A Chapter 13 bankruptcy will accomplish the following for parking tickets:
- Reinstate driver’s license immediately.
- Stop wage garnishment. This happens immediately upon the filing of your Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
- Eliminate up to 90% (or more in some situations) of the total amount due through a structured payment plan that fits your budget.
- Remove the boot off of your vehicle.
- Get your car out of the impound lot.
The simple truth is that the fines, penalties, and interest can easily spiral out of control if you do not pay your parking tickets before the due date. Go ahead and add in boot and tow fees along with storage fees at the impound lot if your car has already been towed. It’s really easy to see how quickly you can rack up thousands upon thousands of dollars in debt. On top of all of that, the City will suspend your license and garnish your wages! It makes it virtually impossible for a person to pay back the City when he/she is unable to get to work without a vehicle. Sure, the City offers “payment plans,” but these payment plans are completely impractical for the vast majority of people. They require you to pay all of the boot and pound fees; require down payments, and put people in totally unaffordable payment plans. Don’t stand for this nonsense! A Chapter 13 bankruptcy will solve your problems with an affordable payment plan that avoids all of the fees, penalties, interest, etc.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy can also now offer a solution for parking tickets. The general rule was that parking tickets were not dischargeable in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, however, the City of Chicago amended its parking ticket policy when a person files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and now offers an exception to this general rule. They now distinguish between tickets that are less than three (3) years old or more than three (3) years old. If you receive a Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge, the tickets less than three (3) years old go back to the original amount of the ticket(s) and must be paid. You have up to three (3) years to pay the amount of these tickets through a payment plan with the City of Chicago. You must immediately set up the payment plan with the City of Chicago. You must also immediately pay for any new tickets you receive during the repayment plan. The tickets older than three (3) years will be eliminated or waived if you receive the Chapter 7 discharge and pay the tickets less than three (3) years old successfully.
Our experienced Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorneys can get your car and license back immediately while forcing the City to accept a payment plan that could potentially allow you to walk away having only paid pennies on the dollar of the actual debt owed. The amount unpaid after your Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan is completed will be discharged (forgiven). As stated above, Chapter 7 bankruptcy may offer a solution as well, so it’s important to get legal advice and find out what’s best for you. We offer a free, no-obligation, consultation with one of our Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyers to discuss your situation and figure out the best course of action. Call today to schedule an appointment and let us help you get your life back on track.
