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CHICAGO (CBS) ― The spirit this New Year's has been goodbye and good riddance to a year in which the economy fell to its knees and cutting costs became a necessity for the average American.

But with 2009 now in progress, Chicagoans now have no choice but to spend more on certain conveniences.

As CBS 2's Mike Parker reports, the fates give – suddenly lower gasoline prices in the latter part of 2008. But they also take away, if you put your car in most downtown and Loop parking garages.

The city tax is going from $2.25 to $3.

"Fairly high – for one hour, $22 is way too much for an hour," said Bernardo Wilson. "It doesn't make an incentive to park here, for example."

Hourly metered parking rates on city streets – now privatized – are also up.

Earlier this month, the City Council voted 40-5 to authorize Mayor Daley's plan to privatize Chicago's 36,000 parking meters and sock it to motorists lucky enough to find a space on city streets.

Chicago's metered parking system operates under six different zones with varying rates and time limits. Motorists have paid anywhere from 25 cents an hour in outlying neighborhoods to $3 an hour downtown, with overnights, Sundays and holidays free.

Seventy percent of Chicago's meter rates have been frozen for 20 years. On Jan. 1, the bargains will end.

In addition to the possibility of "congestion pricing," the deal calls for meter rates in the Loop to rise to $3.50 in 2009, $4.25 in 2010, $5 in 2011, $5.75 in 2012 and $6.50 in 2013. Central business district rates outside the Loop will go from $1 an hour to $2 in 2009, $2.50 in 2010, $3 in 2011, $3.50 in 2012 and $4 in 2013. Rates will be cut in half between the hours of 9 p.m. and 8 a.m., but meters would have to be fed 24/7.

Neighborhood parking rates that now range from 25 to 75 cents an hour will rise to $1 in 2009, $1.25 in 2010, $1.50 in 2011, $1.75 in 2012 and $2 in 2013.

Meters in most commercial districts outside downtown will operate between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Neighborhood meters will operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Also, there is no more free parking on Sundays and holidays. While New Year's Day was a parking meter holiday up until now, effective this New Year's Day it is not anymore.

Parking enforcement is also expected to get tougher. Not only will the partnership that includes Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners and LAZ Parking have the right to issue parking tickets to "supplement" the city's efforts, but the so-called "broken meter" defense will be more narrow.

It can only be used by motorists who report the meters "inoperable or malfunctioning within 24 hours" of the incident.

Taking public transportation might seem like a lower-cost alternative, but that's getting more expensive too.

A full fare Transit Card ride on a CTA bus is up from $1.75 to $2; a full fare Transit Card ride on the trains is up from $2 to $2.25; a Chicago Card ride on a bus is up from $1.75 to $2; a ride on the train with a Chicago Card is up from $1.75 to $2.25 and a full fare cash ride on a bus is up from $2 to $2.25.

Prices are also up on the CTA's one-day, three-day, weekly and 30-day passes. Weekly passes will go up $20 to $23 and it will cost $86 for a 30-day pass, up $75.The CTA has also discontinued two-day and five-day passes.

"I think they should have kept the pass amounts the same," said CTA rider Elizabeth Guevara, who said her commute will now cost at least $20 more per week.

Fares on Pace buses are also going up, from $1.50 to $1.75.

If you prefer just to forget the whole thing, stay home and read a book, you'll also get socked if you don't bring the book back to the library on time. Daily overdue book fees at the Chicago Public Library are rising from 10 cents per book to 20 cents.

Other New Laws Regulate Sex Offenders And Drunken Drivers, Govern Medical Issues
Illinois State Police warn drivers that a new law is now effect that makes life far more difficult for a first-time DUI offender.

The new law requires first-time drunken driving offenders to install a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device in their vehicles, state polie said. The device requires drivers to submit to a breath test every time they want to start their vehicles.

It remains for the duration of the driver's license suspension.

Illinois is one of six states with a law mandating the device's use.

Four other new state laws will further restrict the movements of sexual offenders and increase penalties for people charged with possession of child pornography.

One law bars convicted sex offenders from working as election judges and mandates that authorities check names by the Illinois sex offender registry. Several offenders were recently found working as judges in Cook County schools.

Separate legislation extends time victims have to report sexual assault to three years.

Another law toughens penalties for people convicted of possessing 100 or more images of child pornography.

A fourth law defines the 500-foot boundary prohibiting sex offenders from going near schools, parks, and day care centers.

Five new Illinois health laws also take effect on Thursday. One of them requires outdoor fitness facilities to have defibrillators.

A law named for Northwestern University football player Rashidi Wheeler requires facilities to have the machines. The law takes effect Thursday.

Wheeler collapsed and died during a 2001 practice. An investigation found that a defibrillator would have saved him.

Also beginning Thursday, eating disorders will be legally considered "serious mental illnesses." People with the conditions can now obtain insurance coverage. The state legislature overruled Gov. Rod Blagojevich's amendatory veto of the legislation to approve the bill in September.

Another law bars employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of genetic testing.

CBS 2's Mike Parker, the Associated Press and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.

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