Parking Ticket--Fight or Pay?

James P

As an 11 year police officer I say fight it all the way. Here's why:

(1) In all criminal matters, even infractions, you are considered innocent until proven guilty. The government has the obligation to prove you guilty and you have NO obligation to prove yourself innocent.

(2) I do not believe that your parking fine will be any larger if you go to court and lose so give it a try.

(3) When you go to court, present your case to the judge. Explain your position and the potential problem with the meter. When you receive a speeding ticket and go to court, the court will require the citing officer to present several documents relating to the citation such as calibration records for their radar unit (annual and daily calibration records are often required), the officer's training, etc. Ask that the court review these documents in considering your case. Odds are good the agency will not be able to present them and the case may be dismissed. Aslo consider taking a little survey of meters in the area where you were ticketed. Check say 100 meters and count how many are out of order. You might be surprised to find 10% or more are broken at any given time. Argue that yours was one of those meters. Give the judge doubt and your case will be dismissed.

(4) If the principal is truly the issue go all they way with it and see what happens. You might even find the system really works!

CG-23 Sailor

As my brother (a cop) has often pointed out. even the most well meaning of people will often leave out important bits and not tell the whole story. Because the think they were wronged and want to show they were right even if they werent.
I am not calling you a Liar, but that EVERY story should be taken with a healthy dose of scepticism.

Examples in your case:
You mention paying for an hour's time. But not what time that hour started.
You mention you returned at 5 till the hour. But if you started your hour's time at 10 till the hour, then you WERE expired for 5 minutes. on a ticket written two minutes ago!

You also fail to mention whether or not the meter itself was showing expired or not. If it still showed time remaining then yes you were wronged and that is the easiest way to prove your case. with photographic evidence of the meter, time, and ticket.
Yet you do not say anything about the Meter, whether it was expired or not. Even if you are right on your times and the meter was faulty and expired you do not have a case because the cop who wrote the ticket can only go by what they see.
In your case,an expired meter and a parked car

Wurmâ„¢

You may very well get off. If the officer does not show up in court, which is actually not that unlikely considering it's so minor, you will get it dismissed. If it's upheld you may have additional court costs.

shylow777

i fully understand your feeling towards the city. but i suggest just paying it,but go to the bank first and get 25 dollars in pennies !!!!!!!

TCSO

Pay it. The fact of the matter is that the meter expired while your car was there. I don't hold your anger against you, but you have to look at this from the standpoint of what makes your life easier. And trust me, paying $25 is much better than spending all your time and energy in court. Besides, in some places you could actually end up with a higher price if the trial is in front of a jury and the jury decides on their own fine. Save yourself the frustration of all this.

Cali Cop

Pay the ticket. I have received parking tickets myself, and fought each one. I have lost every time. Your time is not worth the $25. You don't have any proof that the meter was faulty.

snackfairy06

Pay it. When I lived in Houston I got a parking ticket for $300.00 for parking in a loading zone. I lost the ticket in the back of my messy car and just forgot about it. I moved to Los Angeles and that $300.00 ticket became a $520.00 ticket. The city of Houston wouldn't accept my promise to pay $100.00 a month so they turned it over to a lawyer and I now owe $920.00. I paid the remaining amount on the $520.00 ticket and I am trying to talk the law office into dropping the $400.00 they tacked on for my original non payment. I would pay the ticket before they tack more charges on.

fight it on the principle of the thing.

Thunder

In cases the country over where the issue of breaking the law comes down to a police officers word versus a "civilian" the civilian will lose.

Despite the fact officers are also human, subject to the vices of the world the same as others and that the court system is supposedly an equal playing field, an officers word in court is given the weight of pure, unbiased, "truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth".

So, unless you have some sort of proof and evidence to support your case you should just pay the ticket and take your business to some place other than Walnut Creek.

Beau B

depend on whether you have more time or money. I'd pay it and be done

tinyitalian_babe

Well I tell you what, pay the ticked for the simple reason it will cost you more in court fines if you lose and if you work that will cost you a vacation day or heck no pay at all. I know sometimes things are not fair but it's just a parking ticked. Don't lose any sleep over this one there is bigger tickets. Don't take it the wrong way I am just trying to make it a bit easier on you. Good Luck!

shrty0525

Whenever someone says 'it's the principle' that means that it's the money.

Why don't you have the meter company calibrate it to see if it's running fast?

each may believe differently

...if money is not the issue but principle is...hire or consult an attorney...

if i were in your place, i would pay the fine...one second too late is still late...or throw myself at the mercy of the court- they are human after all...

shortdude42004

By fighting it you are costing the city money and revenue if everyone fought there tickets alot less would be given out cause the city would know its not worth dealing with for 25$

cantcu

Pay the fine, you aren't going to win unless you go all the way to the Supreme Court in your state and I doubt you have the money.

Thats how people get away with pulling that crap!

davcon1223

Just pay it and move on the city has inexhaustible resources and judges at there disposal in the end it would coast you more to fight it ... unless it's a matter of Principal for you!

Colin

FIGHT THE PIGS!!! lol serious though stand up for that if you are truly innocent, Otherwise get the lawer that OJ Simpson had,,,i heard he could prove any thing :S Hahaha lol

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