Ask The Parking Ticket Geek

Martin-

Yes.

Sadly, a few years ago, the city council passed a law that allowed ticket writers (cops, PEAs, City Clerk enforcement staff) to legally enter public parking garages to enforce city sticker violations. Because parking garages must be licensed by the city, the municipal code allows it. 

The city was getting angry they were losing city sticker revenue from people who lived in the city, but avoided purchasing a city sticker by parking in a garage at home, and then driving downtown directly into the protection of another garage. That's why they did it.

Yes, this sucks.

Sorry dude, you're on the hook for the ticket.

The Geek

Hey, Fabulous Parking Ticket Geek!

My friend sold his car out of state just after buying his sticker (that he hadn't yet put in the window).

He gave the sticker to me, but it has his plates listed on it. I think the city's website says that stickers are not transferable between people.

If I put this sticker in my windshield, will I get ticketed?

I am desperately short of cash and hate to pay for a sticker when I have one in my hands. I admit I'm tempted to print out my actual plate numbers in the proper font and paste it over on the sticker.

Desperately Seeking Free Sticker

Dear DSFS,

Because this is the inaugural year for these new high tech city stickers that are supposed to have plate numbers printed on each, because of gaps in the city's database, not all 2009-2010 city stickers actually have a corresponding license plate printed on them.

Because of this problem, the good news for you is that with so many city stickers without a license plate number printed, they cannot enforce it.

To my mind, while there is still a risk, it is minimal.

You have three options here.

1-Just white out the plate number.
2-Print out your license plate number on sticker backed paper and slap it
over the original number.
3-You could even write your plate number on adhesive backed paper and stick it over the old number. I've seen people with handwritten plate numbers coming out of DOR substations and Currency Exchanges and even heard of people doing this on their own.

So, I say go for it.

The Geek

Hi Parking Ticket Geek,

I have a handful of tickets that are in final determination and have been for a while. They are all for the same car, but I had two different IL plates (one was stolen so I got a new plate).

I'm now getting rid of my car. I've gotten letters from law offices saying that my account was turned over to them. I don't want to pay because of the amount, and the fact that a lot of them should have been vacated.

Either way, what could happen if I just don't pay?

I read that you need 10 before they suspend your license. But my license is from Michigan. Will this affect me getting an Illinois license if I have to? Are there credit report implications? I just pulled my credit report for something else a few days ago and that didn't show up.

Thanks!

K

Dear K,

You have a few issues here.

If you actually have 10 or more unpaid parking tickets, the city can technically try to suspend your license. But because your driver's license is from Michigan, and your cars have been registered in Illinois, they are going to have a hard time tracking you down. If the do try to suspend your Michigan driver's license, realistically, this may take months if not years--if they ever figure it out.

The city has no issues getting things done with the Illinois Secretary of State, but it takes a lot longer when they have to deal with DMVs from other states.

I would advise you to keep your Michigan driver's license for as long as you can, to make things as hard as possible on the city to do anything to your license.

If you get rid of your car, then you don't have any car to boot, so you're good there.

As far as your credit rating, rarely do parking tickets make it into a credit report and when they do, I was told by a credit ratings service, tickets don't do much to affect your credit--again, unless you have a ton of them and they take legal action against you. But, even with 10, I doubt this will happen.

Hope this helps.

Thanks

The Geek

Dear PTG,

What's the deal with sticky parking tickets?

I've gotten several of these, where the officer puts a ticket with adhesive on it on your window, and it leaves a paper residue that is difficult to get off.

Why, on top of the frustration of getting a ticket, does the city insist on branding your care with a scarlet letter of shame? Is it really that hard to put a ticket under a windshield wiper?

Alex

Dear Alex-

I've had this happen to me as well.

Sadly, too many times. Sigh...

I think ticket writers use the adhesive for three reasons.

One, so actually see the ticket. Parking tickets placed under the windshield sometimes are missed (I've done it once), and could blow off if you start driving before pulling it off your windshield.

Two, so it doesn't blow away in a rainstorm or strong breeze, so you actually receive the ticket.

Three, to embarrass drivers with, as you said, a big bright orange badge
of shame.

Try a little Windex and a razor blade and it should come off pretty quick.

Thanks for the photo.

The Geek