Meters Appear Near Parked Cars; Tickets Written

CHICAGO -- In Chicago last week, a handful of motorists returned to their vehicles and found parking meters -- and tickets -- that weren't there when they parked.

According to a spokeswoman for the city's revenue department, it was all just an innocent mistake. Efrat Dallal said the vehicles were parked on a stretch of roadway where the meters were temporarily removed during street construction.

Then, she said, the meters were put back and the vehicles parked in front of them were ticketed.

But some motorists wondered if that was the case after at least one of the tickets was apparently postdated several hours after it was placed on a car.

"The city is strict enough in its parking restrictions already," said Vince Tessitore. "Chicago gets plenty of revenue ticketing people by legal means without having to be deceptive."

Police department spokesman Dave Bayless said the department employee, whom he said is a traffic aide and not a sworn officer, said she mistakenly put the wrong date on the ticket.

Read the complete article at NBC 4