Emanuel to introduce late fine amnesty program

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago's mayor wants to give people with delinquent parking fines a chance to pay the city what they owe without added penalties for being late.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Friday he will introduce an amnesty program to the City Council this month. Emanuel says he will also introduce a plan to give motorists some payment plan options sooner and online.

The amnesty program would give a break to individuals and businesses owing fines and taxes from before 2012. People would still pay the ticket or fine value, but wouldn't have to pay penalties and interest tied to their late payments.

The mayor's office says the amnesty program would apply only to people and businesses paying their eligible outstanding debt between Nov. 1 and Dec. 15 of this year.