Waguespack Seeks to Make Expired Meter Grace Period Permanent

By Chuck Sudo in News on Mar 3, 2011 9:30PM

As a mea culpa to motorists for the parking meter privatization, Mayor Daley implemented a five-minute grace period last year to spare drivers receiving a $50 ticket if they were a few moments late to their car after a parking slip expired. But that rule is set to expire on April 1.

Knowing the emotions many residents still have about the parking meter deal, 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack introduced an amendment to the rule to remove the sunset date from the language, making the grace period permanent. Waguespack has been the most vocal critic of the parking meter deal, and he said that a 14-month grace period compared to leasing the meters for 75 years do not cancel out. From the Expired Meter:

“For him it was purely political-he tried to show good will to people even though he blew the lease deal,” says Waguespack. “Basically he did it as a short term stunt to get through all the negative feedback on the deal. It should be forever or at least for the next 75 years.”