For the purpose of this chapter, whenever any of the following words, terms or definitions are used, they shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section:
"Charge or fee paid for parking" means the gross amount of consideration for the use or privilege of parking a motor vehicle in or upon any parking lot or garage in the City of Chicago, valued in money, whether received in money or otherwise, including cash, credits, property and services, determined without any deduction for costs or expenses whatsoever. The term "charge or fee paid for parking" includes any and all charges that the recipient pays incidental to obtaining the use or privilege of parking, including but not limited to any and all related markups, service fees, convenience fees, facilitation fees, cancellation fees, overtime fees and other such charges, regardless of terminology. The term "charge or fee paid for parking" does not include charges that are added to the charge or fee on account of the tax imposed by this chapter or on account of any other tax imposed on the charge or fee. The term "charge or fee for parking" shall exclude separately stated optional charges not for the use or privilege of parking. The fact that the recipient could have avoided the charge or fee by obtaining the use or privilege from or through a different operator, pursuant to different terms, or through a course of performance that would have avoided the obligation to pay the charge or fee, does not make the charge or fee "optional".
"Motor vehicle" means any vehicle which is self-propelled.
"Operator" means any person who conducts the operation of a parking lot or garage, as defined by this chapter, or who, directly or through an agreement or arrangement with another party, collects the consideration for parking or storage of motor vehicles at such parking place. This includes but is not limited to any reseller, facilitator or aggregator that collects from the recipient the charge or fee paid for parking. The term does not include banks, credit card companies, payment processors or other persons whose involvement is limited to performing functions similar to those performed by such entities.
"Parking lot" or "garage" means any building, structure, premises, enclosure or other place, whether enclosed or not, except a public way, within the City of Chicago, where motor vehicles are stored, housed or parked for hire, charge, fee or other valuable consideration in a condition ready for use, or where rent or compensation is paid to the owner, manager, operator or lessee of the premises for the housing, storing, sheltering, keeping or maintaining of such motor vehicles.
"Person" means any natural person, trustee, court-appointed representative, syndicate, association, partnership, limited liability company, firm, club, company, corporation, business trust, institution, agency, government corporation, municipal corporation, district or other political subdivision, or any other entity recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties.
(Added Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 11-17-93, p. 42192; Amend Coun. J. 2-10-99, p. 89860; Amend Coun. J. 3-10-99, p. 91091; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-13, p. 49553, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-19-14, p. 98063, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 12062, Art. V, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-24-17, p. 49413, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61858, Art. II, § 7)