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Little Wing · #7 (**permalink**) 11-18-2004, 01:19 AM

Hehe, but before it even mentions chicago is the whole.....

"November 10, 2004

BY TIM NOVAK AND STEVE WARMBIR STAFF REPORTERS

Adrienne Leonard was traveling overseas last year on a missionary trip when she got a frantic phone call from her mother: The city had taken Leonard's car.

Booted and towed from in front of her South Side bungalow, her green 2001 Kia Sephia was gone.

Gone for good, it turned out.

The city demanded more than $1,000 for three parking tickets, and towing and storage fees.

Leonard was $300 short.

The city gave her 15 days to get the money, but she ran out of time.

The car became the city's -- an "involuntary surrender," the city calls it.

In January, the city sold the Kia to a politically connected towing firm that has an exclusive contract on city business.

How much money did the city get for the car?

Just $125.54.

That's right. The city sold a 3-year-old car for $125.54.

Leonard, 47, didn't get a dime from the sale and lost all the equity in her car.

She didn't even get a dime's credit toward those tickets, towing and storage fees. She's still on the hook for those.

And she still owes $13,800 for the Kia -- a car she no longer owns.

"The city stole my car," Leonard said, tears building in her eyes, as she learned from reporters what happened to her Kia. "I was robbed.''

"They sold my car for $125? I offered them more money than that. I had the money to pay the tickets and towing fees, but I didn't have the money for the storage fees," Leonard said.

"It's a racket. It has to be."

Leonard lost her car to a system set up early on in the Daley administration that seizes vehicles from people who owe money for tickets or other infractions. It turns out that tens of thousands of people, particularly the poor and elderly, cannot afford the city's escalating fees to get their cars back, the Sun-Times found in an investigation of the program.

Al Sanchez, the head of the city's Department of Streets and Sanitation, which oversees the city's towing program, praises the system in a statement.

"The primary purpose of the towing contract is to keep the city streets navigable and free from abandoned or wrecked vehicles and vehicles with parking violations," Sanchez said in a statement.

"The owner of the vehicle is still liable for all fines and fees even if the city disposes of the vehicle," Sanchez said.

You don't even need to have a parking ticket to be a victim of the city's towing system.
"

I didnt get that far...

#7 (permalink) 11-18-2004, 01:19 AM
Little Wing Old School Stoner Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,339	Hehe, but before it even mentions chicago is the whole..... "November 10, 2004 BY TIM NOVAK AND STEVE WARMBIR STAFF REPORTERS Adrienne Leonard was traveling overseas last year on a missionary trip when she got a frantic phone call from her mother: The city had taken Leonard's car. Booted and towed from in front of her South Side bungalow, her green 2001 Kia Sephia was gone. Gone for good, it turned out. The city demanded more than $1,000 for three parking tickets, and towing and storage fees. Leonard was $300 short. The city gave her 15 days to get the money, but she ran out of time. The car became the city's -- an "involuntary surrender," the city calls it. In January, the city sold the Kia to a politically connected towing firm that has an exclusive contract on city business. How much money did the city get for the car? Just $125.54. That's right. The city sold a 3-year-old car for $125.54. Leonard, 47, didn't get a dime from the sale and lost all the equity in her car. She didn't even get a dime's credit toward those tickets, towing and storage fees. She's still on the hook for those. And she still owes $13,800 for the Kia -- a car she no longer owns. "The city stole my car," Leonard said, tears building in her eyes, as she learned from reporters what happened to her Kia. "I was robbed.'' "They sold my car for $125? I offered them more money than that. I had the money to pay the tickets and towing fees, but I didn't have the money for the storage fees," Leonard said. "It's a racket. It has to be." Leonard lost her car to a system set up early on in the Daley administration that seizes vehicles from people who owe money for tickets or other infractions. It turns out that tens of thousands of people, particularly the poor and elderly, cannot afford the city's escalating fees to get their cars back, the Sun-Times found in an investigation of the program. Al Sanchez, the head of the city's Department of Streets and Sanitation, which oversees the city's towing program, praises the system in a statement. "The primary purpose of the towing contract is to keep the city streets navigable and free from abandoned or wrecked vehicles and vehicles with parking violations," Sanchez said in a statement. "The owner of the vehicle is still liable for all fines and fees even if the city disposes of the vehicle," Sanchez said. You don't even need to have a parking ticket to be a victim of the city's towing system. " I didnt get that far... __________________ "The years go fast, but the days go so slow"