A Cook County judge has ruled that Chicago overcharged drivers on parking, city sticker, and ordinance violations for more than a decade. The court found that the city routinely added late penalties that pushed tickets beyond Illinois’ $250 legal fine limit.
According to CBS Chicago, the lawsuit claims the city’s system of penalties and collection fees led to systematic overcharging affecting more than 1 million tickets issued since 2012. Some drivers saw fines grow far beyond the original ticket amount, leading to complaints that the system was unfairly burdensome, especially for low-income residents who depend on their vehicles for transportation and work.
The ruling could force Chicago to pay tens of millions of dollars — possibly over $100 million in refunds and interest payments. In addition to refunds, the judge also struck down hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid fines that were tied to the improper penalty structure.
Chicago leaders are now reviewing the decision and have not ruled out filing an appeal. City attorneys have argued in past court filings that the penalty system was necessary to encourage compliance and reduce repeat violations, but the court ultimately disagreed with how fines were calculated.
Lawyers are advising drivers to keep records of old tickets and payments. While refund procedures have not yet been finalized, officials are expected to release more details if the ruling is upheld.
The case could reshape how Chicago handles parking enforcement and could lead to changes in how fines are calculated going forward.
