Evanston’s repeat parking offenders may have their driver’s licenses revoked if they do not pay their fines.
The city mailed notices to 234 individuals Tuesday, saying it will give them 45 days to pay the debts. If they don’t Evanston will ask the Illinois secretary of state to revoke their licenses.
Wayne Moran, director of the city’s Hearings Division, said that although tickets held by the offenders total about $70,000, the city is targeting the offenders for more than financial reasons.
“Many of these people are endangering public safety because they park everywhere,” including handicap parking spots and in front of emergency driveways and fire hydrants, he said.
The offenders have logged 10 or more unpaid tickets since Jan. 1, 2000, and already have been sent at least 20 letters by the city. One of the individuals has 65 tickets totaling more than $1,100, Moran said.
“We have an obligation to collect (the fines), like any business would,” he said. The city’s efforts in issuing and processing tickets, sending multiple letters and paying for postage, plus police officers’ time, makes for “a considerable expense,” Moran said.
This is the first time Evanston has threatened to revoke driver’s licenses. Previously, the city forwarded long-term claims to collection agencies.
“While they would make attempts to collect, their abilities were certainly not as strong as driver’s license suspension,” Moran said. “We kind of control our own destiny.”
