City sticker tickets could be cut or erased for low-income drivers under the Clerk's proposed pilot

Clerk Anna Valencia and nine alderpersons filed an ordinance letting hearing officers waive all or part of a ticket based on income, if the driver buys a sticker. Her budget hearing is Friday.

By Chicago PoliticsUpdated Nov 4, 2026

City Clerk Anna Valencia wants low-income drivers ticketed for not having a City sticker to be able to get those tickets cut, or wiped out, based on what they earn. Her proposed ordinance, filed Oct. 20 with Ald. Matt Martin (47th) and eight other alderpersons, would create a pilot "ability to pay" program for the tickets through 2028 (O2026-0029654). The Clerk's record lists it for introduction at the Council's Dec. 8 meeting, and it is headed to the Committee on Budget and Government Operations.

Why it matters: the City sticker, formally the wheel tax license, is required for most vehicles registered to a Chicago address, and tickets for not displaying one can pile up quickly for people who can't pay. The ordinance itself says most City sticker ticket debt is held by residents of zip codes mostly on the South and West sides. Valencia's budget hearing is Friday, so members can ask about it then.

What the ordinance would do

Under the ordinance text, a driver cited for not displaying a sticker could apply for a waiver at their administrative hearing. The hearing officer would grant:

A full waiver if household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, as long as the driver buys a sticker (four-month, one-year or two-year).
75% off between 200% and 250% of the poverty level, 50% off up to 300%, and 25% off up to 400%.

Hearing officers would consider public benefits such as SNAP, SSI, TANF, energy assistance or a housing voucher, along with income, household expenses and letters from agencies, shelters or religious institutions. A driver who qualifies would take the hearing officer's document to the Clerk to buy a sticker without late fees or back charges, then to the Department of Finance to have the ticket reissued at the lower amount. The Office of Administrative Hearings could allow Zoom hearings. The pilot would end Dec. 31, 2028.

The ordinance's title refers to Section 9-24-065 of the Municipal Code, but the text amends Section 9-64-125, the City sticker display rule. The Council's committee would sort that out if it takes the ordinance up.

The ordinance's preamble cites San Francisco's ability-to-pay program, which discounts tickets 80% or more for people below 250% of the poverty level, and says the Clerk's "Amnesty April" brought in an extra $1.6 million in each of 2025 and 2026 compared with April 2024.

What our records add

The co-sponsors. Besides Martin, they are Alds. Daniel La Spata (1st), Julia Ramirez (12th), Jessie Fuentes (26th), Walter Burnett (27th), Felix Cardona Jr. (31st), Scott Waguespack (32nd), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th) and Maria Hadden (49th).

The amnesty passed 50 to 0. The Council created the yearly 31-day amnesty, which waives late fees and back charges, in February 2025, on Valencia's proposal (SO2025-0015307).

How each ward voted

48 yea · Feb 19, 2025 · Passed

Yea Nay

SO2025-0015307: the roll call, the timeline and the documents

That followed a 2019 overhaul of City sticker fines, fees and payment plans, proposed by then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot, which passed 49 to 1 (SO2019-5547).

What was said last year. At the Clerk's 2026 budget hearing, Valencia said the April amnesty brought in about $1.6 million and brought 15,000 drivers into compliance (watch). Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th) asked what the Council could do to promote amnesty efforts (watch). Ald. Michelle Harris (8th) asked whether more amnesty months are needed (watch), and Ald. Scott Waguespack asked how many vehicles with out-of-state plates get stickers (watch). Valencia also suggested adjusting sticker prices for inflation every four years instead of two (watch).

What's next

Fri., Nov. 6: the City Clerk's budget hearing, 9:30 a.m. (meeting page).
Dec. 8: the ordinance is listed for introduction at the full Council, then referral to committee.
If passed, the pilot would take effect on passage and publication and end Dec. 31, 2028.

Sources: Office of the City Clerk: O2026-0029654 official record.