NEW YEAR NEW LAWS IN IL AND CHICAGO – HERE’S A SUMMARY!
NEW YEAR NEW LAWS IN IL AND CHICAGO – HERE’S A SUMMARY!
THOSE IN CHICAGO FACE HIGHER PARKING FEES TRANSIT FARES. ACROSS IL TOUGHER RULES FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES GUN LAWS – MORE!
The New Year 2009 brings with it a bucketful of new fees and laws in the City of Chicago and across Illinois. Here is a summary from today’s Chicago Tribune and stories by Hal Dardick and Monique Garcia. Also from the Tribune here’s a summary of the New Chicago Fees and Charges.
IN CHICAGO
1. New Parking Meter Rates effective today across Chicago. In outlying Chicago Neighborhoods away from Downtown Chicago and The Loop feeding parking meters formerly cost 25 cents per hour. As soon as meter labeling is changed that rate is doubling to 50 cents per hour. Downtown meters now costing $3.00 will soon increase to $3.50 per hour. Eventually by 2013 meters will cost $1.00 for each hour in the Neighborhoods $6.50/hour downtown.
Furthermore the hours of meter enforcement will increase in most locations and many will be enforced seven days a week 365 days per year. Changes come with the privatization of the Chicago Parking Meter System under a 75-year lease netting the City of Chicago over $1 Billion.
2. New Higher Fares for CTA PACE Suburban Bus. CTA Bus Fares are increasing to $2.00 up from $1.75. Those paying with cash as opposed to with a pre-paid Chicago Transit Card will pay $2.25 per ride. PACE Suburban Buses increase to $1.75 for a ride on most routes. CTA El Trains increase to $2.25 per ride for everyone. The volume discount for stocking pre-paid fare cards online or through in-station vending machines has been eliminated.
3. Higher Downtown Chicago Parking Taxes. Those parking in private or city garages with a minimum $12 charge will face a 75 cent tax increase per stay. Don’t pay your parking tickets? Accumulate two or more unpaid tickets and risk the Denver Boot being attached to your front wheel. (The previous unpaid ticket threshold to qualify for "The Boot"? Three unpaid!
4. And There’s More! Basic Chicago Ambulance Service is nearly doubling – to $600 from the current $325 Fee. City Residents will now face an annual $80 Fee for their city-provided alley trash dumpster (currently no charge). A pack of 30 zoned Neighborhood Residential Parking Guest Permits will now cost $16 up from $10. The Chicago Amusement Tax is increasing by 1% for both large and small venues. Even Library Fines are doubling to 20 cents per late day.
Fee increases were instituted with the 2009 City of Chicago Budget. They are expected to generate an estimated $53 Million for the city this year in an attempt to shrink the Chicago Budget Deficit.
ACROSS ILLINOIS –
1. Insurance Companies must now pay for certain eating disorders including Anorexia and Bulimia which are now considered "Serious Illnesses" in Illinois.
2. Beginning in the 2009-2010 Academic Year school districts across IL will be required to include Internet Safety in their curriculum at least once a year for children in third grade or higher.
3. IL Colleges and Universities must develop Disaster Response Plans with Local and State Officials in response to local shooting sprees at Northern Illinois University and Virginia Tech.
4. Identified Sex Offenders will no longer be allowed to serve as Election Judges in IL or rent to parents or legal guardians of children in real estate they own.
5. Those Buying Firearms Illegally will now face a tougher three to seven year jail term up from the current one to three years.
6. Outdoor Sports and Fitness Facilities must now have an automated defibrillator at their facility.
DEAN MOSS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO
