I got a parking tickey for parking in my driveway. The tickets says, Blocking the sidewalk. I have other neighbors on my street parked in their driveway behind other cars up and down my street. I managed to get a ticket when no else on the street get a ticket parking in their driveway. This is the second ticket they gave me I think this is picking and harrassment. Please can you give me some advice on this matter please. It seems this officer is just picking on me and no the other people parking in the same matter as me.

Hi,

The street outside my house says no parking from 12-4pm because of street sweeping. So that morning I moved my car down the block. I was in a hurry so I assumed that residents' homes does not require street sweeping. I am actually from Merced, and there no street sweeping in residential areas. I came back an hour later, and I received parking citation. Should I contest it? Also, if i used finance to argue my case, will they approve of my contest? what do you recommend? thank you in advance.

Yes, in fact, I do think you're that dumb to be working such an asinine job as that....

"...do you really think we are that foolish?" ...YES!

Not the disposable cameras, yeah waste a whole camera to take 3 pictures but you can give the person a photo copy of the receipt for developing the pictures also. Plus not everyone has camera phones or digital cameras.

This won't work. I review parking citations every day and do not pay any attention to photos sent in by people who have been cited. You can set a phone camera, other camera to any time you like. Additionally, people who do provide photos invariably submit them taken from some obsure angle that they hope will help their argument. If the argument is and issue with a sign, I will always go out and check. I have no problem dismissing a cite that was issued in error, but come on, do you really think we are that foolish...

Yes, I received 2 tickets for the same offense within hours of each other. I was furious. I contested both and although I ended up not paying for either ticket, the Judge did inform me that by law you can be given a ticket for the same offense every 13 minutes. Talk about crooks!!

My guess is YES.. I received a ticket while parked on a Chicago street for "no city sticker" Ummm my plates are not Illinois plates of course I have no Chicago City sticker.. smh

I'm not sure what city and state you are in but I know in Chicago the ticket follows the owner of the vehicle (your driver's license number) and not the car. So if the vehicle was sold 5 times since your ticket was issued you'll still be responsible because the ticket goes to the registered owner of the vehicle. Also in Chicago if you owe money for 2 tickets they put a boot on any vehicle you own, even if its not the vehicle that was not ticketed. Again in Chicago the ticket follows the person not the car.

I parked, with flashers on, in a poorly marked fire lane for no more than five minutes. I thought the lane was for unloading, because since I have lived in Tahoe, (3years), that is what I've seen it used for every day, there was a man there unloading his things when I pulled up. When I came back to my car, I ask the officer why I had gotten the ticket. The officer said it was for parking in the fire lane and if I was a better driver I would have known that! The officer had the ticket for the man that had been there longer than I and when the man came to his car and asked if he could just move his car and not get a ticket the officer let him go, with no ticket! I asked the officer why the the man was let off with no ticket and why I couldn't be permitted the same. The officer then got very aggressive and said if I didn't leave she was going to have my car towed. I was very kind and respectful when I spoke with the officer and I feel discriminated against, I was threatened and insulted! In my contest letter for this ticket I don't know if mentioning the officer's behavior would be beneficial or detrimental to my case! Please Help!?

I know this is a little late, but if something like this happens again I suggest using a digital camera, and setting it up so the photo shows the date and time on the picture, and set the date/ time to that of the violation. Take the photo at a believable hour (I.e. If the ticket says 8 AM make sure it's not dark out haha) and in the spot that the violation was given. Hey, they scam you, then you scam them. Right?

What would happen if someone just ignored the parking ticket and didn't pay it, and sold the vehicle shortly afterwards? Would the new owner of the vehicle be stuck with having to pay the ticket?

I received a parking ticket on my RV for parking my commercial vehical on a county road. To operate this vehical I need a non commercial licence class B. There are no logo's on it and it is classified on the registration as a recreational vehical. Should this be a no brainer?

Any ideas on how to contest this ticket which is $150!!! I am parked on Fullerton and my car is on the bicycle path somewhat. However many cars are parked in the same way. I have no choice because there is a huge mound of snow still in the street so you can not park right up against the curb. People are parked this way for the next several blocks because of the snow. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I too feel everyone's pain about incorrect parking tickets. The frustrating aspect is the City of Chicago has very knowingly designed a system where the cost of the ticket(s) are usually low enough that 95% of people just pay them rather than endure frustrating effort. And, to handle the remaining 5% of citizens who contest the ticket, they make the system difficult and even more costly, such that only 1% of tickets are retracted. And the penalties they exact on citizens for challenging the ticket always make them even more money. Make no mistake, this is a huge gold-mine of revenue for them!!

The painful truth is that in 99% of cases, unless you're connected to a local politician or law enforcement officer, you will most likely get stuck with the ticket. Even worse, it's the law abiding citizens that pay the tickets, and the people who break the rules and are connected pay nothing. It's not about right or wrong - its about the City of Chicago being "right enough" that they can get away with it, "legally".

The sick irony is that any solution that benefits us, the taxpaying, law abiding citizenry, will actually cost more. That is, if the City were to actually train their ticket writing employees to perform their responsibilities better, they would pay a lot for that training service. On top of that, better trained staff would write fewer tickets, because now they are better informed of right and wrong - so they make less money in tickets on top of the cost of training. So to deal with that, they'd raise ticket prices or some tax! They'd never reduce spending, like reducing the number of ticket writers!

This scenario, my fellow Americans, is one facet of the modern American city government!

Unfortunately you have to obey the laws of the place you're in, regardless of how you were taught. In Oregon you cannot pump your own gas, and if you're caught you will get a whopping ~$1000 fine. I nearly got caught doing this, because the pumps are all the same as those in California and I crossed the boarder nearly out of gas and the gas station attendant notified me of that...crazy state, but it's the law. I'm sure they get a number of Californians on that one...

Dear All,

I was traveling cross country with my car (California plate) and was ticketed in Knoxville because I made a right turn (after complete stop) on an intersection while the light was red.

In California drivers can make right turn on Red light, until posted otherwise. I have California Drivers License and acted exactly according to what I was instructed. Is there any suggestion if I can dispute this ticket?

I like the advice on citing traffic laws. Many people make assumptions about how the laws ought to be or how they ought to be interpreted, which will go nowhere. I've been reading some blogs on parking citations from a judge's perspective, which is pretty interesting to see. I wrote up a small blog of my own on some experiences and suggestions for fighting parking tickets, if anyone cares to check it out: http://fighting-tickets.blogspot.com.

I am in the middle of fighting a parking meter violation at the moment, and initially the reactions were to make up bizarre stories about how the meter maid had it in for me, or how they were being sneaky and caught me, etc. None of those options would have done any good, but it's amusing to look back on how they at the time appeared to be logical excuses...ah what we do in the heat of the moment.

I believe you went to the Spring Splash event with Murs and Nas that day. They were SICK!

I think I have a new word for what the parking eforcement douchery of Chicago should be called. The Department of Thugs and Muggers. After all, what other group of individuals can just up and thieve 200 dollars from you? When you get a ticket in Chicago you can do two things. Write in and send pictures and a cover letter that they simply ignore or go to court and lose even more money in a crap shoot. If the former fails (which it will as the city makes soo much money from raping motorists) then you have to pay for a court date (even further mugging) which if you lose you pay double the fine!!!!!!! WTF is that other than robbery?
As of this day I am going to make it my solemn duty to be as rude and unpleasant to every Dept Of Mugging representative turd I see on the street in the hopes that one will hit me because then I can sue the dept of thugs and Muggers to recoup my money that way.... also I get to make these slimy idiots lives as miserable as I can. In fact I looking forward to my gig on Lincoln and Fullerton just so I can hurl insults at our local thug....I will do so every time I see it shmabling up and down the street handing out tickets that are completely unjust. I will of course have a colleague film the event as evidence.
I suggest that we all do this until they rein in their minions and train them better.
Cafes and diners should not serve them as its bad for their business to have customers get unfair tickets. The general public should greet them each one woth a cheery "good Morning Douchebag Parasite Thug" or some other non threatening language to make their job as unpleasant as possible - , after all if the morons quit then there wont be tickets issued and the city will have to the right thing and adjust the laws and take the system back from the private sector......

I was pulled over for a bright on and given a ticket for dim lights and another ticket for old insurance. I went to the court the next day, they told me what times the judge would hear me. The judge let me off on the dim light, but made me pay 25$ for the insurance. I just got two bills in the mail for both tickets amounting to 240.00$ and i noticed I went to the wrong courthouse about a mile away.....error on my behalf but also an error on theirs? I plan on going to the correct courthouse and talking to the judge because this is just a mess.

This campus sounds like UC Riverside if I'm correct. I've racked up nearly ten tickets because the parking officers there were strict as hell... and that was before I had the urge and knowledge to fight tickets. I still have five unpaid tickets, which now are increased to $60 each, and now I have a hold on my DMV or something. I don't think I'll be able to fight these tickets now since it's been late.

I got a ticket in the mail saying I had no front plate on my car. It was completely bogus. I've never driven my car without both plates. The date/time of the "violation"- I was at work and my car was parked. The judge said me proving I was at work does not prove my car was not being driven without a license plate at that date and time. He said I would have to submit proof the plate was on my car.
Well well well...how could I possibly prove the plate was on my car? I wasn't out photographing it- I was working. They have no photo of the car with out a plate that day, yet somehow I have to have a photo of my car with a plate at that date and time or pay them $50.00.
It is a total racket. If I choose to appeal- I have to pay yet more money. The city owes me money for time lost taking care of their little scam. They don't have to prove anything to get money from a law obiding citizen. Anyone who partakes in this nightmare of a bullshit system will have to deal with bad karma for scamming innocent people out of hard-earned money. Any advice on proceeding?

A very interesting situation. My fine is $25 and I am debating if it is worth fighting.
Here's the story:
I am an intern at the Reno Police Department in Nevada. On the bridge that is a street, near the department there is a sidewalk on both sides of it. Red line is painted over the curb indicating that a permit is required to park along the sidewalk. I received a permit and used it. There are also white markings, not just straight lines, distinguishing where each car supposed to fit. I parked right where the sidewalk ended, it was still red and there was a truck parked in front of me. I never payed attention to those lines and never looked whether my car was withtin the boundaries. I made sure that the truck in front of me had enough room to get out. When I left my internship and on my way home I noticed something on my windshield, it was hard to notice it right away. I already left and so I could not take pictures and all the cars were already gone by then anyway. It was a ticket for $25, Code Violation 6.30.150 (b)- Not in Markers. Remarks section stated: SGT (Sargent, I assume) complaint. So somebody(Sargent) from the police department called the parking enforcement to come over and give me a ticket over something stupid like that. I do not know whether I was in the markings or not, I doubt the person that complained checks whether he/she is or not every day either. No one does, and if this was enforced a ton of people would be getting tickets. I don't even know what to do... Even if I go to court, I doubt the judge would go against the sargent, even over something stupid like that. For me it is because of principle and $, I have to work for about 3 hours at work to make up the money. Thank you and please let me know what would you do???

thanks to all for sharing your tips.
I have contested a few different infringements to mixed success.

I have found that the most successful approach is to use this formula for
when you know you are technically in the wrong (the law is not on your side).

Suppress your anger- writing in a pissed-off and accusing tone doesn't usually work (unless the law is on your side)
You want the reader to relate to your situation- after all it's at their discretion to cancel the fine.
Use an apologetic tone- emphasise that you are sorry and embarrassed you made the mistake.
Clearly and briefly state the extenuating circumstances
Get across that you're a law abiding person who made an unfortunate but understandable error.
Don't over do it as no-one likes a sob story.

it's always worth a try. good luck.

I got a parking ticket a few weeks ago right outside my apartment in Chicago. The ticket said "Park/Stand Prohibited Anytime" but it was absolutely wrong. It is a spot that I have parked in probably 50 times and there is always someone parked there and I have never seen anyone issued a ticket. There is no sign prohibiting parking or any yellow curb or any other condition I could possibly understand that would call for this ticket. Understandably, I was incredibly frustrated with this. I've received two other tickets in this neighborhood for other incorrect issues, contested both by mail and won both. I sent a letter to contest this one as well and just looked up the status of my ticket and it says "Liable Determination Entered By Administrative Law Officer". I'm assuming this means they've decided I'm going to have to pay this ticket - I haven't gotten anything in the mail yet. My question is if anyone knows what I can do about this because I was not parked illegally at all. I included four pictures with my letter clearly showing the lack of signs prohibiting parking, but I suspect that my letter was rejected because of the attitude of the letter. It wasn't angry or ranting exactly - I stated my case clearly and succinctly - but I was a little sarcastic I suppose and I said I felt like the ticket was "either negligence or harassment on the part of the Ticket Issuing Agent" and they seemed to be "trying to fill their quota". In the future I will definitely follow your advice about the tone of the letter - I guess I felt like this was such an obvious wrong that I couldn't lose. Can they really reject my letter and make me pay this ticket even though there was no violation? Any advice?

So, there is a network of residential streets close to our hotel. From our experiences over the first few days there, I'd noticed that the policy seemed to be to place dual signs at the end of streets: one pointing towards the far end indicating the hours of parking, and one pointing to the corner with a crossed arrow, e.g. no parking. The only purpose of the latter sign is obviously to indicate where parking on the block is no longer permitted due to proximity to the corner. So, we parked about 5' back from a corner that only had a single sign indicating the hours of parking. Other cars (non rental) were parked in that spot every day, with no apparent summonsing. Is it possible to fight this?

Cheers
d

Hi hoping someone can help me out with this one.

I got a ticket today actually for an expired license plate sticker. The thing is we went to get the sticker this morning before i received the ticket. We were infomred that we need to to take the car or the emissions test first before we renew the sticker. What do i do. If i contest is there any chance of actually winning. I have to take my car to the emissionstest tomorrow morning should i contest by mail with the results of the emissions test and a letter. I got another ticket for rush hour this is completely my fault. Doubt i can contest it other then my boss had us in a meeting and they wouldnt let me leave for anything. But thats not even an issue. Im more worried about the sticker because i would no have received that ticket if they didn't need us to take the car for an emissions test. Please some one assist me in this thank you sooo much.

Sandy

I was in Stanton CA and received a ticket for street sweeping. There were no posted signs on the side of the street I was parked on indicating there were any such restrictions. Later I learned that on the other side of the street there was one sign saying that there was no parking 8-10am Wednesday for street sweeping (and then real little underneath it said "all streets in this tract") My contention was that I came in from the other direction, there were no signs on that side of the street for all three blocks of it so how could I have possibly known there was such a restriction. I took pictures and contested the violation on that premise. I was notified that they found me liable for the ticket because "Signs are posted in a conspicuous place at each entrance to an area of restricted parking for street sweeping." Even though I had pictures demonstrating that there weren't. I don't know what to do now. I know I am in the right. Is there an ordinance that states there must be a sign posted somewhere on the same side of the street that the violation is being given? What is your advice? Thank you.

On June 25, 2010, while visiting Chicago from Los Angeles and driving a Hertz rental car with Nevada tags, I received a ticket despite the fact that I had paid at the token box and was displaying my receipt in my window, as is is clearly shown in the photos on the City's web site. I suspect this happened because the enforcement "officer" thought I would never contest it. None of the other cars parked around me were ticketed. Is this common in Chicago?