Government Law
Chicago motorists discover there is no time limit on the collection of parking tickets
In Illinois, there is no statute of limitations for murder, arson or parking tickets.
Many Chicago drivers are learning that lesson the hard way, the Chicago Tribune reports. The city has increased collection of debts five years or older, and drivers with unpaid tickets are getting notices for infractions that occurred as long as 20 years ago.
Tickets from that long ago can be difficult to fight, lawyer Charles Beach tells the Tribune. The time frame for a challenge is short, and even if a driver has a defense, it can be difficult to prove, he said.
Illinois allows municipalities to recover parking ticket debt from state tax refunds, and Chicago is taking advantage of the program.
