As Far As I Can Tell

Chicago hates pick-up trucks. They give them a special classification knows as a B-truck license. The first thing is that these types of licenses cost more, and the city stickers that you have to buy every year cost more too. I had come to except these facts when I found out about them nearly a month ago, but now I’ve learned that their hate runs deeper.

It’s illegal for a B-truck vehicle to park on a residential street, or on boulevards. Apparently they think that a pick-up can only be used for work, and that it’s presence in a residential neighborhood will upset the precious separation of leisure and work that we all escape to every night. In short, this means that it’s illegal for me to park my truck anywhere near my house.

The woman at the check cashing place that you go to get your licensing done (don’t ask) suggested one possible work around: register my truck as an RV. If a pick-up has a cap on it, then it can get an RV plate, which costs the same, but allows residential parking. I don’t have a cap on my truck, and I don’t plan on getting one, but I suppose that I can lie about it and get the plate. If questioned, I can tell them that I’ve removed the cap temporarily.

I have a phobia of police officers, particularly when it involves driving situations. This all started around 5 years ago when I got my drivers license suspended for too many traffic violations. Since then, I freak out around and void cops at any given chance. I think this new development with Illinois pick-up loathing is only going to further this underlying fear. I always seem to be on the cusp of legality, but never able to fully comply.

Update: I’ve found out that parking on the street with a pick-up truck is legal in about half of the wards in Chicago; unfortunately, not in the 35th ward, where I live. All the wards to the east and south of me allow it, but not mine.