got a parking ticket right in front of my house!

[mpvue]

well, not quite, but within 50 ft, right around the corner. lived here for 12 yrs. high density city, lots of twins and row homes (my property is only 21 ft wide!). I was parked around the corner, a good bit off from the corner (I thought) being aware that common sense dictates not parking too lose to the corner.well, got a ticket for being too close to the corner.
some corners in the city have the curbs painted to show the limits; this one isn't. they claim that you can't park within 20 FEET of the corner. wow, this was news to me, I've parked there many times over the years. of course, the typical response, 'it's YOUR responsibility to know the law'.
now, besides having issue with the curb NOT being painted, while others are, whare does the 20 feet start? the corner is a wide radius! where did this parking enforcer measure from? did he actually pull out a tape measure? do you measure around the curve? do you measure from a point is space where the 2 streets would meet?
anyway, I'm not paying the fine. let them explain it to me in court. I'll have pictures.

 

[Drew99GT]

Between you and Gary's problems, I'm staying as far away from PA as I can!

 

[Cutehumor]

PA is getting their financial bailout the ole fashion way.

 

[Pablo]

Some streets in Houston appear to have quick get away parking.

 

[daves66nova]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Between you and Gary's problems, I'm staying as far away from PA as I can!
I'm farther away from PA than you are! lol

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

Haha, this reminds me of the time that I got a $10 citation for parking my car in the wrong direction in front of my home. It was written at 2:00 AM too and it was even put in a baggie to keep the dew from making it wet.

 

[daves66nova]

Originally Posted By: mpvue
'it's YOUR responsibility to know the law'.
tell them,it's YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to paint it like the rest of the curbs are. also, ask them exactly how do they determine where is the center point of the radius,how far does the limit extend out from the beginning edge of the tangent edge. stuff like that will hopefully get some"uhhh,what's that?,oh nevermind,dismissed"

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: daves66nova
Originally Posted By: mpvue
'it's YOUR responsibility to know the law'.
tell them,it's YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to paint it like the rest of the curbs are. also, ask them exactly how do they determine where is the center point of the radius,how far does the limit extend out from the beginning edge of the tangent edge. stuff like that will hopefully get some"uhhh,what's that?,oh nevermind,dismissed"

exactly. it would seem to me they will need to be able to explain regulations that they are enforcing. that's why I'll be taking pictures and measuring things today when I get home.

 

[SinisterK9]

I didn't know it was the cops responsibility to paint curbs dave?

This is a very common law all over the country. Cars parked too close to curbs near intersections create blind spots for approaching automobiles and pedestrians.

The very simple solution is; If you believe you were more than 20 feet from the corner, then contest the ticket using all available supporting evidence. If you were not 20+ feet away, then feel free to waste time. As far as the 20 feet goes, use reasonable common sense to judge same.

My simple question is: Were you parked 20 feet or more away from what a reasonably thinking person would consider the corner?

Good luck with your struggle against the man.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: mpvue
Originally Posted By: daves66nova
Originally Posted By: mpvue
'it's YOUR responsibility to know the law'.
tell them,it's YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to paint it like the rest of the curbs are. also, ask them exactly how do they determine where is the center point of the radius,how far does the limit extend out from the beginning edge of the tangent edge. stuff like that will hopefully get some"uhhh,what's that?,oh nevermind,dismissed"

exactly. it would seem to me they will need to be able to explain regulations that they are enforcing. that's why I'll be taking pictures and measuring things today when I get home.


Have you looked up the vehicle code or city ordnance you were cited for violating and carefully read it? If not do it. A lot of cops write bad tickets because they can't keep track of all the laws either.

You should be able to find it on line.

 

[ccs v2.0]

Take a picture of the unpainted curb before the streets dept. gets to it.

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
I'm staying as far away from PA as I can!

Add Illinois to your list. It's called a huge budget shortfall and local governments are under the gun to bridge the gaps (my wife got a ticket for not making a complete stop last month). In Chicago, the city just lowered the number of unpaid tickets to place the Denver boot from three to two about a week ago. They want their money yesterday.

 

[Shannow]

Down here, the rule is got to be at least 6m (20' give or take) from the corner. Interpretation is whether it is the projected point of the corner, or the commencement of the corner.

Got booked myself for parking the wrong way out the front of my house (winter, and the battery was on the way out). Mongrel booked dozens of people in a single night...didn't ticket the semi trailer parked in the next street 'though.

 

[Nyquist]

I got a ticket on Friday at my alma matter when I dropped off a letter of recommendation for a faculty member who is up for an award. I was picked by the university to write the letter too. The reasoning, I didn't have proper certification on my vehicle to park there.

$25 fine that doubles if I don't pay it within a certain time period. It's a slap in the face of sorts, but I guess we all get that from time-to-time.

 

[IndyIan]

The city might have actual maps showing where the no parking or restricted parking areas are. In Toronto I heard a story of someone looking up where there were streets with loop holes and parking for free all the time. The maps if they exist might show exactly where the city thinks the corner is.
Ian

 

[mrsilv04]

One day, I rode my motorcycle to work. In the afternoon, the wind kicked up to about 50 mph. Fearing that the wind could lift my bike off of the side stand, I turned it around in the parking spot, so that the wind was pushing the bike against the sidestand (instead of trying to lift it off of it).

I got a parking ticket, it was a city lot and the city dictates "head in parking only".

I contested the ticket, explaining the above (with weather data from the NWS reporting station... we were also under a high wind advisory), and asking the city if they would have rather sent a fire truck to have to deal with a gasoline spill from the gasoline tank of a toppled motorcycle... and the issue of having an "attractive nuisance" on city property.

They saw it my way and voided the ticket.

 

[SinisterK9]

Just goes to show that the legal system can be reasonable if you have a valid answer/reason/excuse. Nothing works the way its supposed to all the time, but it's good to read about when things go right sometimes.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: Nyquist
I got a ticket on Friday at my alma matter when I dropped off a letter of recommendation for a faculty member who is up for an award. I was picked by the university to write the letter too. The reasoning, I didn't have proper certification on my vehicle to park there.


If it's a campus ticket (and not a state school) blow it off; they have no authority.

Or show up at campus police with the ticket and state that you're an impressionable alum... they probably figured you for a punk student.

 

[eljefino]

Measure the corner from the centerline of the road. You've probably got 12-15 feet of lane to go through first.

in all seriousness look for GIS data on your city's website, it shows every drain pipe, manhole, etc and may give you a clue.

Also demand details on the cop's measuring tape, how he/she sticks the "tang" on the opposite end so it doesn't slither back etc. If it's eyeballed ask to have the charges dropped for insufficient evidence.

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Measure the corner from the centerline of the road. You've probably got 12-15 feet of lane to go through first.

in all seriousness look for GIS data on your city's website, it shows every drain pipe, manhole, etc and may give you a clue.

Also demand details on the cop's measuring tape, how he/she sticks the "tang" on the opposite end so it doesn't slither back etc. If it's eyeballed ask to have the charges dropped for insufficient evidence.


I measured it tonight, there is NO WAY they actually measured anything.
the ticket says:
"on yellow"
"4 ft from corner"
1st off, there is NO YELLOW on this corner. 2nd, from my bumper, the curb is straight for EIGHT FEET before the curve starts. and, from my bumper to the imagined 'corner' there is SIXTEEN FEET.
so, it's not the supposed 20', but it is certainly more than 4 ft. the 20' is unenforceable in this town. if they did, they would have a parking rebellion because there just wouldn't be enough parking for everyone. I take issue with the arbitrariness of the enforcement, and the obvious reliance on 'eyeballing' it.

 

[SinisterK9]

Originally Posted By: mpvue
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Measure the corner from the centerline of the road. You've probably got 12-15 feet of lane to go through first.

in all seriousness look for GIS data on your city's website, it shows every drain pipe, manhole, etc and may give you a clue.

Also demand details on the cop's measuring tape, how he/she sticks the "tang" on the opposite end so it doesn't slither back etc. If it's eyeballed ask to have the charges dropped for insufficient evidence.


I measured it tonight, there is NO WAY they actually measured anything.
the ticket says:
"on yellow"
"4 ft from corner"
1st off, there is NO YELLOW on this corner. 2nd, from my bumper, the curb is straight for EIGHT FEET before the curve starts. and, from my bumper to the imagined 'corner' there is SIXTEEN FEET.
so, it's not the supposed 20', but it is certainly more than 4 ft. the 20' is unenforceable in this town. if they did, they would have a parking rebellion because there just wouldn't be enough parking for everyone. I take issue with the arbitrariness of the enforcement, and the obvious reliance on 'eyeballing' it.


I'm going to ask directly, as to not put any words in your mouth. Is it my understanding, that by your statement, which I have quoted, that you believe you car WAS parked short of 20 feet in reference to what a reasonable person would consider the corner?

I'm not being insulting or accusatory or anything. I'm just asking a question.