CHICAGO — With last year's Chicago city vehicle stickers expiring and the grace period for the 2014-2015 stickers ending July 15, the rush is on for city vehicle owners to get their stickers purchased and on their windshields sooner rather than later.
So, we're dedicating an entire Ask the Parking Ticket Geek column to that sticky subject.
Dear Parking Ticket Geek,
So, I am one of those city sticker procrastinators. I just bought my sticker online today (June 27) and it says it could take up to 2 weeks to arrive.
Does this mean I can get a ticket before it arrives in the mail?
Stephanie
Don't sweat it, Stephanie.
While the Clerk’s office says it only takes two weeks for a city sticker to arrive in the mail, it usually arrives sooner than that.
Remember, the grace period for city stickers is July 15 — you should have your city sticker well before that.
If it doesn't arrive in the mail by July 12 or 13, call the Clerk’s office at 312-744-6770 and they’ll help you out so you don't get a ticket.
In fact, according to the City Clerk's office, drivers have until July 7 to order their city stickers online and still get them safely before the grace period ends on July 15.
But remember, enforcement begins in earnest July 16 and the tickets for not having a city sticker will cost a driver $200.
Hey Geek,
So we are moving to the burbs July 25. Do we have to buy a city sticker for our two vehicles for only 25 days?
Ugh, I hope not.
Daniel
Technically, according to Pat Corcoran, spokesman for the Clerk's Office, the answer is yes.
"We are getting this question a lot this year," says Corcoran. "The short answer, unfortunately is 'Yes,' you must buy and display the new vehicle sticker."
But this year, he notes, since the clerk switched to year-round sticker sales, meaning vehicles can purchase a sticker covering a shorter time frame.
"At least this year you should have a short-term option available to you, meaning you will likely not have to buy a full-year Chicago City vehicle sticker as you would have had to do in the past," he said.
But, there is a possible solution where you could legally protect yourself from having to buy two stickers for your cars from two different cities this year.
Since you are moving out of the city, go ahead and try to change the address on the registration of your two vehicles and your driver's licenses with the Illinois Secretary of State to your new address. You're required by state law to do this anyway, so go ahead and make these changes as soon as you can before July 15.
In addition, get your hands on a vehicle sticker from your new town to slap on your windshield. I would also advise removing any old Chicago city stickers from your windshield, as leaving them on without the new one is like putting a neon sign above your car that flashes "Ticket Me!"
With a new address on your registration, even if you get ticketed, you'll have proof that you were in the process of moving out of the city on the date of the ticket.
Dear Parking Ticket Geek,
I purchased my scooter/motorcycle on 4/19/2014.
I was under impression that I have to wait until I receive my title and scooter registration to buy a city sticker. The primary reason for this impression was because I read that "State Vehicle Registration" is required in order to buy it.
Initially, I received a ticket dated 5/19 and I was planning to contest via mail, as it falls within 30 days of purchase.
But later on that week, I received two more tickets dated 5/20, 5/22 with the same reason.
Can I contest saying that I was waiting for State Vehicle Registration?
Krishna
Sorry, Krishna, I think you may be on the hook for at least two of these tickets.
You're right on the first ticket, according to Corcoran. The city's municipal code allows vehicle owners 30 days to buy a city sticker from the date they purchased the vehicle.
"There is an exception for new vehicles and we would recommend contesting the first ticket anyway using documentation that indicates proof of purchase, such as the paperwork from the dealership," explains Corcoran.
So you definitely need to contest that ticket based on the law — and you should win.
However, the two tickets issued past the 30-day window are going to be tougher, if not impossible for you to prevail.
If, somehow, your registration from the Illinois Secretary of State shows a date where the tickets are still within the 30 days, use that documentation to fight the tickets. Otherwise, you're on the hook for those two $200 tickets.
GEEK!
THE CITY CASHED MY CHECK ON JUNE 9TH!!! WHERE'S MY STICKER?!?!?
KENNETH
Take a deep cleansing breath, Kenneth. We're going to get through this together.
Just give the City Clerk's office a call at 312-744-6770, politely and calmly tell them your story, give them your plate number and they'll figure it out.
The Clerk's office sends out close to a million city stickers to Chicago drivers by mail every year and your sticker has probably been lost in the mail — it happens.
But the Clerk's staff deals with this issue more often than you think and will get you your sticker before July 15th.
The Geek
Got a parking ticket question for The Parking Ticket Geek, email your query to: askthegeek@theexpiredmeter.com.
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