Chicago on the hook for paying back millions in late fees collected for parking, city sticker violations: judge

A class-action lawsuit has resulted in a court order requiring the city of Chicago to reimburse drivers for excessive late fees charged on parking tickets and city sticker violations. Circuit Court Judge William B. Sullivan ruled on February 19th that the city violated Illinois law by charging fees exceeding $250, often doubling the original ticket price with late penalties. Plaintiffs’ attorneys estimate the city owes $69.6 million in refunds and must forgive $93.8 million in debt for over 1 million citations.

The lawsuit, filed in 2018, argued that Chicago’s fine structure created a “cycle of indebtedness” for residents. Plaintiffs like Kyle Garchar and Mike Blaha faced escalating fees for violations, making it difficult to pay off their tickets. The court limited restitution to amounts exceeding $250 per violation and $55 for collection fees.

The city is considering an appeal, but plaintiffs’ attorney Jacie Zolna is confident in the ruling, noting a previous appeal was unsuccessful. This is not the first time Chicago has faced such allegations; in 2017, the city settled a similar lawsuit for $38.75 million related to inadequate notice for camera-issued tickets.

(Source：Chicago Tribune)