Judge Rules Chicago Overcharged for Tickets, City Stickers
A Cook County judge has ruled that the City of Chicago overcharged residents for city stickers and parking tickets for years. The ruling addresses the legality of late fees and penalties assessed by the city, which could have financial implications for both the city and its residents.
- The ruling by Cook County Judge William B. Sullivan found that the city systematically violated an Illinois state law that caps fines and penalties for a single ordinance violation at $250. - This decision impacts over one million tickets that were issued between 2012 and 2022. The city could be liable for approximately $163 million, which includes an estimated $69.6 million in refunds for overcharges and another $34 million in interest. - In addition to the refunds, the ruling voids and makes unenforceable any amounts assessed over the $250 cap, which could wipe out nearly $94 million in unpaid fines and fees that the city has not yet collected. - The class-action lawsuit, originally filed in 2018, argued that the city's practice of stacking late fees on unpaid sticker and parking tickets was illegal. For example, the fine for an out-of-date city sticker was increased from $100 to $200 in 2012, with an additional $200 late penalty. - This isn't the first time the city has faced legal challenges over its ticketing practices; in 2017, a $38.75 million settlement was reached over late fees associated with red light and speed camera tickets. - The increased fines were part of a strategy to generate revenue for the city. However, reports indicated that this policy disproportionately burdened low-income residents and led to an increase in Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings in Chicago. - The city has indicated that it is considering an appeal of Judge Sullivan's ruling. In the meantime, attorneys for the plaintiffs have advised drivers who may have been overcharged to retain their ticket records and payment receipts.
