Weekend Diversion: Night Of The Ponies
Pedway, First Store Open At Block 37
Around Town
Around Town
Red-Light Cameras Not So Special?
CBS2 busts out a local news classic: bogus parking tickets. Take it away, Pam Zekman!
According to the report, more than 2 million parking tickets are issued in Chicago every year (seems like a lot, right?), 273,000 are contested (also a lot?) and 53 percent of those are dismissed. Sweet muscular Jesus, that's a lot of paperwork. And it's adds up to $160 million in state revenue, too. At least cops hate getting tickets, too.
If you've been wrongly ticketed, take some photos, gather your own evidence, and contest it. Fight the system!
"Why I Don't Street Park Anymore" by P2wy
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First, it's Zekman. Have some respect for a seasoned veteran.
Second, just because 53 percent of tickets are dismissed does not mean they were wrongfully issued. Most tickets are dismissed because the cop who issued them did not show up in court to testify.
I just got a car in the city, and I'm so afraid of getting a ticket. So when not if it happens, I'm going in with this article.
"most tickets are dismissed because the cop who issued them did not show up in court."
Not true, you take many steps to contest before a court date. I've gotten two bogus tickets; its a matter of calling a number and going over all the info with the people. I'd imagine a small percentage actually go to court and even a smaller percentage are dismissed becuase of it.
As a side note, there is a whole city department devoted to just responding to people who contest tickets and answering phones.
You can also contest via mail. I've done it successfully four or five times. On only one occasion was my request was denied. None of the incidents ended in a court appearance, so it was well worth the time and effort. Always contest if you've been wrongly cited.
Hey, no-name #2, I'm guessing that a defense of "A lot of tickets get dismissed" won't get you too far...
Sweet, muscular Jesus?
I know it's not really the best idea to question the fine men and women of the Chicago PD on Chicagoist, but sometimes I really have to wonder what they're doing. I got two tickets last month for out of date plates. I received them within a week of each other. They were from two different officers.
My plates weren't out of date. Sticker clearly reads "08/08". I'm contesting the tickets (via mail), but I'm left wondering how such a weird mistake gets made twice. How many of those 2 million tickets are wrongfully issued? That's what I wanna know.
Actually, the cops or bodies that issue the tickets are never in court. Why? Because there is no court for tickets. They send you to a hearing officer and you present said hearing officer with your evidence. This is if you do not contest by mail. Ferdy, you're such a Chicago expert.
On a side note, if you get a traffic ticket and you request a court date, you will walk. That is, you'll walk unless you're a total jag-off to the cop when he or she pulled you over. You see, you go into the court room and wait. The judge calls the case. You and the officer approach the stand. Judge asks cop if he or she remembers the violation. Cop says "no." You walk. Again, this is unless you are a total jagoff to the cop, which is what most of you on this site probably are, seeing as you're anti-po pos and all.
Either way, the cop gets overtime for showing up to court.
Wait, some people didn't know to contest a ticket if they think it's wrongly issued? Oh Chicagoist, whatever would we do without you? Great tutorial on this too. Really walks someone through the system.
I definitely won't contest by mail again. I got a residential zone ticket on my street which is not a residential zone. I sent them photographs and a polite letter and was denied. They don't even give you a reason to wrap your head around, just a form letter. In any case, if you can't afford the risk of losing for no reason, I would recommend contesting in person.
Any one know what's going on with that I-pass-like thing for the parking meters? I thought it was going on sale this week, but haven't seen nor heard anything about it since it was announced a few weeks ago.
Don't understand the "musclar" comment. You should make fun of other religious icons...but I bet you won't.
Thanks for striking the comments of Spook and I, Margaret. Do much Communism lately?
Guest 13, I have no idea what you're talking about--I didn't strike any comments.