Despite move, woman stuck with ticket over city sticker

If the city sent her notices via the U.S. mail, and those notices went to her address in North Aurora (and one would think they found the address through her vehicle registration), why was there any question? What morons!

No excuses - give me your money, NOW!

Why don't they just issue ski masks to the police and then they can just steal your money in person.

Or maybe just send bills to every over age 18 person in Illinois (maybe the whole country?) and see how many pay. You know, roll the dice and see what happens?

The city wants your money.

The city needs your money.

The city demands your money.

All Hail Ritchie Leader of Chicago.

We KNOW what's good for you.

Criminals arent the only ones that extort money out of hard working folks. The politicans of CHicago have been doing this for years. Wait, mabe criminals are the only ones doing this.

The first thing I would've done would be to contact my DMV get all documents and showed up for court. Trying to defend your self through a letter isn't the best idea. I do feel for her though, because they really had no right to do what they did. Sounds like they're just being jerks as usual. The Judicial systems are severely damaged in Illinois. You're guilty until proven innocent *That just might be anywhere we go though*. I wish her the best of luck!

Centralia62801 wrote:

The first thing I would've done would be to contact my DMV get all documents and showed up for court. Trying to defend your self through a letter isn't the best idea. I do feel for her though, because they really had no right to do what they did. Sounds like they're just being jerks as usual. The Judicial systems are severely damaged in Illinois. You're guilty until proven innocent *That just might be anywhere we go though*. I wish her the best of luck!

There is no court to show up in. Parking tickets are handled by an administrative law judge through the Department of Revenue, NOT traffic court. The grounds for dismissal are very narrow. This is a proven revenue stream for the City. That woman is lucky she could prove she moved out of Chicago. If she had neglected to change her vehicle registration, like so many others, she would be on the hook for the fine.

The City does not care if a citizen is inconvenienced in fighting one of these tickets and will not compensate you for your time. You would have to sue the City, win your suit and then wait a couple of years for the Finance Committee to approve payment.

My advice, find some good restaurants in Naperville and stay out of the City of Chicago lest you feel the slimy hand of Richard M Daley trying to pick your pocket.

It's all about da money in da City that works....

Crooks!

Not everyone can write to get the outrageous tickets thrown out by revenue hungry fake judges/hearing officers.

The only reason why she got out of the ticket was due to you writing a column about the city and its flunky Kangaroo court system.

Daley EXtortion Machine

the people in Chicago and Illinois keep voting for the Dems and keep whining when they do not like how they run things. If you dont like it QUIT voting them in Office. Hello COMMON SENSE. Unfortunately some people are to stupid to figure this out so we will just keep on getting people like Blago elected because they just want to keep getting their "free" handout from my tax money.

The article in the paper included a picture of Tracy VanderLuitgarden sitting in her car with the expired vehicle sticker in the front window. Why is the expired sticker in the window in April 2008 or later if she moved in 2006? And she's surprise she got a ticket? These parking enforcers don't look into the vehicle's history to determine if you're wrong, they just issue tickets for what appear to be obvious infractions. Take the stupid sticker out of the window already, it's your own fault.

Take the advice of the Deputy Chief Admin. Law Judge and prepare your case. You know the facts but don't assume that the Judge knows them. You are talking to a 3rd party who knows nothing about your ticket except what the enforcement officer has provided.

Tracy VanderLuitgarden could have avoided this whole mess if she had taken the sticker out of her window, appeared for the hearing and provided proof that she did not live in Chicago when the ticket as issued, not just by saying so. The registration at the time the notice is generated is meaningless since she could have moved in the interim.

By the way, don't the municipalities in Kane County require a sticker? Is this the case of a driver playing the odds by leaving an old sticker in the window to avoid paying for a current sticker where she lives?

When I tried to prove to the Chicago Department of Revenue that I had already paid my parking ticket for $50.00, they refused to accept a copy of the cancelled check. They said I had to go to the bank it was drawn on and have them send proof that the check cleared my account.

When I contacted the bank, they wanted another $50.00 to do the research.

I called the city back and said...you know what, I already gave you proof that I paid the ticket. Why don't you do your job and trace where the check was posted.

All that they have done is drive another suburbanite from entering their city limits. If there is some compelling reason to go into Chicago...and the Taste of Chicago is NOT a compelling reason....I'll take the train and hoof it.

Problem Solved.

Once again, This city is a joke! Not long now before chicago is compared to Detroit, and their mayor is less corrupt!

Why isn't someone getting fired over this?

She obviously isn't smart enough to provide documentation in the first place.

It is my understanding that a city sticker is required to park on a city street - by anyone - even suburbanites, unless you are from out of state.

Nonetheless, this woman did not adequately defend her case and should have lost on that merit alone. Plus it's about time that the suburbanites pitched in for the wear and tear they put on our city streets. If you want to use it, you should pay for it too!

I grew up in Chicago, accustomed to the ritual of the City Sticker. After living around the US for the last 38 years, guess what I've found? It's only you guys, and the surrounding suburbs who pay this. The rest of the country has no such "city sticker."
Read this week's story about how Chicago is the most paternalistic, repressive city in the nation. When you grow up there, you don't know any better.

After King Dick the 2nd and Prince Stroger decided to raise taxes in Chicago and Crook County I have decided to avoid them all together when ever possible. I will not shop or dine in Crook county if for no other reason than to avoid giving them any more tax revenue.