Missing or Obscured Parking Sign
Chicago Municipal Code §9-100-060(a)(3) provides an explicit defense when 'the relevant signs prohibiting or restricting parking or standing were missing or obscured.' Includes faded/illegible signs, signs blocked by trees, snow, parked trucks or graffiti, fallen signs, signs turned wrong way. CBS 2 investigation showed Chicago hearing officers throw out ~54% of contested parking tickets — faded/missing signs are a top winning ground. Standard: would a reasonable driver have notice of the restriction.
Legal basis
Chicago Municipal Code §9-100-060(a)(3); §9-64-040
Sample appeal wording
TO: City of Chicago, Department of Administrative Hearings RE: Violation Notice [TICKET_NUMBER] I request dismissal under §9-100-060(a)(3): 'the relevant signs prohibiting or restricting parking or standing were missing or obscured.' On [VIOLATION_DATE] at [TIME], my vehicle was parked on the [N00] block of [STREET]. The sign was [missing entirely / faded illegible / obscured by foliage / blocked by truck / turned 90° / covered in graffiti]. A reasonable driver could not have notice. Defense satisfied. Evidence: (1) date-stamped photographs; (2) Google Street View screenshot. Signed, [FULL_NAME] Date: [DATE]
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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- Chicago Municipal Code §9-100-060(a)(3)
- CBS 2 Investigation (May 2019) — 54% dismissal rate