Vehicle impound fees in Chicago

Gee, I've been carping about the $500 vehicle impound fees in Woodstock, and then today I read the fee schedule for the City of Chicago.

Chicago's 2012 Fee Schedule reads, "If a vehicle is impounded during an arrest, the fine jumped from $1,000 to $2,000 to get the car back. The fine is $3,000 if the crime happens within 500 feet of a school."

So, just one more reason to stay out of Chicago.

Let's say you were unlucky enough to get stopped for a burned-out turn signal light bulb, and the officer was going to give you a break with a written Warning. Hey, don't laugh. It could happen. Even in Chicago.

But then he sees that your birthday was earlier this month and you hadn't renewed your license. Now he's got a problem.

Let's say that he has to arrest you for driving on an expired license. And then he has to impound your car. And, worse, he stopped you right front of a school on a Sunday afternoon (no students in sight, of course). So you'll be out $3,000, plus the cost of a tow, storage at $40-50/day, bail, and a taxi home (or to the tow yard, if it's open).

Still thinking about driving into Chicago?