Parking ticket worth fighting?
May. 12th, 2010 11:29 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
brewso.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
davis_squareMy husband put our valid permit sticker in the old-school location (back driver's side window) instead of the new requirements (front driver's side windshield). I didn't notice since we've been parking on the street with it that way for a month now with no problem. However, today we got a ticket - $50.00, no less! Will they even hear our case, or will they just argue that it's our fault for putting the sticker on wrong? I really don't want to waste my time if it's the latter, even though we technically have a valid permit.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 03:33 pm (UTC)Good luck!
I keep wondering if/when they'll start ticketing for having multiple permits in the front windshield, which from what I understand is not allowed under the new rules. So many people do it, though.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 03:34 pm (UTC)count on it.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 03:39 pm (UTC)I gave up after thirty minutes having gotten rid of about 1/3 of one of the three other stickers. I'm convinced the only way to get rid of those stickers is to smash the windshield and get it replaced.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 03:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 05:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 03:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 03:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 06:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 02:58 pm (UTC)I mean, wetting a rag or cotton ball with nail polish remover doesn't exactly get it into the windshield adhesive area.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 04:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 03:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 05:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 02:32 pm (UTC)Is there any evidence they have done this where it wasn't a case of meter feeding?
no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 02:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 02:49 pm (UTC)But you raise a good point - with all the technology we have, you'd think the meters should be designed to create a record of time expiration, which would prevent the "he said, she said" sort of thing.
If a meter maid gave me a ticket when I have time on the meter, and I haven't been feeding the meter - i consider it robbery, and I'll report it as such.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 02:53 pm (UTC)Is there some reason that I could not have taken a photograph of someone else's meter?
"If a meter maid gave me a ticket when I have time on the meter, and I haven't been feeding the meter - i consider it robbery, and I'll report it as such."
I have to wonder if you have more free time/focus than I do. Adding something else to have to focus on is robbery as well.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 02:57 pm (UTC)Take a picture of the meter in such a way as to show your vehicle (although I think the meters are all numbered, and wouldn't it be nice if the meter monkeys were required to write down the meter number on the ticket?)
Like I said, it's partial proof.
As far as the robbery thing - what would you do if you were at dunkin donuts, with your wallet open, and I took $25 out of it and just walked away?
no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 03:03 pm (UTC)Though I hear what you are saying, there is a rather large difference between some stranger approaching you and robbing you (in which case I'd turn around and kick them in the balls as hard as I could and then call the cops if possible), and a city organization sanctioning the same with impunity to the meter maid, leaving little to no recourse.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 03:05 pm (UTC)I think we've just hit on an issue that the city needs to look into if/when they change the meters, again: meter records that can be audited.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 03:11 pm (UTC)And yes, this does put the parking office in the category of "worse than street criminals" to some degree.
I think we've just hit on an issue that the city needs to look into if/when they change the meters, again: meter records that can be audited.
Agreed.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 03:15 pm (UTC)If it happened to me, and I had proof, I'd call the cops, just like I would if I were robbed.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 03:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 03:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 03:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 03:29 pm (UTC)But, we do have incidents where the PCO's were clearly in the wrong, but T&P continues to say their PCO's NEVER are wrong.
Which is why I've asked about getting intersections marked at the 20 foot line, but the city says it's not worthwhile - which suggests two things to me: they don't care all that much about preventing people from parking in those spots; and they don't want to lose the revenue from ticketing people for it.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 03:39 pm (UTC)Do you know JB? Of GLSE? He asked the same question and has actually mentioned a desire to go around Somerville marking the sidewalks with pain so folks would know where it was ok to park (I don't believe he has gotten around to it, though, busy person that he is). I love the idea and actually saw something in passing the other day that looked like someone had tried to do that somewhere. I don't remember where, but I think it was in Somerville; wish I wasn't in such a hurry to get to where I was going or else I would have walked over to check it out.
My sweetie has mentioned the idea of creating a stealth street sign brigade to go and put up street signs where they are missing. He is another person overwhelmed by the busy, but I like the idea, and marking sidewalks could be added to the intention, so far as I am concerned:)
no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 07:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 07:17 pm (UTC)Why wonder? With shite like that, it's obvious they are.
For our safetys', and wallets', sake, where was this meter?
no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 11:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 02:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 02:51 pm (UTC)So, it's an uphill battle either way.
Witness people getting ticketed BEFORE the four hours between announcing a snow emergency and the tow time had elapsed.
Write to your aldercritter ... it did me a ton of good to so so with Pero (not).
no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 03:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 03:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 04:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 04:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 10:05 pm (UTC)IMO that's illegal, since parking ticket procedures are clearly defined in state law, and there's nothing authorizing an appeal fee.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 05:01 pm (UTC)You may not be saying that if your insurance rates go up.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 05:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-14 04:15 am (UTC)I recently appealed one to the magistrate, they waved my ticket without me even saying a word. I've been told that's generally how it goes over there if you show up.
The $25 fee started last July. I think it's unethical. And, if you don't get the decision you want from the magistrate, $50 to appeal it to a judge.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 06:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 12:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 02:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 06:02 pm (UTC)The meter maid probably doesn't even look elsewhere on the car than where the permit is supposed to be. If the meter maid is new enough she may not even know about the former location.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 01:36 am (UTC)I'm not a lawyer, but I doubt your, husband, is, either:
Date: 2010-05-13 02:38 pm (UTC)Again with giving out advice that is not correct?
Section 9D. No person shall operate any motor vehicle upon any public way or upon any way to which the public shall have the right of access with any of the following affixed thereto:
(1) a sign, poster or sticker on the front windshield, the side windows immediately adjacent to the operator’s seat and the front passenger seat, the side windows immediately to the rear of the operator’s seat and the front passenger seat and the rear window in such a manner so as to obstruct, impede or distort the vision of the operator.
source: http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/90-9d.htm (twenty seconds of searching the net)
So long as the parking sticker does not obstruct, impede or distort the vision of the operator, it isn't illegal, according to how that law is written.
Budget is bust.
Date: 2010-05-13 03:24 am (UTC)Re: Budget is bust.
Date: 2010-05-16 06:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 02:33 pm (UTC)http://faqs.somervillema.intelligovsoftware.com/backwindow.aspx