American fights to hold ground against United at O'Hare
Oct 19, 2026 · 18 min · 11 segments
American Airlines is stepping up its battle with United to win back business travelers at O’Hare…
- Speakers
Jeanne SparrowHost
John PletzGuest
Oct 19, 2026 · 18 min · 11 segments
American Airlines is stepping up its battle with United to win back business travelers at O’Hare…
Jeanne SparrowHostJohn PletzGuest
But the decision came with a sharp warning from two justices about the city's vast and lucrative system.
Under Chicago law, if a car owner racks up three unpaid parking tickets, the city can immobilize, impound, and ultimately sell off any vehicle registered under that owner's name.
Two drivers challenged the policy, arguing it amounts to an unconstitutional government seizure under the Fifth Amendment's takings clause.
One driver, Ryan O'Donnell, owed just over $500 for three parking meter tickets.
Crucially, the city keeps all sales proceeds, does not apply them toward the owner's debt, and returns no excess cash.
Lower federal courts sided with Chicago, ruling that impounding cars falls under the city's police power to enforce local traffic codes.
While the Supreme Court majority declined to take up the appeal on Monday, Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch issued a notable statement raising serious concerns.
Sotomayor wrote that Chicago's policy, which generated an estimated $264 million in traffic ticket revenue in a single year, looks less like public safety enforcement and more like aggressive debt collection.
She warned that if the primary goal is collecting money, seizing and selling vehicles without compensating owners likely violates the Constitution.
Despite those doubts, Sotomayor agreed to let the denial stand for now, saying the legal issues surrounding government police powers need further debate in lower courts before the high court intervenes.
But the decision came with a sharp warning from two justices about the city's vast and lucrative system.
Under Chicago law, if a car owner racks up three unpaid parking tickets, the city can immobilize, impound, and ultimately sell off any vehicle registered under that owner's name.
Two drivers challenged the policy, arguing it amounts to an unconstitutional government seizure under the Fifth Amendment's takings clause.
One driver, Ryan O'Donnell, owed just over $500 for three parking meter tickets.
Crucially, the city keeps all sales proceeds, does not apply them toward the owner's debt, and returns no excess cash.
Lower federal courts sided with Chicago, ruling that impounding cars falls under the city's police power to enforce local traffic codes.
While the Supreme Court majority declined to take up the appeal on Monday, Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch issued a notable statement raising serious concerns.
Sotomayor wrote that Chicago's policy, which generated an estimated $264 million in traffic ticket revenue in a single year, looks less like public safety enforcement and more like aggressive debt collection.
She warned that if the primary goal is collecting money, seizing and selling vehicles without compensating owners likely violates the Constitution.
Despite those doubts, Sotomayor agreed to let the denial stand for now, saying the legal issues surrounding government police powers need further debate in lower courts before the high court intervenes.
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