Cops Receive $1.5 Million Parking Ticket
Jury awards traffic aide in civil rights lawsuit
By MATT BARTOSIK
Updated 10:59 AM PST, Mon, Oct 26, 2009
Four Chicago cops just received the most expensive parking ticket ever: $1.5 million.
In May 2006, a Traffic Management Authority employee wrote a parking ticket for an illegally parked minivan in downtown Chicago.
That minivan, however, belonged to Officer Robert Reid, a Chicago policeman who was responding to a call. Reid was not pleased to return to his car and find a bright orange ticket on it. He and three other officers argued with the TMA employee who issued the ticket.
After all, cops are accustomed to certain privileges.
Jacqueline Fegan, the traffic aide's supervisor, was on patrol when she heard the commotion. According to Fegan, she stepped in, and Reid demanded that she throw out the violation.
Fegan refused.
Upset over the $50 ticket, the four police officers then grabbed Fegan, handcuffed her and tossed her into a police vehicle on Michigan Avenue, Fegan said. She accused the officers of permanently injuring her wrist during the incident.
Fegan then sued the police officers and the city, seeking damages for false arrest, false imprisonment, battery, civil conspiracy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
On Friday, a federal jury awarded her more than $1.5 million for emotional distress, medical treatment and lost wages.
Seriously, officers. You should've just paid the $50.
Matt Bartosik, a "between blogs" blogger, has not received a ticket in several years.
Copyright NBC Local Media / NBC Bay Area
First Published: Oct 25, 2009 11:21 PM PST
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