Imagine a situation when you’re approaching your car, wishing to drive home after a stressful day at work finally. And then suddenly you notice it. A nasty paper that thrusts out from under your windshield wiper, flapping in the wind. Oh yes, it’s a parking ticket. So, what to do now? What if I don’t pay it? Will they arrest me? Or will it affect my car insurance rates? If these or similar questions have ever popped up in your mind, you’ve come to the right place.
Of course, avoiding being fined in the first place is the best strategy. That way, you won’t have to lose your head over what might happen to you in case of unpaid parking tickets. However, if you’ve already found a parking ticket on your windshield, it’s time to focus on the main topic of today’s post: what can happen if you leave your Chicago parking tickets unpaid?
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Here’s an outline of quick answers:
- hefty additional fines;
- court appearance notice;
- possible arrest;
- vehicle booting/towing.
Now, keep reading for more details on each of these highly unpleasant outcomes.
1. Extra Fines
Yes, chances are the fines for your unpaid parking tickets will double or triple due to additional penalties. So, if you don’t pay your tickets as soon as you get them, you run the risk of giving away up to a one-thousand-dollar late fee to sort the whole thing out finally. The silver lining is that overdue parking tickets have no relation to your insurance rates. What a relief!
2. Court Call
If you forget (or refuse) to pay your parking tickets within up to approximately 3 months since they have been issued, be ready to receive a court appearance notice. Yep, it can get that serious. This time the judge will demand you to pay what you owe.
3. Potential Arrest
Disregarding the court appearance notice and still refusing to pay? This behavior pattern may ultimately cost you your freedom. This is not an across-every-state practice, but you don’t want to risk so unwisely, believe us.
4. Vehicle Booting/Towing
As an alternative, your vehicle can be booted or towed. It’s incredibly troublesome. And you also should know that boot removal can go up to $500! Furthermore, your license can be revoked if you take too long to sort out your fines. At this point, you might want to ask yourself the following question: ‘Is not paying my parking tickets worth all this extra trouble?’
Conclusion: Get Professional Help
Avoiding parking tickets altogether is the best strategy. In case that’s not your case, now that you’re aware of the consequences of not paying, make sure you spend what you owe as soon as possible. If the situation gets too tricky and you face weighty penalties or even arrest, turn to professional legal help without hesitation. A good lawyer will guide you through the wisest ways of protecting your rights and achieving the best possible outcome for you.
