A Chicago woman has busted a city record by accruing more than $105,000 in parking citations, given over three years to a vehicle that cost only $600. And now she is suing the city. But before readers get offended, read on. It looks like she really has a great case.
Owner of the vehicle with all the parking tickets?
The vehicle, a 1978 Chevy Monte Carlo, was purchased for $600 in 1999, and is owned by 31-year-old Jennifer Fitzgerald, an unemployed single mom from Chicago. Or is it? Even the ownership of the automobile is fuzzy in this convoluted sequence of events.
Brandon Preveau, Fitzgerald's ex-boyfriend, bought the car from his uncle but listed it under Fitzgerald's name. Fitzgerald made a legal complaint saying: "On or before November 17, 2009, Brandon drove the Automobile into the Parking Lot and never drove it out again." She does not know why the automobile was abandoned. All she knew was that Preveau used the car to get to and from work.
Giving it citations
The vehicle was given its first ticket on May 23, 2009. But on Nov 17, it was cited for being in a dilapidated condition, not having a city sticker, damaged headlights, busted windows, expired plates, being abandoned and for being left more than 30 days in a lot owned by the town. At that point, according to city regulations, it should have been towed to impound. But again, for whatever reason, it was not.
After that, the car was given 678 tickets. Now, it owes $65,000 in fines.
A quick response
But Fitzgerald said she had no idea that Preveau had registered the car in her name, and so the bill is rightfully his. The city is taking a tough line on the matter, however, insisting she pay the complete bill. However, the unemployed Fitzgerald is not able to get a loan for a car, much less pay more than $100,000 in citations.
This is why she filed the complaint. For obvious reasons, it was against Preveau. It was against United Airlines as the parking lot was leased from the city for workers to park. She is also mad at the town since the extra tickets would never have occurred if the vehicle had been towed like it was supposed to.
It will be 2013 before the case goes to a judge.
Owner of the vehicle with all the parking tickets?
The vehicle, a 1978 Chevy Monte Carlo, was purchased for $600 in 1999, and is owned by 31-year-old Jennifer Fitzgerald, an unemployed single mom from Chicago. Or is it? Even the ownership of the automobile is fuzzy in this convoluted sequence of events.
Brandon Preveau, Fitzgerald's ex-boyfriend, bought the car from his uncle but listed it under Fitzgerald's name. Fitzgerald made a legal complaint saying: "On or before November 17, 2009, Brandon drove the Automobile into the Parking Lot and never drove it out again." She does not know why the automobile was abandoned. All she knew was that Preveau used the car to get to and from work.
Giving it citations
The vehicle was given its first ticket on May 23, 2009. But on Nov 17, it was cited for being in a dilapidated condition, not having a city sticker, damaged headlights, busted windows, expired plates, being abandoned and for being left more than 30 days in a lot owned by the town. At that point, according to city regulations, it should have been towed to impound. But again, for whatever reason, it was not.
After that, the car was given 678 tickets. Now, it owes $65,000 in fines.
A quick response
But Fitzgerald said she had no idea that Preveau had registered the car in her name, and so the bill is rightfully his. The city is taking a tough line on the matter, however, insisting she pay the complete bill. However, the unemployed Fitzgerald is not able to get a loan for a car, much less pay more than $100,000 in citations.
This is why she filed the complaint. For obvious reasons, it was against Preveau. It was against United Airlines as the parking lot was leased from the city for workers to park. She is also mad at the town since the extra tickets would never have occurred if the vehicle had been towed like it was supposed to.
It will be 2013 before the case goes to a judge.
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