Results tagged “parkingtickets”

Remember a few weeks ago when there were conflicting media reports pertaining to the numbers the City's Department of Revenue was throwing out in regards to higher revenues from parking tickets? In October, the Dept. cited a jump in revenue to the tune of $7 million from January to August of 2009 over the same time period in 2008. But some claimed that revenue jump was due to the parking ticket amnesty program during the first quarter of '09 that encouraged people to pay outstanding tickets with no fear of additional penalties.

A heads up to those of you parking law scofflaws out there with the fortuitous work schedule that allows you to not be parked on Chicago streets during the prime Denver booting hours of 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. -- your luck has just run out.

The city released numbers earlier this week pertaining to parking tickets over the first eight months of the year and while there were some potential discrepancies regarding where the extra revenue came from, it's easier to see how each of the city's wards broke down in terms of tickets. The Sun-Times has the report today and, unsurprisingly, it was the 42nd Ward, which includes downtown, that had the most parking tickets, beating other wards by a healthy margin. The 41st Ward, which includes O'Hare Airports and its parking lots/garages, led the city in Denver boot violations. Check out the full report [PDF] to see how your ward broke down

According to the Tribune, there's been a jump in tickets issued - up 26 percent in January through August 2009 over the same time period last year - and an increase of revenue. But CBS 2 points out that the jump in revenue may have more to do with the parking ticket amnesty that was offered early this year than the new tickets actually being paid.

We've already mentioned how most most of the City's departments are shut down today in a money-saving maneuver. While the Police and Fire Departments are (obviously) still open for business, The Parking Ticket Geek points out one other department that's still running full steam: the Dept. of Revenue's Street Operations. So remember to keep those quarters handy.

• Charges have been brought against the woman who abandoned her baby in a Wheaton yard last week.
• The Sun-Times investigates the use of "company cars" by employees of, ironically, the CTA.
• Chicago Public Schools are going into overdrive this summer to make sure students come back next fall.

• RIP, Richard Pegue.
• How much does gun violence cost Chicago each year? According to one report, $2.5 billion.
• The recent parking ticket amnesty period wiped out 135,000 unpaid parking and red-light tickets as well as brought in $7 million. But be ready, the so-called "boot blitz" - due to a lower ticket threshold - begins next month.

For you delinquent payers, don't forget that tomorrow is the final day to take advantage of the City's special ticket amnesty program. You can pay via the web or in person at a number of centers around town. If you've waited til now, though, be prepared to wait in some long lines, as our friends over at The Expired Meter have observed.

• Mayor Daley is still pissed about the teen cop: "What bothers me is I’d hate to see it at Halloween if everybody walks in - a 12- or 14-year-old walks into a police station on Halloween, they'll be handed a desk. They'll give them a car. They'll give them a badge…That's a real concern that we have."
• Maybe MayDay's on edge about his upcoming trip to the United Arab Emirates, where he'll visit Dubai and Abu Dhabi in an effort to further Chicago's stance as a global city.
• The Expired Meter takes an interesting look at how budget cuts for the city, including shutting some offices, are making it more difficult to contest and settle parking and red light camera tickets.

The City of Chicago is planning to drop the hammer on motorists that don't pay parking tickets, presenting them with more than just a ticket: evidence!