The battered Chevy that ran up $105,000 in fines after man registered the car in EX-girlfriend's name, then left it at the airport for THREE YEARS

By John Clarke

PUBLISHED: 17:52 EST, 26 November 2012 | UPDATED: 03:02 EST, 27 November 2012

An unemployed single mother owes the city of Chicago $105,000 in parking fines after her ex-boyfriend registered an old car in her name and parked it at O'Hare Airport without her knowing.

Officials claim Jennifer Fitzgerald owes $105,761.80 for 678 parking violations issued to a 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo registered in her name - and say it is by far the biggest parking fine the city has ever seen.

The only problem is that Ms Fitzgerald never owned that car.

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Revenge: Brandon Preveau, right, allegedly racked up thousands of dollars in parking fines in the name of his ex-girlfriend Jennifer Fitzgerald, left

Revenge: Brandon Preveau, right, allegedly racked up thousands of dollars in parking fines in the name of his ex-girlfriend Jennifer Fitzgerald, left

Jennifer Fitzgerald
Jennifer Fitzgerald

Victim: Ms Fitzgerald was subjected to the prank after the end of her relationship with Mr Preveau

According to the complaint, first reported by The Expired Meter, Ms Fitzgerald's ex-boyfriend Brandon Preveau, a United Airlines employee, abandoned the vehicle at an airport parking lot around November 17, 2009.

The car started collecting violations.

 

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According to Department of Aviation spokesman Karen Pride, it is O'Hare parking policy to remove a car after 30 days to an impound lot. Yet it took until October 26 this year to impound the dark grey Monte Carlo. 

During the nearly three-year ordeal, Ms Fitzgerald was unable to remove her name from the registration and was forced into court to address the growing fines.

Finally, with the help of an attorney, she has filed a counter lawsuit asking the court to find she was not the owner of the car and therefore not liable for the parking tickets.

car

Ticketed: This Chevy Monte Carlo ultimately racked up $105,761.80 in fines over three years

tix

Punishment: Ms Fitzgerald's bill for the parking violations represents the biggest fine ever levied in Chicago

The city is reviewing her lawsuit now.

And what about the car?

'The car remains behind the high, razor wired topped chain link fence of the O'Hare auto pound, just a few blocks from where it had forlornly spent the past three years,' writes Mike Brockway, who runs the website The Expired Meter.

'Its ultimate fate will most likely be the scrapyard,' he adds. 'That is, unless someone pays the over $100,000 in parking tickets still owing.'

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"ex-boyfriend registered an old car in her name" Well she would say that wouldn't she?

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Only in America!

Click to rate     Rating   28

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If the signature on the registration is not hers, the car is not hers.

Click to rate     Rating   66

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I'm surprised it wasn't removed after a certain period of time, as a s ecurity threat. In America, cars have high visability registration decals on the plates (as we have tax discs on our windows) and if cop/security guard saw an expired tag, they usually tow it away. Anyhow, it should be easy for her to prove. If her signature isn't on the registration form, and a few other details she could easily come up with. But, as always parking firms make their money, anyway they can.

Click to rate     Rating   35

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Just one more example of how well Chicago is run.

Click to rate     Rating   46

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What an absolutely ridiculous situation. The ones mostly to blame for this are the jobsworths who let it go on so long.

Click to rate     Rating   41

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Russian , in UK, 27/11/2012 07:03. I'm with you, what you say makes perfect sense to me but how to convince the herd? Bring on the jolly red arrows.

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All those nice Clamping operatorsand speedy vehicle removers in the UK that are now out of work due to new legislation in this country, I see a wonderful job opportunity for you all in The States.

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Wot larks! Quite a creative revenge. I wonder what he feels she did to deserve that?

Click to rate     Rating   12

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If it were a woman that did it she's the victim. But a man did it and he's a scoundrel. Stupid.

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