Dear Mr. Geek,

Can I get a ticket for no city sticker if I am legally parked at a meter?

Sagar

Of course you can be ticketed for a city sticker violation parked at a meter Sagar.

Being legally parked at a meter does not magically project an invisible force field over your vehicle that repels ticket writers from issuing you tickets for other violations.

If your car’s license plate is expired, missing a front plate, parked over 12″ from the curb or not sporting a valid city sticker on the windshield you can be ticketed–even if you have time on the meter.

If your car has last year’s sticker and not this year’s it’s like a big sign that says “Please ticket me!”

However, if you have a clean windshield or out of state plates or stickers from another town, the chances are much lower you will get ticketed for city sticker violation.

The Geek

Dear TPG,

Back in late March, I parked in the lot on Lincoln Ave. across from the Old Town School near Wilson.

I bought enough time to take me to 8:59 PM, with parking enforcement expiring at 9:00.

The cynical part of my brain said, “You better pay that extra quarter for 1 lousy minute of parking”, but the human side said, “Would they really screw you for 1 minute’s worth of free parking?”

I’m sure you know where this is going.

Art

Are you messing with me Art?

You really got an expired meter ticket at 8:59? WTF!?!?!?

Here’s some good news. Mayor Daley signed a law last year that gives every driver a 5 minute grace period on expired meter tickets.

If you came back to a ticket on your car issued 5 minutes or less from the time on the receipt, you can ask the city to throw the ticket out.

And, you don’t even need to contest it!!!!

Just call 312-744-PARK and talk to an operator and they should be able to help you. Make sure you have your meter receipt from the day and your ticket before you call in.

Now the bad news for other drivers is the law expired in April. But your ticket was issued before the law went bye-bye.

Whomever wrote that ticket is a real scumbag. They should be aware of this rule and should have just walked away. What an a-hole!

Please keep us posted on how things turn out.

The Geek

Dear Parking Ticket Geek,

I live in front of a school that has been closed for over 5 years.

However, there is a “No Parking from 7-3pm on School Days” sign on the street surrounding the school.

In the past 5 years, I have never received a ticket. Recently, however, the City has started issuing tickets. I obviously plan to contest, but is there a chance that the city can legally enforce the ticket?

Carrie

A bunch of random thoughts Carrie.

First, I would guess these tickets you’re getting should be pretty easy to beat.

You will have to prove the school is no longer open. I’m not sure how you go about proving that. Maybe you have to bring in one of those CPS directories into your hearing or get someone from CPS to acknowledge in writing no school exists there currently.

Since “school days” don’t exist at that location, I don’t see how the ticket holds.

Moving forward, I think you need to reach out to the alderman’s office and see what they can do and/or contact CDOT via 311 or directly and see how they can help.

Please keep us posted on your ticket fight and your mission to remove those signs.

The Geek

Hi Geek.

Here is a quick question for you.

I received a ticket for not having paid for a parking meter.

This was on a plaza where a Block Buster Video is located (where I go get my movies). I was in and out in less then five minutes as I was just dropping off the movie.

Paul

The person you spoke to on the phone was actually correct Paul.

You wouldn’t be able to invoke the 5 minute rule unless you actually paid for your parking and had a meter receipt.

So you would be out of luck anyway.

Just so you (and other readers) know, back in early April, the five minute grace period evaporated from the municipal code. 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack has proposed reviving the grace period, but so far it hasn’t gone very far.

Sorry Paul.

The Geek

Ask The Parking Ticket Geek is a semi-regular parking ticket advice column. If you have a question for The Parking Ticket Geek, please e-mail the Geek with your query at: askthegeek@theexpiredmeter.com