Milwaukee to Notify Drivers Before Towing for Tickets

Milwaukee drivers will soon get a warning before their vehicles are towed for unpaid parking tickets. The Common Council passed an ordinance requiring the city to mail warning letters to residents who’ve accumulated multiple violations.

The measure, backed by Mayor Cavalier Johnson, gives drivers a 60-day deadline to either pay their fines or set up a payment plan before their cars are at risk of being towed.

"I thought my car was stolen," said Alisha Farr, who only learned hers had been impounded after contacting police. "Some days you have a ticket on your car and it flies off—sometimes you don't know."

Currently, no notice is given before a vehicle is impounded. Alderman Scott Spiker, who authored the legislation, said the change will help reduce financial shocks, especially in ZIP codes like 53209, which sees the most habitual violations.

More than 4,000 vehicles were towed last year. The city will spend an estimated $30,000 to notify 20,000 violators. A start date for the warning letters has not yet been announced. Source: https://www.tmj4.com