Welcome to Waukegan! Getting settled in a new community can be confusing and frustrating. This checklist will help make your life a little easier in the hectic time.

 

9-1-1 EMERGENCY CALLS...Waukegan activated its Enhanced 9-1-1 emergency system in 1991. With this service, Waukegan residents have state-of-the art public safety technology at their fingertips. The caller's telephone number, name and address are instantly displayed on the emergency team dispatcher's console as a safety measure in the event the caller is unable to provide this critical information. To use the 9-1-1 emergency number, callers simply dial 9-1-1 from their telephone to summon emergency service personnel. No coins are needed when calling from a pay telephone.

 

NON-EMERGENCY CALLS...For non-emergency service in Waukegan, residents are asked to use (847) 360-9000. Dispatchers at this number will direct your call accordingly.

 

CITY VEHICLE STICKERS...Waukegan residents are required by law to register their vehicle with the City Collector's Office. Waukegan city stickers are issued annually April 1 - May 31. Passenger vehicle stickers are available for $40.00 for cars and $45 for trucks. If purchased after May 31, the cost includes a penalty of 50% of the original fee. If your plates are register on or after November 1st you will pay only 50% of the application fee when applying for a vehicle sticker. Vehicles other than passenger vehicles have different license fees, see City Ordinance 21.248. The Waukegan city sticker should be displayed in the lower right portion of your vehicle's windshield. Residents with a properly displayed Waukegan city sticker may use the Waukegan Municipal Beach free of charge Memorial Day through Labor Day. City stickers may be purchased at the City Collector's Office, (847) 599-2566, located in Waukegan City Hall, 100 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

 

ALTERNATE PARKING...The Alternate Parking Ordinance states that vehicles must park on the odd side of the street on odd calendar days and the even numbered side of the street on even calendar days. The ordinance is strictly enforced by the Waukegan Police Department daily from 12:01 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.
The alternate parking ordinance has been in effect for more than thirty years to increase safety on city streets during winter weather and to better identify abondoned vehicles year round. Closely monitoring on-street parking during snow storms allows public works crews to quickly and more efficiently remove snow to make streets driveable. The penalty for not complying with alternate parking is a $25 ticket.

 

CURFEW LAW... Waukegan’s curfew law pertains to all persons under 18 years of age out in public unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian after 10 p.m. on weekdays (Sunday - Thursday) and after midnight on weekends. Driver’s licenses for persons under age 17 become invalid after curfew. Curfew violators under the age 18 are transported to the Waukegan Police Station and the minor’s legal guardian is contacted. At the time of the minor’s release, the parents are required to sign a statement acknowledging the child has violated the law. Children between the ages of 14 and 18 will be referred to Branch Court and subject to a fine between $75 and $500. Parents of minors arrested for a second curfew violation will be served with a citation and fined between $75 and $500 for permitting a second violation.

 

EXCESSIVE NOISE ORDINANCE...It is unlawful for any person to create any type of excessive noise, including the use of any electronic equipment (radio, compact disc, cassette tape players and automobile radio type devices) in such a manner that the sounds emanating therefrom can be heard at a distance of 50 feet from the equipment during its use or operation .
The penalties for violating the Excessive Noise ordinance shall be as follows:
6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. $ 75.00,
8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. $150.00
12:00 a.m. - 6:00 a.m. $300.00
Each additional offense shall incur an additional penalty of $100.00.