Normally July 15th is the last day drivers in Chicago can get away without having a new car sticker without facing a $120 ticket. While the deadline for having the new sticker is typically June 30th, the city usually allows a two-week grace period. But trouble with defective stickers has resulted in the city extending that grace period to July 30th. It seems that some of the stickers don't have enough adhesive to stay stuck on the windshield. more ›

Just like the right to vote for the mayor, aldermen, and congressmen, Chicago residents also have the right to vote for the vehicle sticker art design that will appear on 1.3 million windshields beginning Jan. 1, 2010. Every year for the last 15 years, the office of the city clerk asks Chicago high school students grades 9 through 12 to submit a design for the sticker that fits with a certain theme (remember last year's awesome dog theme?). This year, the theme was Burnham's Chicago, and over 300 students from 39 area high schools submitted their ideas. A panel of judges chose their top-10 designs, above, and you get to vote on which you prefer. Vote through Sunday online or through Friday in person at the city clerk's office in City Hall (121 N. LaSalle St., room 107). The winning student gets a $1,000 savings bond award, so choose wisely. more ›

The unions aren't the only folks facing a deadline; Chicagoans in need of a city sticker have through midnight tomorrow to get in on the act and grab their new city sticker to avoid late fees ($40) and tickets ($120). Our pal The Parking Ticket Geek has a suggestion or two for those of you who have waited til the final few hours. Of course, this year's sticker not only features the design (seen above) by Denise Ferguson, recent graduate of Corliss High School, but it also combines the need for a vehicle sticker and a residential sticker in one, easy-to-display multi-purpose sticker. more ›