Chicago Stops Issuing Parking Tickets Amid Coronavirus Shutdown

CHICAGO — Looking for a silver lining amid the new coronavirus shutdown?

Mayor Lori Lightfoot suspended issuing non-safety related parking tickets, auto impounds and late fees on other city citations, utility bills, parking and red-light camera tickets and booting until April 30.

“This is a common sense way that we can help mitigate the burdens and pressures many are feeling. We know that these practices disproportionately impact the residents that are most in need during this crisis,” Lightfoot said in a statement.

“We realize that many of our residents are strapped for cash right now as the effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus has created difficult economic circumstances for those who are unable to work. We don’t want to further impact people who can’t afford to pay these penalties today and want to provide some breathing room to help them prioritize how to address their financial obligations.”

City Hall announced the following "first step" measures aimed at reducing the financial impact of COVID-19 on city residents will take effect immediately:

• Ticket Issuance
• Enforcement will be prioritized for safety-related violations.
• Enforcement on compliance-related violations will be suspended until April 30, 2020
• Parking, Red Light, Speed Camera Violation Collections
• Delay assessment of penalty (ticket doubling) until after April 30, 2020
• Delay driver’s license suspension until after April 30, 2020
• No Booting until after April 30, 2020
• Delay referral of tickets to collection firms until after April 30, 2020
• No defaults of payment plans for until after April 30, 2020
• Utility Bills
• Extend due dates until after April 30, 2020 delaying assessment of penalties
• Delay referrals to collection firms until after April 30, 2020
• No defaults of payment plans until after April 30, 2020
• Administrative Hearing Collections
• Extend due dates until after April 30, 2020 (this will delay assessment of interest)
• Delay referrals to collection firms until after April 30, 2020
• No defaults of payment plans until after April 30, 2020
• Other Collection Efforts
• Extend deadline for TNP and taxi drivers to pay debt to April 30
• No debt holds on new licenses or permits
• Law firms and collection agencies collecting debts for the city will suspend those efforts.