By John Dempsey, WLS-AM News

(CHICAGO)  A Chicago law firm is suing the Emanuel administration, accusing it of illegally assessing fines and penalties against “hundreds of thousands” of Chicago motorists.

The Chicago Sun Times reports that the Myron Cherry & Associates law firm accuses the administration of exceeding a $250 fine maximum established by state law.

The suit says the city has ignored that cap for several years on more than a dozen vehicle-related violations.    The legal action asks a judge to void all of what the suit calls “excessive” fines and late fees, and refund the money to motorists who paid those fines.

The Sun Times says Myron Cherry is the same law firm that forced the Emanuel administration to pay $38.75 million in refunds to motorists denied due process after being slapped with tickets based on information from red-light and speed cameras.

Law Department spokesman Bill McCaffrey declined comment on the suit, but he told the Sun Times “Under state law and its home rule powers, the City has the authority to regulate its streets and determine the fines and penalties for vehicle and traffic violations.”​

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