Hello Geek,

My guest received a ticket for parking in a permit parking zone (383) last night at 12:39am. My guest clearly had a valid guest permit displayed, and I was present when she filled it out and displayed it at 7:15pm.

The issue might have been when she filled out the day, she mistakenly thought the day was the 21st, but then I told her it was the 20th and she corrected it. Did the PEA think she was trying to change the date and re-use a pass (which she was not)? Why would someone want to advance a day? It makes no sense as to how the person could issue a ticket.

Photos were taken of the permit displayed along with a close up of the date. My guest is going to contest the ticket, what would you recommend is the best course for contesting this ridiculous ticket?

Thanks,

Nelson

Nelson,

That’s so petty and pathetic.

But you’re not alone. You’re one of many people reporting this same issue.

Of course, how could anyone try to re-use a guest permit from the future? Duh!

Perhaps this PEA believes you own a time machine and somehow, in order to save the what, $1 on the pass, you jumped into your time machine to re-use your pass from tomorrow. Very nitpicky and VERY lame.

I think you can beat this.

Have your friend make this exact argument (not the snarky time machine one). Explain what happened and how this minor mistake happened. Anyone with a brain should be able to understand this.

What would really put it over the top would be for you to relate the same story, backing up your friend’s story and testifying in writing that it was a legitimate parking pass. Make sure you stop by a Currency Exchange and get your letter notarized so it is considered sworn testimony.

With two people making the same claim, your friend should beat this ticket.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

The Geek

Dear Mr. Geek,

I just bought a used car last week, I couldn’t get one of the bolts off from the license plate because it was kind of stripped (and in all honesty I hadn’t gotten a city sticker yet so that played a part in me not being in a big hurry) so I left the seller plates on temporarily.

Little did I know that the previous owner must have had some serious parking tickets, because lo’ and behold, I have a Denver boot this morning.

So I guess my first main question is, am I responsible for this at all? Is there a way I can completely honestly get this removed (maybe just paying the 60 and not the tickets, I don’t know how many there are yet)? Or how do you think it would play out if I were to get my new plates on (and a city sticker, too), then contest it based on that it was the wrong car? I could really use your advice fast.

Thanks for your help and I hope you are having a beautiful orange-envelope-free day!

Sammi

Sammi-

You are NOT responsible for these tickets and therefore I don’t see how you should be held liable for the boot.

What you need to do, and do it ASAP,  is to go and have a boot hearing on this.

You can have a boot hearing at any of the three or four hearing locations/payment centers around town.

Perhaps it would be best for you to immediately go to a Currency Exchange or Secretary of State and get your new plates BEFORE the hearing.

The Currency Exchange will be faster but you only get a receipt of your purchase and you’ll have to wait for the plates to be mailed–but at least you have the receipt.

You will need to bring your new title, new plates/receipt, all your receipts from the purchase, your ID, anything you can think of to prove you just purchased the vehicle, the plate is not yours.

I have never heard of this happening before BUT, I can’t see how they won’t remove the boot. Because it was you who received the tickets, but the previous scofflaw goofball owner. You didn’t buy it from me did you?

Try to get this resolved and have your boot hearing today as, after 24 hours, the city can tow your vehicle, which would add an additional $160 to the grand total and a trip to one of the worst places on earth–the Chicago Auto Pound.

Get back to me Sammi!

Hey Geek,

So I just got back from city hall and thankfully I’ll be getting the boot off tonight. The ruling at the hearing was that since there were 3 tickets on the displayed plate, that the boot was valid. However, I only was responsible for the booting fee, and not the tickets themselves, so I only had to pay 60 bucks.

I didn’t have the title yet, but they allowed me to use the tax receipt from the DMV as proof of purchase (they didn’t care about seeing the new plates). So it looks like it mostly worked out, and I’m only 60 bucks plus some cab fare poorer.

Thanks for the advice,

Sammi

Sammi,

The Geek is happy it sort of worked out for you in the end. And although perhaps it is not the law, I still think the Administrative Law Officer could have waived the $60 boot fee and given you a pass. There seems to be some room in the current muni-code that would allow this and one thing for sure, booting your car with the wrong plates is sure not in the spirit of the law.

The only upside to your day of drama is your story serves as a cautionary tale to strongly remind drivers to always remove the seller’s plate from your vehicle, no matter what.

Geek,

How can a car with out of state plates and a handicapped (rearview mirror) permit be allowed to park on a meter for free and for an unlimited time (sometimes days) without moving?

No city sticker or anything.

Thanks.

-J

Good question J.

But, vehicles with handicapped plates or placards are allowed to park at meters for free for a nearly unlimited amount of time.

It’s written into the Chicago municipal code. Sorry for the boring and unsexy answer, but that’s what it is.

The thing is, the placard remains in the possession of the individual.

Theoretically, that placard goes in whatever car is transporting that handicapped person.

But from your description of sitting at the meter for days on end, it may be a case of placard abuse.

If you suspect any placard hanky-panky, report any placard abuse here.

The Geek

Dear Geek:

Recently, I parked in the 2700 block of N. Lincoln.

I found the local LAZ meter would not accept ANY of my three credit cards (I knew they were in good order) and I had no cash. I dutifully called the 800-phone number listed on the box and shared my complaint with a rather friendly lady.

I was not given any kind of transaction number that I could use to refer to the incident. I was told that everything should be “fine,” and that the broken box would be “noted.”

I went on to get my hair done at a nearby salon and 2 hours later walked out to find a $50 ticket on my car.

I assume my best bet to fight the ticket is to request a court date and bring a copy of my cell phone bill so I can show that I made a phone call on the day in question.

Any other ideas? Is that the best way to go?

Voting against everyone who voted for this whor-ible deal,

Emily

Emily-

Fight the ticket. Explain the story like you did here. Tell them you reported the meter. Your cell phone bill will be helpful as well (GREAT thinking!).

The hearing officer will be able to access the broken meter database the LAZ customer service person made the report to.

You should be OK. This should work.

Fight it.

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