Chicago faces a massive financial liability after a judge ordered the city to repay $69.6 million in excessive late fees from parking and city sticker violations. Circuit Court Judge William B. Sullivan ruled Feb. 19 that Chicago violated Illinois law by charging drivers more than $250 for certain violations through penalties that sometimes doubled original ticket costs.

The judgment affects over 1 million citations issued since 2013, stemming from a 2018 class-action lawsuit. Drivers will receive refunds only for amounts paid above $250 per violation, while the city must forgive an estimated $93.8 million in ticket debt. The city's Law Department said it's considering an appeal after previously losing a similar case.

This marks the second major parking-related payout for Chicago in recent years, following a $38.75 million settlement in 2017 over red and speed camera violations. The case underscores ongoing tensions between municipalities and drivers over aggressive ticketing practices and fee structures that critics say disproportionately impact low-income residents.