Tickets By Mistake: Car Owners Infuriated

CBS 2 News, of Chicago, outlines two ridiculous (but, all too typical) stories from improperly ticketed drivers who were unable to get their citations dismissed. Chicago police officer Michael Medina’s car was stolen, and before it was recovered received a ticket for violating street cleaning signs. Despite sending in a copy of the theft report as evidence, he was sent back a letter informing that he had lost his appeal. Then, when faced with a $124.51 cent fee to contest that ruling, he reluctantly paid the $50 fine and decided to cut his losses. “Why would I appeal for $124.51 a ticket that’s only $50? It doesn’t make sense to me,” he told CBS 2. The next case involves a couple who had moved to Chicago only two weeks before receiving a ticket for not having a registration sticker on their vehicle. After reading the fine print on the citation, Mindi Devries saw that new residents were exempt to this law. She sent in her May 1st lease, but was still found guilty. When she called a city hotline to complain, she was informed that they found a 2006 registration, showing that she was not new to the city. Mindi informed them that the 2006 registration was actually from Missouri, but the court would not reverse their decision until contacted by CBS 2.