City Allows CTA to Issue Parking Tickets

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Aug 23, 2005 12:07PM

So, last year the cops wrote out 60,000 fewer parking tickets than they did in 2003. Of course, the heat from the top was on officers to pick up the pace, issue more tickets... but they didn't. Yay, us!

Still, it's not like the city didn't make any money because fewer tickets were issued. In fact, there was an increase in parking ticket revenues for 3 reasons - the fines were more expensive, cops used the Denver boot more agressively, and finally, more pay options, like being able to pay with your credit card at pay-and-display meters in the Loop. So, in the end, the city ended up making 9.2% more even though there were a ton less tickets.

Still, if more tickets are issued that means more money.. so what's next? Instead of harping on cops to issue more, how about giving other people the ability to issue tickets? Like how about if CTA employees could give out parking tickets?

Starting this week, CTA managers who have been trained by the city to issue parking tickets will be able to put the smack down on cars who are illegally parked or stopped in bus lanes or at bus stops. These managers regularly ride the bus as part of their jobs. If they see a vehicle in violation, they can get off the bus and give it a $90 ticket. Then they'll just get on the next bus to keep on monitoring the bus route. This is a 6-month pilot and is taking place on these routes - No. 20 Madison, the No. 66 Chicago, the No. 70 Division and the No. 76 Diversey.

This is in addition to the other CTA parking violation pilot program where cameras on buses take a photo of license plates and tickets are sent by mail. That program is currently on buses on the No. 20 Madison route. Madison must have a shitload of illegal parkers to have both of these pilot programs on that route.

So, to sum it up: City issues less parking tickets but the revenues are up, so the city lets other people issue parking tickets to make even more revenue.