Dear Geek,
What’s the worst that can happen if you just never pay a parking ticket? My ticket has apparently been given to some law office for collection (or something). Is this a scare tactic or does it really mean something serious?
Thanks,
Chance
Well Chance,
You could wind up in a state penitentiary with the new occupation of “parking ticket bitch” for some hairy, tattooed dude.
Just kidding.
If it’s only a single ticket, I don’t think much can happen.
For a single ticket, I would be surprised if the tickets were reported to a credit agency and if they did, it’s such a minor thing (at least compared to a bankruptcy or foreclosure), I don’t see how it could effect your credit score.
But if you have two or more unpaid ticket in collection, it means your car is boot eligible.
So, if you don’t want to pay, just make sure you don’t get any new tickets and/or fight any new tickets you receive and make sure you pay off the ones you don’t win. Once the second ticket goes into Final Determination (and is older than one year), you are flirting with getting booted.
Keep your nose clean.
Don’t get booted and become Chicago’s “boot bitch”.
Very truly yours,
The Geek
Hi Parking Ticket Geek,
I have a parking ticket question for you. I was parked on the street close to my apartment building when there were piles of snow on the sides of the streets.
Needless to say, because of the snow, everyone was unable to park their cars all the way to the curb. Apparently the city was fine with this until the one day when it was 45 degree weather in Chicago and a lot of the snow melted, revealing that cars were actually parked at least partially in or on the bike lane.
I left that morning before the snow melted and got back at night and had a parking ticket on my car for parking in the bike lane. So did half of the cars on the block who didn’t yet move closer to the curb. I am wondering is there any way to contest this ticket?
Thank you for your time,
Silvia
Hi Silvia-
I just got a ticket for the same violation, just a few days ago.
I’ve never come across this violation until now. My guess is that a memo went out to all the PEA’s to start looking out for this violation to write tickets on.
I would suggest just relating your story as you’ve told it to me.
You couldn’t tell you were parked on the bike lane because snow was obscuring the pavement markings. Since there are no signs, the pavement markings are what indicate where the bike lane is. If the bike lane markings are covered by snow, how do you know if you are on the bike lane?
Why should you be held responsible because of the weather and/or the fact that Streets & Sanitation are not doing their job as well as they should?
This argument meets defense #3 of the city’s seven acceptable defenses for a parking ticket. “The relevant signs prohibiting or restricting parking were missing or obscured;”
In addition, why weren’t you cited for parking too far from the curb if you were allegedly parked in the bike lane?
Finally, bring up the fact that many people on your block were ticketed for the same infraction. The hearing officer can look this up and see this was the case. This supports your contention that snow covered the markings on the street until the thaw.
That’s how I’m going to fight my ticket. Get back to me so we can compare notes.
Thanks and good luck,
The Parking Ticket Geek
Hi Geek,
My buddy from Oregon stays here on occasion with friends.
While he was in town coming to pick me up he was pulled over. No reason given. But cop kept asking him odd questions about what he’s doing with out of state plates (Oregon).
Cop gives him a $120 ticket for having no city sticker.
His driver’s license, insurance, plates, permanent residence, etc etc are all Oregon too.
Contesting this should be an easy win right? Any recommendations?
Thank you.
Friend of “Outraged from Oregon”
Dear Outraged from Oregon and Friend-
Dude. It sounds like your friend was guilty of being pulled over with out of state plates by a cop who was obviously suffering a case of asshole-itis. It’s a disease that only affects police officers and manifests symptoms of belligerence, anger, rudeness and lowered brain function.
All your friend has to do is send in a contest letter, from his home address in Oregon, with a copy of his registration. Here is the applicable municipal code:
3-56-020 License required.
It shall be unlawful for any motor vehicle owner residing within the city to use,…any motor vehicle or any other vehicle upon the public ways of the city…unless such vehicle is licensed as provided in this chapter.
You can’t be ticketed for not having a Chicago city sticker, if the vehicle owner resides in another state and the car is registered outside of Chicago.
Your buddy from two time zones away obviously doesn’t need a Chicago city sticker.
Listen, most cops are good people trying to protect the rest of us. Thank God they’re out there. The Expired Meter supports the great men and women of Chicago’s police department. However, a few are jerks with something to prove. Perhaps it’s a penis size issue or their daddy yelled at them when they were growing up. Who knows.
Fight the ticket and it should be a slam dunk.
The Geek
Dear Parking Ticket Geek,
Often I will pump five or six quarters into a meter but only two or three will register?
If I have put in enough coins, but then run out because they coins did not register, do I have any recourse to contest the ticket?
Please just sign me:
Ripped Off
Dear Ripped Off,
That sucks when the damn meter eats your quarters without paying out the proper time.
You can contest the ticket by making the claim that you fed the meter the quarters and it didn’t register time correctly.
I suggest immediately going to the new parking meter website, and filling out their feedback form reporting this meter problem.
Also, report this meter to the city at 312-744-PARK. Follow the prompts to record the meter number and the problem with the meter.
The hearing officer should then be able to look up your documentation of the meter being broken and not registering your money.
Good luck.
The PTG
Ask The Parking Ticket Geek is a weekly parking ticket advise 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
Posted in 
Hey Parking Ticket Geek go easy on the cop. Yeah maybe he was a dick, but if a car is in Chicago for more than 30 days out of the year (regardless of where it is registered and where the registered owner resides), it needs a city sticker. It’s possible that the Oregon visitor was not polite or courteous to the officer.
Go easy and you know better than to jump to conclusions. Two sides to every story.
P.S. There are several cars in my area that have out of state plates and are registered in someone else’s name who resides elsewhere besides Chicago. However, if that car remains in Chicago for thirty days or more it is eligible for a no city sticker violation. Not saying I agree with it, but when someone does not buy a city sticker, they cheat the city out of money, and lie to their insurance company, most likely for lower rates.
Many people do it. Having a car in Illinois and more specifically in Chicago is expensive for the proper licensing, but the car insurance is more expensive here too. Food for thought.
Relax, I’m still a big fan of the geek!!!
Mike-
Perhaps I’m being too harsh on the cop. I agree there are two sides to the story.
However, I don’t believe the concept of “residence” is not as simple as being in the city 30 days.
If you live out of town, but come into the city to do a short term project for 3 months. You are not a resident of Chicago.
If you are a college student whom actually lives out of state, Chicago is not your permanent residence.
If you live in Schaumburg, but drive your car in the city five days a week to your job in Chicago, you’re not considered a resident–even though you may drive more in Chicago than in the suburbs.
Some people have two homes. Which one is the main residence?
If your dad or mom owns the car you drive, and it’s registered in their name out of town, then you should not be required to purchase a city sticker–even if the main driver resides in Chicago. A legal technicality, but within the definition of the law all the same.
That’s just 5 examples which just popped into my puny pea-sized brain.
But I will review the muni code on this subject. Maybe I’m missing something.
Thanks for the thoughts Mike.
The Geek
P.S. Do you work for DOR or the city in some capacity? Or do you have a lot of experience/knowledge in the realm of parking in Chicago?
You gave some very great examples. As I understand city code, if a car is in Chicago for more than thirty straight days, overnights included, (which are the ones I refer to in my earlier post) than you should have a city sticker. Not saying I agree because your examples are good, but I’ve seen cars with out of state plates and they still have a city sticker. I know it’s weird that a city sticker can be find on a car with plates that are not Illinois.
Just as a warning to drivers who actually live in the city but register their cars elsewhere for the cheaper insurance, your insurance company doesn’t have to pay up if they find out you’re lying to them about your residence. Insurance rates vary by zip code and generally city zip codes have more expensive rates.
And to the Geek, the question is yes to both of your questions. Will KIT!
Hello Geek,
Got a city of Chicago parking ticket and did not know about it until a letter came to my home about 10 months later. Here is the question, I live in TEXAS, and of course my car was registered here in Texas at the time the ticket was issued. I got the usual mail that says that your car will be booted and towed if seen on the street again. But car has been sold and plates removed. They keep sending these threatning paper work that states that a request from City of Chicago will be sent to Texas so that I wont be able to renew my lisence here in Texas. Is that possible???? I think that is a long shot and is all bullshit. That is my 2 cents, but just want to know if anyone has a better answer.
Thanks
Mike-
I agree, there are cars with out of state plates that have city stickers. I think some people feel the need to stay on the straight and narrow, even if they are not legally compelled to do so. I believe others are just scared into to buying their sticker.
I haven’t had a chance since I commented last, but I do want to research this issue more deeply, based on your input.
Your answer of “Yes” to both my questions leads me to an invitation.
And, as I do to anyone who comments cogently, intelligently, and with background or experience in this area, I’m extending an open invite to you to contribute any thoughts, long form commentary, tips or whatever to us here.
I am very sincere when I tell you, this site is striving to present any and ALL points of view, even if they are contrary to our own. In fact, we embrace contrary opinion and controversy. So, if you feel we’re full of crap, please feel free to tell us so. We will publish it.
And, of course, we have no problem with people writing anonymously.
In addition, we are always trying to present the most accurate info possible. So, if we or I get it wrong–tell us. If you have advice or info that gives our readers better info on how to avoid tickets, boots, etc., or whatever, I beg you not to keep it to yourself.
Of course, we always love tips on news stories.
But seriously, the invitation is on the table. If you have ideas, etc., please send them to me at:
info@theexpiredmeter.com
Thanks again Mike, we seriously appreciate the input.
Offering food for thought. Some vehicles with out of state plates may still need the city sticker if they live in a residential zone area because you are required to have the city sticker to get an annual zone sticker. This is most commen around the airports and in Wriglyville.
That makes sense Ticketmaster, but wouldn’t you still have to register your vehicle in Illinois and specifically in Chicago to do this?
From what I recall (and believe me, I don’t trust my memory anymore so I’m not confident in this) it’s difficult, if not impossible to get a residential parking permit if you’re not registered at an address on the street with the residential permit parking.
If anyone registered anywhere could get a residential parking permit, what would be the point? Anyone could end up parking there if they filled out the right forms and paid the right fees.
I’m confused. I need to run this by my contact down at the City Clerk’s office.
Usually all you need is a copy of your lease agreement and some sort of proof that you are living there (usually a utility bill) will work.
Will Says: March 9th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Will….the City of Chicago can, after Final determination and the point of view of the people that are dealing with collections…Put forward the License Plate to the Sec. of State in IL to process to the Sec of States office in Texas and request that the then owner (based upon the date/year of the ticket and the owner at that time) have there license suspended for non-payment of tickets.
Also they can double the Fine, Minimum…plus the re-instatement fee is required for Both states then.
Just moved to Chicago from Missouri last June….been subleasing since…. just moved to a residential area that requires a zone permit… and have been looking for a way to avoid spending $143 to register my car in the state of Illinois, but still obtain a residential permit sticker.
City Clerk told me I had to have a city sticker to get a residential sticker. To get a city sticker you have to have Illinois plates and registration papers for my car($143 to register and for plates). Just found out, I can go to a Currency Exchange and they will give me a citysticker without IL plates/registration but must have proof of residency such as a lease or utility bill. Then all I need is to take my citysticker reciept to an alderman’s office for a residential sticker…. No need for Illinois plates…. whaalla!
As I understand it, Illinois plates are required if you live in the state permanently. For instance, students who will return home (to Indiana, Michigan, etc.) are not required to transfer their plates. Many students live in Lincoln Park/ Lakeview and need residential permits. They can purchase city stickers and then (with proof of residency) zone permits.
State taxes and plates are the only things that I can think of that recognize temporary residency status.
I have a question for you. My aunt used to live with me. Then she decides to go for religious mission for 18 months which is in August 2008. She left her car in my drive way since then. Her registration expired in 04/09. She registered the car as PNO (PLANNED NON OPERATION)after the car registration expired as of 04/09. It still parks on my drive way, behind my car inside the garage. One June 21, 2009(Sunday Father’s day) I had to used my car, therefore, I temporarily move her car out of the drive way to the street side right in front of my house for a short moment in order for me to get my car out of the garage. As I returned from trip, of course, I had to move her car back out, to move my car inside the garage. Once I was inside,I closed the garage, my 14 month toddler was crying, therefore, I calm him down and seatbelt him down to the high chair and went right back to the street to move her car back to the drive way. I found out parking ticket was issued on code 4000a expired registration. I wrote them a letter to state the exact above situation as a non owner of the car due to the fact that car owner is not here until Feb 2010. They send me a response letter in a few weeks and stated that citation is upheld. If I still disatisfy, I can request an Administrative hearing. Penalty fee has to be paid prior to hearing request, since my aunt is not available, they will accept my appeal on her behalf. Please advise