Denver Restaurant Offers Free Drinks for Parking Tickets

Illegal Pete's burrito chain is giving away margaritas and beers to customers with 2026 parking citations.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:57pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Illegal Pete's, a Denver-based burrito and Mexican food restaurant chain, is offering a free house margarita or draft beer to anyone who brings in a 2026 parking ticket and purchases an adult entrée at any of its Colorado locations. The promotion, announced on social media in late March, quickly went viral as Denver's annual street sweeping program resumed on April 1, a date that reliably catches thousands of residents off guard each spring.

Why it matters

The offer from Illegal Pete's is an attempt to alleviate the frustration and financial burden that many Denver residents face during the city's street sweeping season, which is a consistent source of parking tickets and revenue for the local government.

The details

The deal applies to any city-issued parking ticket dated in 2026, not private lot citations or speeding tickets, and requires a dine-in purchase of an adult entrée. Both physical and digital tickets are accepted. The offer is valid at all Illegal Pete's Colorado locations, which span Denver neighborhoods including LoDo, Colfax, Broadway, Park Hill and the DU area, as well as outposts in Boulder, Wheat Ridge and the Denver Tech Center.

  • Denver's street sweeping program runs annually from April through November.
  • The promotion was announced on social media in late March 2026.
  • The street sweeping program resumed on April 1, 2026.

The players

Illegal Pete's

A Denver-born burrito and Mexican food chain offering the free drink promotion.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Just got a parking ticket? Bring it in and get a free house margarita or draft beer when you purchase an adult entree. Hopefully it will turn your day around.”

— Illegal Pete's

What’s next

Illegal Pete's promotion is expected to continue throughout the 2026 street sweeping season in Denver, providing relief to residents who receive parking tickets.

The takeaway

Illegal Pete's creative promotion highlights the frustration many Denver residents feel during the city's street sweeping season, and the restaurant's attempt to turn a negative experience into a positive one for its customers.