Mayoral candidate Ald. Robert Fioretti will introduce a plan to the City Council this week to wipe away late fees on unpaid parking tickets in order to convince people to pay up.
It's far from a sure thing his plan will gain traction in the City Council after he brings it forward at Wednesday's meeting. Fioretti, an outspoken critic of Mayor Rahm Emanuel even before he launched an electoral challenge to the incumbent, often has a hard time getting colleagues who are afraid of crossing the mayor to support his initiatives.
The alderman's plan would allow people to pay just the initial cost for any parking tickets issued prior to 2014, as long as they owe the city less than $10,000 total in parking fines. The amnesty option would stay in place on the older tickets until the end of 2017 under the proposal.
Fioretti said he hopes enough aldermen who recognize the benefits of a parking ticket amnesty plan are willing to join him.
"I've spoken to many of my colleagues, and they know this is a smart idea," Fioretti, 2nd, said. "It's a chance to put a big chunk of money in the city coffers while helping people get out from under these late fees and other costs."
The proposal would also allow people to enter into a one-year installment plan after coming up with half of what they owe for unpaid parking tickets. Active-duty military personnel or veterans who have been honorably discharged could get a two-year payment plan if they bring in 25 percent of what they owe, as could senior citizens living below the poverty line.
The city collected $7 million during a 10-week amnesty program starting in late 2008 that allowed drivers to clear their ledgers by paying their original fines and half of what they owed in additional penalties on old tickets.
"I hope the mayor sees the wisdom of this and supports it," Fioretti said.
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