hearing officer that the blurry photo the ticket writer took, actually supports YOU.
Your strategy should be fool proof. But then again, this is the city of Chicago.
Keep us posted Jon.
The Geek
Dear Geek,
I am moving out of the city of Chicago on July 10 (not because of the parking fiasco, but if that’s how it looks, I’m ok with that).
Since the city does not begin enforcing the city sticker ordinance until July 15, this should mean I don’t have to buy a city sticker this year. However, I will be back in Chicago a few weeks later. I don’t know that I will have had the opportunity to get my registration changed by the time I return for a visit.
So, my question to you is…when I come back for a visit, I’d only get a ticket if I parked on the street, right? If I can park in private lots, I should be ok, right? If I did get a ticket, there’d be no reason for me to pay it, once I got my registration changed, right?
Thanks!
Ray
Ray-
Don’t fret about parking on public streets in Chicago.
Technically, you have 30 days from the date you move to your new residence to change your registration with the state. You should be fine.
Even if you get a city sticker violation while back in the city, you officially don’t live here so it would be easy to fight as you will have changed your registration by the time you fight any theoretical ticket you may possibly, potentially, receive.
I would suggest, since your 2008-2009 city sticker is expired, remove it from your windshield. Often ticket writers will see last year’s sticker on your windshield, and not this year’s and ASSUME you are not in compliance even though you reside outside the city. Don’t let them have an excuse to ticket you.
In fact, make a trip down to the village hall of where you now reside and get a vehicle sticker from them and slap it on your windshield. This is very helpful in repelling unwanted Chicago city sticker tickets.
Very truly yours,
The Geek
Ask The Parking Ticket Geek is a weekly parking ticket advice column here at The Expired Meter.
If you have a question for The Parking Ticket Geek, please e-mail the Geek with your query at: askthegeek@theexpiredmeter.com
Hello PTG,
Based on the time of that ticket, it looks like the ticket writer was half asleep. More importantly, were there any comments written on the ticket, or perhaps was it not properly affixed to the windshield (ie: using a plastic shield)?
I would also suggest calling the agency and complain against the person who issued that ticket.
I have to agree with Ticketmaster……….
Unless that City Sticker was not attached to the windshield….the Ser Co putz was half asleep.
Different subject, but I was puzzled by this one…
The other day I was at the Jewel on Broadway / Addison. A cop was walking around the parking lot and writing out tickets. I looked at the car’s ticket next to me….”No front plate” was the ticket. I thought cops couldn’t go into private parking lots and write up violations. Seemed fishy to me.
Anyone????
That doesn’t seem kosher to me. In most cases, I don’t think ticket writers (cops, PEAs, TMA, etc.) can write tickets on private property.
But, I would certainly like to get input from some of the PEAs or cops that read the website.
How come i can’t renew my type A truck (ford ranger) online?
The online renewal form asks for vehicle weight. When I put the correct weight in it says “this is not a type a truck and you cannot purchase this city sticker online”.
I had the same problem last year.
If the police see you being robbed in that parking lot, can they arrest the offender? Of course. A parking ticket is no different. Look at the handicap spaces.
Mark-
Sorry, you’re wrong.
Cops and PEAs cannot ticket on private property.
The only exceptions are, like you said, handicapped parking violations, and city stickers can be enforced in public parking garages licensed by the city.
But you cannot be ticketed legally in a Jewel parking lot.
Sooooo….
The police CAN issue a ticket for handicap spaces, fire lanes, 9-80-120 parking in parking lots, 9-80-130 city-owned parking facilities, 9-80-110 abandoned vehicles, city stickers, and so on. I’m not going through the whole law book but I’m sure there are more. The tickets that can’t be written, expired meters, alley, etc. don’t matter because those aren’t in most lots.
The police can’t issue moving violations on private property unless it’s for D.U.I.
I believe I’m right.
Mark-
Again, I don’t deny those exceptions in the muni code exist. But, in general, when parked on private property, you cannot be ticketed. These parking lots and garages we both agree are the exception, are just a tiny, tiny fraction of the totality of private property.
A PEA cannot come onto a car parked in my garage (private property) and give me a ticket. They cannot come onto my property to ticket my vehicle unless it’s for an abandoned vehicle, which is rarely done.
I can have a car parked on my property without a city sticker, without plates, with tinted glass, with a cracked windshield, etc., etc., but you cannot be ticketed.
Once the vehicle pulls onto the public way, all bets are off.
The same goes for the Jewel parking lot, or the mall parking lot, or wherever. Private property.
The exceptions you cite and that I agree exist, apply to a very tiny amount of private property that exists in Chicago.
Ticket Geek – per your previous post regarding this, I would like some clarification. I’ve been lazy and haven’t yet affixed my new city sticker in my vehicle (although I did purchase a new sticker). Last night I was ticketed in my garage for “No or Improperly Displayed City Sticker”. My garage is a multi-spot garage in a condo building, but I own the deed to it. One spot has a “stored” vehicle and the other spot I use for my daily driver. Can I be written a ticket for a registered vehicle parked in one of these privately owned parking spots?
Thanks.
Is it legal for a Chicago city cop to ticket inside of a parking garage of a condo building? My fiance and I both have vehicles not registered in the city and neither of us have city stickers and are parked inside our indoor parking garage.
Both of us received tickets for not having it (her plates are Michigan where her car is registered). Also he was being shady by hiding the tickets. Hers was on the rear passenger side window. The only way to approach the car is from the drivers side. Mine was on the back window in the very upper corner of the window hidden by my rear window wiper. I also back into my spot which is in a corner and very dark. He might as well just have adhered them to our mufflers as he did not want us to find the tickets in time to contest them.
Is this legal for him to be on private property and is there any way to file a formal complaint as I have his badge number?
I am just as lazy as ‘Frustrated Parker’, and had not affixed the new city sticker to my windsheild, although I had purchased it on time. Well almost 6 months later and there you go – ticket for “No or Improperly Displayed City Sticker”. The picture on the ticket is very blurry and you can not even tell which city sticker is affixed on the car. Should I try and contest it with clear photos with the new city sticker affixed?
Well…I would.
You may want to produce a photo that supports your defense.
If the city’s photo is too blurry to see anything, perhaps your photo documenting the situation will help clear things up.
Jess………you got a computer printout ticket?
City Clerk Officer.
If you try a photo of your own…better make sure there is no time/date stamp…and FYI…its not a compliance violation that can be beaten just because you show you are now in compliance after the ticket was written.
Highly annoyed right now, I was just pulled over in the middle of traffic and given a ‘parking ticket’ for what the officer said was a cracked windshield. Wondering how much I’d have to pay there is no pre-printed section for this violation so she enters the violation number. Finding that number on the list I notice the fine is $250.00. Wondering if its legal to issue a parking ticket while I was operating the vehicle, I found that the municple code she entered 9-76-220(a) applies to obstruction of the drivers vision from tinted windows, not a cracked plate. In fact the code for cracked glass is 9-76-210 and the fine is only $25.00. Do I have a good chance of contesting this ticket? Does municiple code 9-76-220(a) cover cracked windshields even though it does not explicity state so?
9-76-220 Obstruction of driver’s vision; tinted and nonreflective windows.
(a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle on any roadway with any sign, poster, window application, reflective material, nonreflective material or tinted film on the front windshield, sidewings or side windows immediately adjacent to either side of the operator. A nonreflective tint screen may be used along the uppermost portion of the front windshield if the material does not extend more than six inches down from the top of the windshield.
9-76-210 Broken or inoperable lamps; broken or cracked glass.
(a) No person shall operate any vehicle on any roadway if any lamp or light required for the vehicle by this Code is broken or inoperable.
(b) No person shall operate any vehicle on any roadway if any window of the vehicle is missing, broken, or cracked and the crack exceeds six inches in length.
A lot of thoughts here.
Here’s how I would argue it.
1-Like you mention, the ticket was issued for the wrong violation. It should have been for 9-76-220b.
2-Since both are “compliance violations”, meaning if you fix the illegal situation and prove it in a hearing, the ticket should be dismissed. Get the glass fixed. Bring the receipt and a photo of the fixed windshield to the hearing or enclose it in your letter.
Argue both just to be safe.
This should get you out of that very expensive ticket.
I just recieved a ticket for my car. Failure to display village sticker. My car does not work and is parked in my driveway in front of the garage. Is it legal for the officer to ticket my car on private property?
I just recently purchased a new car, on 4/23. I knew that I was safe for the first 30 days after purchase. Now, I I’m past that grace period, but still have no city sticker at all (i rarely park anywhere by my private garage). I stopped to ask a cop one day, and he said “you have until July 15th”. Now, am I safe without ANY sticker until 7/15? Or, does that period only apply to drivers who have an expired sticker and need to renew?
thanks a lot
urbanjunglist…
You are Not Safe.
You can still be cited for No City Sticker even during the Renewal period because as you have stated…you don’t have ANY.
From June 1st to July 15th of every year, the City doesn’t Issue for Expired City Stickers from the previous year. We run the plate and check registration first. Then if you come up with a Chicago Address on your Registration or ID and you don’t have the Current year sticker…Bam: 200.00 Ticket.
And I need to post a comment as well.
Turns out (I just learned this today at work) if the Garage or Lot is Licensed by the City…CPD/Clerk/PEA’s can check it for sticker scofflaws…PERIOD.
Since December 2003 its been legal.
Ok so i bought my city sticker on time but i was too lazy to display it on the window… and i got a ticket… can i get my money back if i show proof in court?
Marisela,
Sorry to say, but the ticket is for “Failure to Display.” Just purchasing the city sticker is not enough. Your paid receipt will not work to get you off the ticket. I’m very sorry.
I also bought my city sticker on time but had difficulty removing last year’s sticker and thus just put the new city sticker on the bottomr R hand corner of the dash.
I got a $200 ticker for “no city sticker” — shouldn’t this actually be just a $30 ticket for “improper display of city sticker” ??? Can I contest this?
Thanks in advance
Carmen,
Yes, definitely fight this ticket and on the basis of what you outlined above.
Take a photo of where it is now on the windshield.
Fight the ticket at an inperson hearing and explain that you DO have a city sticker but it was improperly placed and therefore the ticket was issued improperly–as it should have been issued for improper display.
In the meantime, contact the City Clerk’s office to get a replacement sticker and perhaps further advice on how to fight this ticket.
And next time Carmen, for the love of God, please follow the instructions and check out the video link on How to Remove a Chicago City Sticker.
http://theexpiredmeter.com/2012/07/how-to-remove-a-chicago-city-sticker-the-video/
Just to clarify – I didn’t actually place the sticker on the windshield. It was sitting on my dashboard (still attached to paper it came on — but barcode visible) in lower R hand corner of dash below last year’s sticker.
I wonder how many Cops are writing this one…
09-76-170 Failure to display City Sticker during operation
At the same time that they issue :
09-64-125(b & c) No Displayed City Sticker (200.00/500.00)
Carmen,
Technically, it has to be on the windshield. I agree, a minor point, but that’s the law and why you got the ticket.
When you said right side of the windshield, I thought you meant the driver’s side. Sorry for that confusion.
First day of School : Track E : this Monday
Shool zones here I come
I had a car stored away close to two years unoperational. It is now fixed, do I have to buy 2 years worth of city stickers? I am confused on what I have to do
Eddie,
No, if the car was not operational for two years, no city wheel tax would be necessary.
Go ahead and get a new city sticker. I doubt if anyone is going to ask for you to purchase 2 years of city stickers. If they do, explain the vehicle was inoperable and in storage.
While you don’t have to buy two years worth of back stickers….operation-ability isn’t one of the exception clauses of the municipal ordinance for a Wheel Tax Emblem.
The Wheel Tax emblem is the annual fee paid because you Own a vehicle (or more than 1) as a City Resident. It isn’t a Permit to park on the street.
And legally, I believe Kristine Williams of the City Clerk will support that statement.
What is the definition of a vehicle? Does, for example, the MSI have to buy a wheel tax emblem for each of its vehicles? Certainly some of those cars could be driven on the street? If the infamous Spiked Car statue was in Chicago, would one be needed for each? What if, as a City Resident, I also owned a car which I kept on an Island in Northern Minnesota? Since I am a City Resident, would I need a sticker for that? The short answer is that common sense says that none of these cars, including the one that was non-operational for two years, does not need the sticker. But since the City (and the mindless ticket writers that work for them) doesn’t use common sense… well we all see what is happening.
Check out the CDOT and IDOT and USDOT for the definition.
But if it has 2 or more wheels, is Motor Driven, is REQUIRED to have a Title and a Registration Plate and Insurance to legally operate AND you legally have to have a Drivers License to operate it…
BAM….it’s a vehicle.
And then…you’re required to pay for and display a Wheel Tax Emblem.
And as for the Common sense comment….
Revenue didn’t come up with the City Sticker thing.
As I recall…there was one in 1919….for vehicles of 35 Horsepower or Less and there was one in 1944 and 1937 and for 1948 for 35 Horsepower or Higher Vehicles.
Chicago has had a Tax on Motor vehicles since darn near their invention and distribution.
It’s a Tax on Ownership. Not Operation or Parking.
Jagoff.
And if you want mindless enforcement…please post your vehicle type…Plate # and Exp Date on the website.
I’m sure any of the 50 revenue PEA’s that read this site daily would be happen to find you parked illegally sometime soon.
Drew,
I think the key word is “operate.”
If the vehicle is not “operational” and its wheels do not touch the public way, a city sticker or current registration is not necessary.
If the car is sitting, collecting dust for two years in a garage or storage, there’s no need to purchase either of those two licenses as the vehicle is not making use of the roads.
The city sticker is specifically a tax on vehicles to help pay for street repairs. Repairs that are necessary by the wear and tear of the vehicles that use the roads. Eddie’s car never touched the road and therefore did not affect any wear and tear on the streets.
So why should he be obligated to purchase a city sticker?
Drew, David,
Here’s the Chicago municipal code regarding display of the city sticker.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 3-56-125(d) of this Code, no person shall park or stand on any portion of the public way, on any city-owned property, in a public parking garage as defined in Chapter 4-232, or any parking lot open to pedestrian traffic any vehicle requiring a license pursuant to Chapter 3-56 of this code, unless the wheel tax license emblem is displayed as required by this code.
But looking even closer at the underlying law, here’s the language of 3-56-020
3-56-020 License required.
It shall be unlawful for any motor vehicle owner residing within the city to use, or to cause or permit any of the owner’s agents, employees, lessees, licensees or bailees, to use, any motor vehicle or any other vehicle upon the public ways of the city or upon any city-owned property, unless such vehicle is licensed as provided in this chapter. Trailers are exempted from this license requirement. There shall be a presumption that any vehicle parked in any public garage, as defined in Chapter 4-232, or any parking lot open to pedestrian traffic, used the public ways to arrive at its location.
Eddie’s car was in storage, and not on the public way or on city property or in a public garage or parking lot accessible to pedestrian traffic. I can’t see how the city sticker fees would apply to him for the past two years.
If your vehicle is being stored long-term on private property and will thus not be operated on public roads, remove the license plates and make sure the VIN is not visible from outside of the vehicle. Boom, problem solved.
Nothing in the law requires a stored vehicle to have plates, hence it cannot be ticketed for no city sticker. Nothing a meter maid can do about it.
Everyone pay attention.
Pete’s advice is really, really good.
He’s right, if you have a car that’s out of commission or you just want to store it, as long as the vehicle is on private property, take off the plates and shove a bunch of old parking meter receipts or a magazine over the VIN# so you can’t be ticketed.
You may even want to invest in one of those car covers, just to be even safer.
I have a nonoperational car parked in an indoor garage. I have a suspended license and of course no registration. One day a I took the chance to drive it to the store. When I came back my neighbor was parked behind the condo where I lived and it was blocking the entrance to my garage. After waiting some time my neighbor did not move the car and I proceeded in trying to get my car in. In doing so I slightly hit the other car, once parked I close my garage. Later the police came and game me a traffic ticket for not license and no registration as well as collision eventhough the other car was fine. Is that traffic ticket and collision report legal?
Jose,
I am not sure I have decent advice for you here.
First, I’m sure you know this already, but you shouldn’t have been driving that car. Not trying to nag you here, but it was kind of a dumb move.
That being said…is there any witness to you doing any of this? Did you admit to what you did? Did your a-hole neighbor blocking your garage see anything?
If not, perhaps they don’t have a case.
My overall recommendation is look into getting a traffic lawyer to help you out with this.
Anyone else here have any insight?