Towing Ordinance for Parking Violations

Vehicles with 5 or More Unpaid City of Wheaton Parking Tickets Can Be Towed

Vehicles with five or more unpaid parking tickets in the City of Wheaton may now be towed under an ordinance approved by the Wheaton City Council. The ordinance addresses chronic parking violators whose repeated offenses have made it harder to navigate residential streets and find parking in Downtown Wheaton.

Once a vehicle is eligible to be towed, it will be stickered and a notice sent to the registered owner. The vehicle owner has 7 days to pay all outstanding fines, or the vehicle may be towed from any City street or City parking garage without further notice. Towed vehicles are removed by contracted services and relocated to a storage yard at the vehicle’s owner’s expense. 

Key aspects of the ordinance:

  • This ordinance only applies to unpaid parking tickets. 
  • Tickets are issued to a vehicle using its license plate. A vehicle is eligible to be towed once it has accrued 5 unpaid parking tickets. 
  • Once a vehicle is eligible to be towed, it will be stickered and a notice sent to the registered owner
  • The vehicle owner has 7 days to pay all outstanding fines, or the vehicle may be towed at the owner’s expense without further notice.

FAQs

How can I check if I have unpaid parking tickets in the City of Wheaton?
You can look up a vehicle by license plate to see if there are any outstanding tickets associated with it. You must check the license plate in both City parking systems to check whether you have any unpaid parking tickets: 

Both parking systems count toward the total number of unpaid tickets associated with a vehicle. If you have more than one vehicle, the City recommends you check each license plate in the City’s systems.

I received a towing notice, but I don’t have 5 or more unpaid parking tickets. What should I do?
Vehicle owners may not always be aware of the tickets issued to a vehicle for various reasons including the vehicle was driven by family member, friend, or employee. The City takes the additional step to notify the registered vehicle owners of the tickets by U.S. Mail. If you believe you received a towing notice in error, because you either paid all outstanding tickets or no longer owned the vehicle when the ticket was issued, please call the police department at 630-260-2161. A registered owner also has the opportunity to submit a written request for a pre-tow hearing within 7 days to contest the tow. 

How do I pay my outstanding tickets?
Tickets can be paid online using the same links you used to look up unpaid tickets (see above), or you can pay at the Finance counter at City Hall, 303 W. Wesley St., during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. excluding City holidays. Online payments can be made at any time. Payment information is also printed on the parking tickets.

Is the City implementing this ordinance to generate revenue? 
No. The amount of money the City collects through parking tickets assists in offsetting enforcement personnel, equipment, and administrative costs, the City does not rely on parking enforcement fines to fund programs or services. This ordinance is intended to encourage compliance with the City’s parking regulations and discourage repeated parking offenses. 

Are tickets based on who owns the vehicle, who was driving, or the vehicle itself? 
Parking tickets are issued and recorded by vehicle using its license plate, and the registered owner of the vehicle at the time of the violation is responsible for the ticket. If a person other than the registered owner drove the vehicle and received a parking ticket, the ticket is still issued by vehicle, with the registered owner being responsible for any fines. For this reason, the City encourages all vehicle owners to look up their license plates in the City’s systems to ensure their vehicles do not have any unpaid parking tickets, especially if more than one person drives a vehicle. 

My vehicle has been towed. Where is it and how do I retrieve it?
Contact the Wheaton Police Department by calling 630-260-2161, and someone will assist you. All outstanding parking fines and towing fees must be paid prior to a vehicle being released.  

I received a notice that I have 5 or more parking tickets and my vehicle will be towed. How long do I have to pay from when I receive a towing notice?
Vehicle owners have 7 days from the time a vehicle is stickered or a tow notice is issued to pay their outstanding fines in full. 

Will I be towed only if I park illegally again after 5 unpaid parking tickets?
No, if the City issues a tow notice and the registered owner fails to pay in full within 7 days, the City can tow the vehicle from any City street or City parking garage/lot, regardless of whether the vehicle is parked legally or illegally.  

If I pay my outstanding 5+ unpaid parking tickets, will my vehicle be subject to tow the next time I receive a another one? 
No, once outstanding parking tickets are paid in full, the number of accrued parking tickets returns to 0.