Avoid "Deadbeat" Label, Pay Your Fines

By Sam Bakken in News on Oct 20, 2004 10:05PM

Over the past four years, Chicago hasn't collected over $96 million in fines from individuals cited for various city violations. According to the Sun-Times (by the way, strike averted) from the beginning of 2004 through Sept. 30, there were uncollected fines totaling $29.2 million and could exceed $38 million in 2004.

Peep this Sun-Times quote, "No fewer than nine law firms have been hired to dun deadbeats into submission in exchange for a 25 percent collection fee..." "Dun deadbeats", that is stellar.

The Chicago Police Department leads the pack in uncollected fines with $11.5 million.

Jennifer Hoyle, Law department spokeswoman, said the uncollected fines are especially high in 2004 because of the number of citations have also increased.

So, not to be your mom about it but, if you owe fines, go ahead and pay them. You don't want lawyers harassing you for money and if everybody pays up it will help Chicago (a little) get back on track budget-wise and maybe Daley won't ask city employees to take unpaid days off.