Chicago Uses Police State Tactics to Raise Revenue

The Chicago Tribune reports:

Heather Thome thought she scored "rock star" parking when she grabbed a coveted open spot last April on inner Lake Shore Drive at Addison Street. But she was dismayed when she returned to find a police officer had just written a ticket for violating a parking ban from 4 to 6 p.m.

"I asked him where the sign was," said Thome, 35, a temp worker. "He said there used to be a sign on 'that' pole, and it hasn't been there for two years. My logical question was, 'How can you write a ticket?' And he told me he doesn't want to, but his boss tells him he has to go out every day and write tickets."

Thome said the cop advised her to appeal to the city's Department of Administrative Hearings. She did, by mail, with a photo of the scene -- sans sign -- enclosed. She still was found liable.

"I just think of all the suburbanites coming here for Cubs games," Thome said. "They don't know how to contest a ticket. They just pay it."

City Revenue Director Bea Reyna-Hickey insisted the enforcement is designed to be fair.

"Yes, it is a significant source of revenue, but our responsibility is to collect in an equitable manner," she said. "People are given an opportunity to exercise their rights to dispute the ticket. ... That doesn't mean mistakes aren't made. If they are made, we work to resolve the issue to the best of our ability."

James Reilly, head of the Department of Administrative Hearings, which handles about 275,000 appeals every year from motorists cited for non-moving violations, said that more than 50 percent of those who contest parking citations are found not liable after hearing officers consider the evidence.

"Those numbers have been consistent for 10 years, and the numbers don't lie," Reilly said. "Most people who contest a parking ticket prevail ... and if people do not agree with the decision of the administrative law officer, they have the ability to appeal to the Circuit Court."

But Thome said it doesn't take a math wizard to consider the required court filing fee and decide whether it makes sense to continue the fight.

"I could pay $93 to contest a $50 ticket," she said.

How about that for "fairness" ?