Contesting In Person

As a registered owner of a vehicle, you have the right to contest the issuance of a parking or compliance ticket. You have seven (7) days from the date of issuance to contest a ticket issued to your vehicle. If no response is received through payment or a hearing request, you are mailed a Notice of Violation allowing you fourteen (14) days to request a hearing. At this point, you have the option to contest the ticket either by mail or in person. Still if no response is received through payment or a hearing request, a Notice of Determination is sent stating that you have been found liable by default, and must appear in person to petition to set the default aside. This option must be exercised within twenty-one (21) days from the date of the Determination. Once the twenty-one (21) days have lapsed, your opportunity to contest has expired. A Notice of Final Determination is mailed informing you that your options to challenge the ticket, both administratively and judicially, have been forfeited. A penalty that can be equal to the fine amount is assessed once the ticket reaches Final Determination status.

The Municipal Code of Chicago allows the following defenses for parking and compliance tickets. If you received a violation issued by an automated camera, and received a mailed notice with images of a vehicle registered in your name, please see the applicable defenses for Red Light and Bus Stop or Bus Lane violations.

The following defenses are allowed for most parking and compliance tickets:

1. The respondent was not the owner or lessee of the cited vehicle at the time of the violation;
2. The cited vehicle or its state registration plates were stolen at the time the violation occurred;
3. The relevant signs prohibiting or restricting parking were missing or obscured;
4. The relevant parking meter was inoperable or malfunctioned through no fault of the respondent;
5. The facts alleged in the parking or compliance violation notice are inconsistent or do not support a finding that the specified regulation was violated;
6. The illegal condition described in the compliance violation notice did not exist at the time the notice was issued;
7. The compliance violation has been corrected prior to the adjudication of the charge; provided, however, that this defense shall not apply to sections 9-64-125; 9-76-140(a)(2); 9-76-160(a),(f); and 9-76-220.

The following defenses are allowed for Red Light Violations recorded by automated cameras; violations issued pursuant to 9-102-020 of the Municipal Code of Chicago. You should have received a notice by postal mail displaying three (3) images of a vehicle registered in your name, including a close-up image of the vehicle's license plate:

1. The operator of the vehicle was issued a uniform traffic citation for a violation of Section 9-8-020(c) or Section 9-16-030(c);
2. The violation occurred at any time during which the vehicle or its license plate was reported to a law enforcement agency as having been stolen, and the vehicle or license plate had not been recovered by the owner at the time of the alleged violation;
3. The vehicle was leased to another, and within sixty (60) calendar days after the citation was mailed to the owner, the owner submitted to the City of Chicago Department of Revenue the correct name and address of the lessee of the vehicle identified on the citation at the time of the violation, together with a copy of the lease agreement and any additional information as may be required by the Department;
4. The vehicle was an authorized emergency vehicle or was a vehicle lawfully participating in a funeral procession;
5. The facts alleged in the violation notice are inconsistent or do not support a finding that Section 9-8-020(c) or Section 9-16-030(c) was violated;
6. The respondent was not the registered owner or lessee of the cited vehicle at the time of the violation.

The following defenses are allowed for Bus Stop or Bus Lane Violations recorded by automated cameras; violations issued pursuant to 9-103-020(a) of the Municipal Code of Chicago for violating sections 9-12-060(b) or 9-64-140(b). You should have received a notice by postal mail with images of a vehicle registered in your name, including a close-up image of your vehicle's license plate:

1. The operator of the vehicle was issued a uniform traffic citation for a violation of 9-12-060(b) or a parking violation for 9-64-140(b);
2. The violation occurred at any time during which the vehicle or its license plate was reported to a law enforcement agency as having been stolen and the vehicle or its license plate had not been recovered by the owner at the time of the alleged violation;
3. The vehicle was leased to another, and within sixty (60) calendar days after the citation was mailed to the owner, the owner submitted to the City of Chicago Department of Revenue the correct name and address of the lessee of the vehicle identified on the citation at the time of the violation, together with a copy of the lease agreement, and any additional information as may be required by the Department;
4. The vehicle was an authorized emergency vehicle;
5. The facts alleged in the violation notice are inconsistent or do not support a finding that Section 9-12-060(b) or Section 9-64-140(b) was violated;
6. The respondent was not the registered owner or lessee of the cited vehicle at the time of the violation;
7. The vehicle was making a right hand turn;
8. The vehicle, if not a taxicab, was stopped to expeditiously load or unload passengers, and the vehicle did not interfere with any bus waiting to enter or about to enter the bus lane;
9. The vehicle, if a licensed taxicab, was stopped to expeditiously load or unload passengers.

You can request an in-person hearing by calling the City of Chicago's Ticket Helpline @ 312.744.PARK (7275); 312.744.7277 (TTY - Hearing Impaired).

You can request an in-person hearing by mail. Fill the request for in-person hearing bubble on the ticket envelope or return the envelope provided with the mailed Notice of Violation. If responding from the mailed Notice of Violation, please fill the in-person hearing bubble both on the stub of the Notice of Violation and the envelope provided.

A notice will be mailed to you noting the begin date of the week you can appear at any of the City of Chicago's hearing facilities during the hours noted below. You can choose which day of your scheduled week is most convenient for you to appear. However, hearing locations are closed on legal City holidays. Bring to the hearing any evidence you wish to be considered, including, but not limited to, police reports, registration documents, receipts, and pictures.

Neighborhood Hearing Facilities:
2006 E. 95th Street
2550 W. Addison Street
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Monday - Friday)

Central Hearing Facility
400 W. Superior Street
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Monday - Friday)
Boot Hearings:
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Saturdays)

Mail your hearing request to:
City of Chicago Department of Revenue
P.O. Box 88298
Chicago, IL 60680-1298

Appealing The Administrative Law Officer's Decision:
If you are dissatisfied with the Administrative Law Officer's decision, you can appeal before a judge under Administrative Review in the Circuit Court of Cook County located at the Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., Room 602. This option must be exercised within 35 days of the Administrative Law Officer's decision.