- Credibility:
CHICAGO — The city forgave $11.5 million in city sticker debt during this year’s forgiveness program.
In all, about 11,400 people applied for forgiveness from city sticker ticket debt during the one month when applications were open, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and City Clerk Anna Valencia announced Thursday morning.
The program allowed drivers who’d had outstanding debt from up to three city sticker tickets to apply to have the debt erased.
Drivers who wanted forgiveness needed to get a valid city sticker or show they already had one. Since the program launched in October, nearly 9,000 people have bought a city sticker — a 910 percent increase, according to the city.
“These initial results from the City Sticker forgiveness initiatives prove that when the deck is not stacked against Chicagoans and they are given a realistic, accessible pathway to compliance, they will take it,” Lightfoot said in a news release. “With our work far from over, together with the Clerk’s Office, City Council and advocates we will continue unwinding the City’s historically regressive fines and fees system, so that it no longer holds our residents back.”
The program ended earlier this month, but those who still need help with ticket debt can sign up for payment plans online.
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