Mitts drops plan to raise boot removal fees paid with plastic

Motorists who park illegally in private lots, have their vehicles booted and use credit cards to pay the $140 removal fee won't be charged more after all if they choose to pay with plastic.

Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) chairman of the City Council's License Committee, on Wednesday abandoned her plan to empower private booters now roaming free in more than half of Chicago to charge a "convenience fee" to recoup the processing fee they must absorb when motorists use credit cards.

"Some of my colleagues have concerns about it. . . . If it's gonna hurt the consumer, that may not be what I want to do. I ain't trying to make my constituents [pay more]. We've got a enough problems already," Mitts said.

Ald. John Arena (45th) led the opposition. He called the convenience fee "piling on."For the full story, click here.