Show Me Tha Money: Chicago Just Found Out It’s Got Another Big Bill to Pay

BWAHAhahahaha!

Holy smokes. For a city sunk so deep in debt that it can’t dig its way out for love and no money, with a half-witted, emotionally fragile mayor who couldn’t get his act together for a single day if he tried – and he’s not big on effort in any case – hamstrung by the demands of a rapacious and corrupt teachers’ union around which every city dollar flows?

This had to be the news from Hell.

There was a lawsuit filed in 2018 that questioned the legality of the way certain of Chicago’s parking tickets and the fines associated with them were tabulated. The lawsuit alleged they violated Illinois state law.

And WOOF. It sure seems to me that the city was making a killing off of the tickets. Then again, I’ve yet to see the city that doesn’t.

Anyway, I mean, ouch if you got one that’s $250! 

…The lawsuit, originally filed in 2018, alleged Chicago had violated Illinois law by charging drivers more than $250 for certain violations, typically by adding on late penalties that sometimes doubled the price of the original ticket.  

…Examples of the types of infractions in question include parking without a city sticker, parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant and parking in a fire lane. “The City’s excessive and oppressive municipal fine structure has had disastrous consequences on Chicagoans,” the 2018 complaint argued. “What starts out as a simple fine quickly doubles, followed by threats of losing their cars, driver’s licenses, jobs and ability to do business in Chicago.”

God forbid you racked up a couple more like one poor fellow who was a party to the lawsuit.

…Mike Blaha, the other named plaintiff, received eight citations for parking without a city sticker — each costing $200 — between 2013 and 2015, according to court records.  

Then he got three $150 citations between 2016 and 2018 for parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. 

For each citation, he was then hammered with a late penalty worth the same amount as the initial fine, according to court records. 

Finally, he was hit with collections costs worth 22% of the total fines and penalties for each citation.

A new father who was also an Uber driver was on the hook for $1600, which meant he lost his job.

You can’t drive for Uber or Lyft if you owe the city of Chicago money.

…Kyle Garchar, one of the plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit, was charged $1,600 in fines for four city sticker violations.

…”It seems insane to me that the city can continue to give a ton of tickets in a very short timeframe, and target basically the poorest people that aren’t able to afford this,” Garchar said.

…Garchar was driving for Lyft and Uber at the time he got tickets for city sticker violations. He not only racked up $1,600 in fines and penalties, but lost his job too.

“If you are indebted to the city of Chicago, you’re unable to do Uber or Lyft rideshare driving,” Garchar said.

In 2012, the city raised the fine for out-of-date city sticker violations from $100 to $200, with a $200 charge for late payment, but Garcher said the city makes it hard to get a vehicle ticker in the first place.

“One of the things that is still crazy to me is that you can’t get the city sticker when you get your license and registration. So its maybe more intentionally more confusing,” he said.

If there’s a chance of making more cha-ching by being more confusing, I’m going with Door Number Two, Alex!

A city will do it every time, and it looks as if Chicago had it dang near perfected.

Until yesterday.

More than a million Chicago city sticker and parking tickets have been ruled illegal after a judge found the city overcharged residents for a decade.

Now Chicago owes its residents $163 million for violating Illinois law.

Democrats stealing from working people—shocker. 🤡🌎 pic.twitter.com/TUHZiLEJs1

— Midwest Millennial (@MillennialVerse) February 25, 2026

Kind of amazing how the city’s overcharging on the tickets stopped when the lawsuit dropped on the city. I guess that intentionally confusing stuff suddenly all cleared up!

And now that this county judge ruled that the city had overcharged drivers for these parking tickets for over a decade, it’s a matter of deciding who gets a refund and for how much.

Save those old tickets!

The Cook County judge did lay some limits down to get money refunded – after all, these were supposedly legitimate infractions.

In classic Chicago fashion, the city is spending a fortune in legal fees fighting the lawsuit and its appeal, rather than simply paying the people it stole from.

…The judge ruled drivers might be owed refunds for the amount they paid over the $250 cap. The decision affects more than 1 million tickets issued over roughly a decade.

“Those totals amount to $163 million, and we hope to get that relief to the class as soon as we can,” Zolna said.

If the ruling stands, Chicago could owe tens of millions in refunds and interest, while wiping out millions more in overcharged fines that have yet to be paid.

“The city, despite repeatedly losing this case and spending millions of dollars in outside counsel fees defending this suit, they have refused to cooperate in any way. They have refused to even offer a single penny to resolve the case,” Zolna said.

The plaintiffs’ lawyer also put the city on notice not to be out debt-collecting on those outstanding tickets after losing this case.

HEH

…Zolna also said he wanted to put the city “on notice” that its debt collectors “better not be collecting” on ticket debt the judge voided in his ruling last week. 

Cabanban said the city was “carefully evaluating the implications of the decision for its collection activity.” 

“The City will comply with all applicable legal requirements as they are determined,” she said.

The city plans on fighting about it some more.

It’s only money.

…A spokesperson for the city’s law department said Tuesday that the fight is not over. In a statement she said: “While we respect the judicial process, we are actively evaluating all available legal options, including an appeal. This matter is not final, and the city intends to continue vigorously defending the interests of its residents. “

And Chicago has so much of it to burn, you know?

A judge has ruled that the City of Chicago, from 2012-2022, overcharged drivers by $163 million across nearly 2 million parking tickets and that refunds must be issued. The ruling also wipes out $93.8 million in fines and fees yet to be collected.

More: https://t.co/3lQ1NMqW6S pic.twitter.com/VBoaSpud8Q

— NewsNation (@NewsNation) February 25, 2026

It’s not like they’re known for being reasonable on their best day.

In 2009, after his girlfriend broke up with him, a Chicago man bought a car for $500 in her name and abandoned it illegally parked at an airport. The car accumulated over $100,000 in parking fines which the city demanded his ex-girlfriend pay. pic.twitter.com/xoXjgRYzac

— WTF Facts (@mrwtffacts) February 15, 2026

I hope this girl kept her tickets.

I mean, the city owes her a check.

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