In a surprising turn of events, residents of Chicago have recently begun receiving notices regarding old traffic violations that date back as far as 2010.
Tommy McEnery of Mount Greenwood was taken aback when he received a notice about a $100 speeding ticket from 2014, just days after settling all of his other recent violations.
Initially, McEnery thought the notice might be a scam due to the age of the ticket, which he had never seen before.
But he soon learned that the notices were part of the city’s Vehicle and Commercial Ticket Debt Relief Program, launched in April, which allows residents to pay off outstanding tickets without incurring additional late fees.
LaKesha Gage-Woodard, director of public affairs for the city’s fiscal offices, confirmed that these notices are legitimate and part of a broader initiative to help residents clear longstanding debt.
“Our goal is to ensure that residents with longstanding debt — some dating back years or even decades — are aware of this limited-time opportunity to have penalties and fees forgiven,” Gage-Woodard stated in an email.
Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced the program, advertising it as a chance for a “fresh start.” Ironically, many Chicagoans see this fresh start as a notification of debt they previously didn’t know existed.
John Kutrubis shared that his mother received a notice for four tickets dating back to 2010, totaling around $300.
“I didn’t even recall the car that this was connected to,” he expressed, feeling pressured by the short notice to pay the fines.
Kutrubis attempted to resolve the situation by calling the provided number, but after 45 minutes on hold, he decided to investigate the tickets online.
To his surprise, he found evidence of a red light violation from 15 years prior. To avoid further complications, he opted to pay the fines, stating, “I just ate it because I didn’t want the headache, especially since they’re giving me such a short period of time.”
Chicago has had a history of pursuing debt relief for longstanding parking and vehicle violations.
Last year, then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot initiated a similar program aimed at forgiving red-light and speeding camera tickets, though it was limited to residents earning less than 300% of federal poverty guidelines.
Currently, any resident with outstanding parking tickets, expired vehicle registrations, or automated speed or red-light camera tickets that received a “Notice of Final Determination” on or before December 31, 2023, is eligible for debt relief.
However, parking meter violations and any tickets tied to an active court case do not qualify for this program.
With no statute of limitations on motor vehicle violations in Chicago, many residents receiving these recent notices must take them seriously.
Furthermore, the deadline to pay off these violations without incurring additional fees is approaching at the end of June, even for tickets dating back to 2010.
“While some violations may seem dated, they are still legally owed to the city,” Gage-Woodard emphasized.
She explained that prior notifications had been sent to motorists at the addresses listed with the Illinois Secretary of State and that this latest outreach effort was intended to inform as many residents as possible about the available relief.
Thanks to the debt relief program, Chicago residents have reportedly saved over $8.2 million in fines and fees.
Nevertheless, confusion remains among those like Kutrubis, who question how violations could remain undiscovered for so long.
“It just makes no sense to me,” he remarked.
He further added frustration over the system, wondering why violations could be lost in the shuffle when licenses are connected to individuals by name.
“What is the process that allows for this to happen?” Kutrubis questioned, highlighting an overall sense of bewilderment and concern regarding such a significant legislative oversight.
As the deadline for the relief program looms, many residents are grappling with the unexpected burden of their old traffic tickets, navigating the system to settle debts they believed had been forgotten long ago.
image source from：https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/10/did-you-get-a-decades-old-traffic-ticket-in-the-mail-its-not-a-scam/
