Disputing a parking ticket

Kyougu

Well, not a parking ticket per say, but the fines that are being added to it.

In Feb, I headed downtown to hear a speaker. Forgetting completely that there's no such thing as free parking, I didn't have much change with me, and I was only able to scrounge up for an hour. The event ran about two, so I was expecting a ticket. When I came back though, there was none that I could spot, so I was relieved.
Fasfforward to yesterday, and I get a FINAL NOTICE from a collection agency saying I owe 40 bucks. I call to question this, and sure enough, seems I got a ticket around feb for expired meter. Okay, fair enough. Either i didn't notice it, or the wind took it, I don't know. I don't mind paying it. The problem though are the following:

1)Even though the letter said Final Notice, I never got one notice at all. Not from the city or the agency itself.
2) I got a ticket a bout a month and a half ago for speeding. I went online, where I could search for tickets and fees, typed up my name, and the ticket was the only thing that came up, which I promptly paid.
3) The collection agency actually says I owe them 53 bucks, due to 13 bucks interest per month charged. I find that ridicolous, as that's probably around 100% interest on the fine, and the letter I received yesterday says 40.

So what are my options? I don't mind paying the parking ticket itself, but feel the fines are unjust.

Durandal Infinity

Unfortunately you can't go into court with the statement "fines are unjust"

Pay it while it is still 53ish dollars and forget about it

Scrublet

Here's a brief education on the system. First off, "Final Notice" DOES NOT mean they gave you a "First Notice". I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that, as a human being, you are probably at worst a half-civilized individual. Maybe you're a great guy even. So you would expect to give someone a polite heads-up on something before beating their head in. Now think about the general populace, especially the kind most prone to getting multiple useless tickets and contesting them. They are usually going to be retarded, spiteful, and just a general pain in the ass to deal with, much less collect money from. So in the simple matter of a parking ticket, why should the local government waste money with polite notices that will probably be ignored? There's your #1.

#2 - Speeding tickets are actual traffic offenses. While this will obviously be state-dependant, parking illegally (especially when fire lanes/handicapped spaces aren't involved) is not in the same level. Speeding tickets have license ramifications (points), insurance ramifications (increased premiums), and also contribute to accidents on the highway. Parking illegally inconveniences people and provides the local government with an extra source of revenue. Obviously the system for tracking one is going to necessarily be more sophisticated than the other.

#3 - It is ridiculous. If you are unable to pay a credit card bill, your interest rate goes up to 18%+, as if you will be more likely to pay that. When you use a bail bondsman, you usually have to pay 10% of your bail, which is essentially 10% interest on a loan. The solution? Don't do things that incur interest penalties.

Probably not what you were looking to hear, but there are the answers to your questions. 95% of the people who contest speeding tickets and parking tickets are being whiny little bitches who broke the law and don't want to suffer the consequence. Expect to be treated as such if you pursue this, except with even less respect because it's $53 and doesn't affect your record.

Edit - speeding tickets also are more closely tracked so you can't rack up enough to get suspended in one state, and then go next door to another state and get a new license because "they don't know about your tickets."

RUNN1NGMAN

Just go to City Hall or to whatever office you go to in your city to pay tickets in person. Be polite and say that you never got the first ticket, and you would like to see if you can get the late payment fees removed. The cashier doesn't give a shit, she's just happy that someone's not screaming at her. Usually that's enough. I've actually gotten out of parking tickets scott-free just by being nice and apologetic to the person at the window.

dgs095

I agree the parking ticket is bullshit, but it might be best just to pay it. Life is not fair.

Tach

This reminds me of last year, when I replaced my old car. I left the old one on the street, intending to move it to my folks house to get it cleaned up to sell. I procrastinated until one day, I found it gone. Thinking it stolen, I called the cops- who told me it had been towed. Without getting a notice, without getting a ticktet.

Turns out that I did get a ticket- the same day they towed it. Seems that the city looooves to give you that notice, and then tow you for non-response. Cost me $275 in fines and fees from the towing company, all because the city parking enforcement is a bunch of greedy bastards.

OremLK

RUNN1NGMAN wrote: »

Just go to City Hall or to whatever office you go to in your city to pay tickets in person. Be polite and say that you never got the first ticket, and you would like to see if you can get the late payment fees removed. The cashier doesn't give a shit, she's just happy that someone's not screaming at her. Usually that's enough. I've actually gotten out of parking tickets scott-free just by being nice and apologetic to the person at the window.

Probably the best advice. Go there, talk to them in person, the cashiers at these places are usually pretty nice once they find out they're dealing with a civilized person.

If they won't remove them, just pay up. Not much you can do legally.