Sunday, 6 October 2013

678 Parking Tickets Is A Chicago Record

By Cornelius Nunev


A Chicago woman has damaged a city record by accruing more than $105,000 in parking tickets, issued over three years to a car that cost only $600. And now she is suing the town. But before viewers get indignant, read on. It appears as though she actually has a good case.

Confusing to figure out ownership

The 31-year-old single mom in Chicago, Jennifer Fitzgerald, owns the 1978 Chevy Monte Carlo which was bought in 1999 for $600. Does she really own it though?

The vehicle was registered under Fitzgerald's name after ex-boyfriend Brandon Preveau bought it from his uncle. The vehicle was used by Preveau to get to and from his job at the airport working for United Airlines. Fitzgerald did not know why Preveau abandoned the vehicle, but she said: "On or before November 17, 2009, Brandon drove the Automobile into the Parking Lot and never drove it out again."

Citations begin

The first ticket was given in 2009, but the vehicle cited for broken headlights, broken windows, and for having expired plates. It is in trouble for not having a city sticker and for being abandoned for additional than 30 days on November 17. It was still not towed at that point even though it was intended to be.

After that, the car was given 678 citations. Now, it owes $65,000 in fines.

Fitzgerald strikes back

Fitzgerald is technically responsible for the bill since her name was on the vehicle, but she cannot afford to get a loan for a car let alone pay $100,000 in citations. The town says she has to pay the bill even though she claims Preveau has to pay for it since she did not know her name was on the title.

Fitzgerald said that the tickets would have never occurred if the vehicle was towed after 30 days as it should have been. This is why she filed the complaint against the City of Chicago, Preveau and United Airlines for leasing the parking lot from the city.

The case will go to a judge in 2013.




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