Parking News
Parking News
Parking ticket late fees to double
Vehicle owners who fail to pay their
parking tickets on time will face stiffer penalties on March 1
when late fees are set to double, a step intended to encourage
on-time payment. A motorist whose vehicle is ticketed for a
parking violation has 14 days to pay or formally contest the
citation and avoid late fees. Under the new late fee structure,
a late $10 parking ticket will cost $30 -- the cost of the
ticket plus a $20 late fee. A $20 late fee also will be added
to $20 and $30 tickets and a $70 late fee added to certain $100
tickets. A $100 late fee now will be added to the $100 fine for
illegally parking in a designated handicap space. In addition
to fines and late fees, failure to pay a parking citation also
can result in driver's license suspension or vehicle
immobilization with a wheel-locking device. Parking tickets may
be paid by mail, through a night deposit box at Village Hall or
at the Cashier's Office in Village Hall, 123 Madison St.
Payment can be made by cash, check or credit card. Using a
check or credit card is recommended if paying by mail or the
night deposit box. When payment is received by the Village --
not when it is mailed -- determines payment date. A vehicle
owner who believes a parking citation was issued in error can
contest the ticket in writing. The appeal must be received no
later than 14 days after the date the ticket was issued and
should include all evidence the vehicle owner wishes to be
considered, such as pictures and documents. Notification of the
judgment should come within three weeks. Additional fees will
be incurred if payment is not received within 14 days of the
judgment. Written appeals also can be made on-line at www.oak-park.us, as well as in
person through the Village's Office of Adjudication,
which uses law judges to hear appeals at Village Hall. For more
information on the adjudication process, visit www.oak-park.us -- mouse over
the Departments tab and click on the Adjudication link.
Parking ticket reviews, appeals available
on line
Anyone wondering if they have an
outstanding Oak Park parking ticket can now find out with a
click of a mouse and a few strokes on a computer keyboard. And
if they discover they do have a ticket, they can contest it in
the same way. A new interactive communications method through
the Village's official website allows individuals to type
their license plate number into an on-line form to determine if
they have outstanding tickets, review details about any unpaid
citations and then register to file a written appeal. Citations
issued after Jan. 1, 2004, are available through the on-line
system. To access the new service, visit www.oak-park.us and look for the interactive parking citations button for a direct link to getting started. A ticket
must be appealed within 14 days from the date of issuance. For
more information, call 358.5479 or email adjudication@oak-park.us.
