MOTORISTS WELCOME REFORMS FOR FINES AND FEES

Nathaniel Andrews, 71, said he recently paid $500 to retrieve his 2005 Ford Focus vehicle that he said was booted for unpaid tickets his wife accumulated in 2005. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson
Nathaniel Andrews, 71, said he recently paid $500 to retrieve his 2005 Ford Focus vehicle that he said was booted for unpaid tickets his wife accumulated in 2005. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson

Motorists welcome reforms for fines and fees

BY WENDELL HUTSON Contributing Writer

New reforms proposed by the mayor at a recent City Council meeting for fines and fees pertaining to city stickers, red light camera violations and parking tickets come a little too late for some motorists.

“I accumulated a lot of tickets I could not pay and my driver’s license was suspended, and I need my license to make a living, so I filed bankruptcy to wipe out the $3,900 debt,” said Jeremy Patterson, 46. “I live in Hyde Park where parking is scarce especially at night when I usually get home from work as a truck driver.”

There are many more Chicagoans like Patterson who said they ruined their credit when they filed bankruptcy to eliminate debt incurred from parking fines and fees, which doubles if it is not paid by the due date.

According to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Cook County, which includes Chicago, leads the nation in Chapter 13 bankruptcies. And about two-thirds of Cook County bankruptcies including vehicle debt is owed to the city of Chicago.

Precious Walker, 29, said she had four red light camera violations for speeding and each ticket was $100, but increased to $200 each when she could not pay.

“I tried to get on a payment plan but could not come up with a down payment because I am not working right now,” explained Walker. “Next thing I knew the tickets doubled to $800, which is more than what I pay for rent. I eventually came up with the down payment but now I am paying more and struggling to keep up with my payments.”

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said because so many Chicagoans are struggling to pay absorbent traffic fees and fines that reforms were needed. At a July 24 City Council meeting, the mayor introduced her reforms that includes late purchases for city stickers.

“The bold reforms we’re announcing are designed to be the first step in ending the practices of balancing the budget on the backs of those who can least afford it,” said Lightfoot.” By adopting these reforms Chicago can provide people real pathways and not obstacles to pay their debt while also receiving revenue that may otherwise remain unpaid.”

She added that the city of Chicago currently uses revenues (more than $70 million) raised by fines and fees annually to help fund maintenance of Chicago roads, viaducts and other critical infrastructure needs. And collection of fines and fees as well as parking enforcement, such as booting vehicles, is handled by the city’s Department of Revenue.

Changes include eliminating driver’s license suspensions for 10 or more non-driving violations; reducing city vehicle sticker penalties; make payment plans more accessible by creating a six-month payment plan for all motorists, while also reducing down payment requirements; and a change with booted vehicles. Motorists will now be able to request a 24-hour extension to pay their fines in full or get on a payment plan after being booted.

Fines for not purchasing a city sticker within a time limit will no longer double to $400 from $200. Instead, the city will reinstate the 15-day grace period for city sticker tickets after expiration, and there will no longer be same-day or consecutive day ticketing for compliance violations.

For example, if a motorist already received a ticket for an expired meter, they would not receive another expired meter ticket on the same day if the vehicle remains at the same location. And city sticker tickets would be capped at a maximum of $250 for late failure to pay on time.

That all sounds good and dandy, said South Shore resident Nathaniel Andrews, who added the reforms do not go far enough.

“There needs to be a statue of limitations for parking and traffic violations because as it stands right now, you could be hit with paying tickets you got years ago,” said the 71-year-old retiree. “My car was booted for tickets that my wife got in 2006 before we got married.”

As a result of his car (2005 Ford Focus) being booted and impounded, Andrews said he was unable to work part-time as an Uber driver.

He said it cost $500 to get his car back but by doing so it created a hardship for his family.

“I do ride sharing because I need extra money to survive but without a car I cannot do anything,” added Andrews. “I like the mayor but she needs to do more to help us law abiding citizens stay residents of Chicago".

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