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UPDATE: I left two more messages for the traffic ticket resolution officer and never heard back so I put a $25 check in the mail. The next day he called me. C’est la vie!
Two weeks ago I got a $25 parking ticket for leaving a friend’s car overnight on a street when there was street sweeping. I’ve spent at least two hours fighting it and am ready to give up.
I had parked around the corner from my house on a side street because construction prohibited leaving the car directly in front or to the side of my house, my first two choices. I didn’t notice the street sweeping sign posted the day before (in this small town they prop up temporary signs on the ground instead of affixing permanent signs to a pole). I found the ticket the next day. Drat!
I considered paying it but felt wronged. How was I supposed to know not to park there? Even if I had seen a sign, where was I supposed to park?
I contested the ticket online and made a note on the back of the ticket. Hearing nothing a week later, I called the city’s traffic enforcement office. Ring…ring…ring. No answer. I found another number and called that with similar results. The next day I found a third number and got a live person at the police department, who told me to call the treasurer’s office. The woman at the treasurer’s office told me they only accepted payment and that I should call the records division, which is where I came upon a woman named Ms. Anderson.
Ms. Anderson was very nice, though confused about my claim that I had contested the ticket online.
“We don’t have any way of contesting tickets online,” she said, causing my stomach to drop. If they had never received my form, I was past the 10-day window to contest the ticket “You have to go in person to contest the summons and get a court date.”
“No, really, I contested it online. I can find the form if you like.”
“Where did you get this ticket?”
“On Earl. Earl and Morton.”
“What is the ticket number?”
“095221.”
“095221? Hold on a second.”
Holding.
“Did you get this ticket at the airport?”
“No.”
“Because that number doesn’t match any for tickets we issue. Where did you get this ticket?”
“In Newport. Newport, Rhode Island.”
She chuckled.
“This is Newport News, Virginia!”
I was so embarrassed I had been calling the wrong numbers I apologized and hung up. I was also relieved. Maybe my online contest form had gotten to the right person on time.
I searched again for a number to call and found the person who handles ticket disputes, a Mr. David Meyers. I called David and got his voice mail. Message.
It’s been 24 hours and I’ve heard nothing. Should I keep fighting – or just fork over the $25? The fine doubles to $50 if I do not pay it by August 21. I’ve already wasted at least two hours to save $25.
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Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
Some people get off on fighting city hall. You win some and lose some, but the high is in playing the game. If you don’t enjoy playing, then just pay the $25 and be done.
You made a mistake parking there. Pay the ticket. $25 is cheap for a parking ticket.
2 hrs and more fighting for a $25 ticket – not worth it! Your time is more valuable than that. Also factor in the efforts of driving to the court house, justifying to the judge etc etc… Just pay $25 and think of saving or earning $25 elsewhere to compensate. My 2c…
I say just pay it. We need to choose our battles in life, and I don’t think this one is worth it, especially if the fine becomes larger with time.
Just pay it and take the lesson it taught – you just have to be more aware of signs…….if the ticket was more I may have fought it but for $25 dollars? You’ve already spent more than that on energy!
Unless the sign was placed after you parked, you deserve the ticket. You shouldn’t be contesting it in the first place. The fact that you didn’t see the sign doesn’t release you from the rules. Be glad you’re in RI instead of still in CA where the ticket would have been more than double.
I say wait until the week of the 21st to see if you hear back from David Meyers. If nothing from him, then pay it before the 21st when it goes to $50. He could be really busy and unable to call you back, since it’s only been 24 hours.
i would wait untill the last minute to pay and keep trying to get it taken off the ground is no place for sings i would take a picture then show i just moved and mabey they will learn to post where you can see you might change things and help others
Trying to fight a parking ticket is one of the most difficult things to do, and rarely does anyone win. I got a ticket for parking in front of my house where I managed to have the curb painted for handicapped parking (only took 10 months!), and my placard was clearly displayed. This was the day after Christmas, and I’d spent most of the day and evening preparing and serving dinner for family and friends, and could hardly walk when everyone left. I simply forgot, in my exhausted state, to go move my car. I did my best to fight it, and almost had success, but in the long run had to pay the $50! Sometimes circumstances, no matter how justified, don’t trump posted signs, no matter how obscure. Wait ’til the last minute, but don’t be late with your payment.
Pay the ticket at the last minute, but be sure to send a very nasty note to the mayor, city council, tourist office (if any) and the local papers and other media complaining about the ticket. If you were an out of town tourist, be sure to point out the lousy reputation they are getting and chasing away tourists. Post a review on Yelp or some other popular gripe web site.
Wow! I love Harvey’s ideas!
Pay it. It’s $65 in L.A.
This happened to me when I first got my DL, some 30 years ago.
I got my frst flat tire and quickly pulled over on a side street as soon as I realized something was wrong with my car.
I did not notice the sign either, as I was a little more concerned about was the matter with my tire, how I was going to get home, how much it was going to cost, etc. It was probably hotter than heck outside, too.
I didn’t bother fighting it. The fact was – I was parked in a temporary no parking zone on a Tuesday morning (or whatever day it was).
Take photos of every element of your story: visual sight-line of sign positioning in relation to car, sign trees, visual obstructions. Print photos along with exculpatory test into a presentation and make your case.
I beat several more serious tickets this way.
Good luck.
At $25, just chalk it up to the cost of doing business. It’s kind of a tax on motorists, and every once in a while we have to pony up.
Just pay it. Your time is worth more than that ticket and all the incompetence you will encounter trying to fight it.
I just got a ticket today, cost me $60.00 because its street cleaning day from 10am to 12pm. cost me $60.00 for 2 hrs parking.
Pay it. You will probably never get one for the same reason again. This $ 25 serves as a huge reminder to look where you are parking. Think of all you will save for the rest of your life. Get on with it.
Think of it this way: We’ve all parked our cars hundreds of times per year, mostly legally, sometimes not. Amortize that once/ or twice/yearly ticket over all those times you parked the car somewhere and the cost isn’t so much.
The bottom line is that driving an automobile is expensive, and one of those expenses is the occasional (or frequent, depending on your circumstances) parking ticket.
Here’s my “ouch” story. I detest it when able-bodied people park in spaces for the handicapped and are obviously very mobile. Yes, I know, they could have a heart condition or some such “invisible” affliction. (If they are so “handicapped” that they need a placard, then perhaps they shouldn’t be driving for fear of having a heart problem from the stress of driving.) Bottom line: It’s no secret that securing such a placard is greatly abused. That said, I go to the gym when it opens at 5 a.m. The business next door does not open for hours, and sometimes I parked in the handicapped space, not knowing that such spaces are reserved 24/7. Where’s the logic there? That is, a handicapped individual also might want to park a distance away from the gym at 5 a.m.? One morning, after a few years of blissful ignorance, I got a ticket! It cost me over $100 (might have been more; don’t recall). My first reaction was to fight it until someone pointed out to me that it is a 24-hour reserved space.
So to BB: As others have written, choose your battles. But do wait as long as you can to see if David Meyers comes through for you. And let us know what happens!
EllieD, I don’t understand your being ticketed for parking at a handicapped-designated curb with your placard clearly displayed. What about the 24/7 I mentioned in my previous post? What am I missing?
I’m curious and well aware this is not the proper place to inquire (but I have no other way to ask you): From your other posts, it sounds as if you are quite mobile at times. If/when that is the case, do you still park in handicapped-marked spots? I hope this question doesn’t offend you.
Pay it and forget about it, too much stree.
It’s causing me stress too, we just started having street sweeping (what a waste of money and noisey too) and soon I bet we’ll be getting tickets too.
@Diane ~ No, Diane, I’m not at all offended, as I also see handicapped parking abused by those who don’t have a placard. I’m a woman “of a certain age” who’s had both knees surgically replaced, and have scoliosis as well. It took me 10 months to get the curb in front of my house painted for handicapped parking, and I do not abuse my privileges. On days when I’m able to get around with relative ease, I don’t use the handicapped parking, However, when it’s truly needed, it totally irritates me when those who have no placard park illegally. BTW ~ Just for your info, it’s also illegal to park on those cross-hatched blue lines, which are fined the same way regualar blue parking spaces are. In L.A., the fine is $500, soon to go up to $600. I never parked in a blue space before I physically needed to, and had a legit placard requested by my doctor. Hope all this helps to answer your questions and concerns. Hugs!!
Thanks for responding, EllieD. And kudos for not abusing your placard privilege!
About my fine when I incorrectly thought I could park in a handicapped space at 5 a.m. when the business was closed: I asked my husband if he could remember how much it was. He recalled somewhere between $250 and $300! OUCH! No wonder I’ve acquired amnesia in that regard!
BB, don’t forget to tell us what you finally do.
I would pay the fine, as I have no time to deal with phone calls and court appearance’s. It’s only $25 too, if it was more (over $100), I would consider contesting it. For $25 – not worth the hassel (live and learn)…
Did I miss an update? August 21 was last Sat.!