I got a *&$#ing parking ticket tonight!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

:grr: For the better part of ten years (maybe more), I parked in the same spots right in front of the grocery store, either directly in front of or directly behind 2 handicapped spots. There were no signs mentioning that it was illegal, and no yellow curb.

Then I found a place that was more convenient for getting in and out according to my route, so I haven't parked in those spots for several years.

Well tonight I did my shopping in between dropping my older boy off and picking him up (from Driver's Ed, of all things), so I parked in front of the store the way I used to. I even looked to make sure they hadn't put up "no parking" signs. But when I returned, there was a ticket for $100 on my windshield. It seems that at some point in the past few years, they decided to paint the curb yellow. :grr:

[MADem]

1. The chimp economy

Towns are upping ticket fees and implementing aggressive enforcement, to the point of absurdity. It's how they are paying the bills in the current fiscal environment. Sure sucks, though....

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. I wouldn't mind if there'd been a sign

or if I hadn't parked there for years. It's pretty damn sneaky...

[MADem]

9. One of my relatives got that treatment, too

Parking in the same place for years, suddenly, it's twenty feet from the intersection, when it always used to be eight or twelve...

It was only fifteen bucks, though, not a 100!!!

[bigwillq]

3. $100! Damn!

That's awful. :-(

[lenidog]

8. The fine was probably 25 bucks and the rest of it was sundry expenses

to the state and local governments. Talk about legalized extortion.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

16. The ticket said it was a fire lane,

which is bullshit. If it was a firelane, they'd have the handicapped spots either in front or behind, not in the middle.

I totally understand the need for clear space to accomodate rescue vehicles; and I never park in handicapped spots, places reserved for pregnant women/new moms, or fire lanes.

What pisses me off is that the only warning was a yellow curb, which is next to impossible to see at night. Fire lanes should be clearly marked with signs or stripes across the pavement.

[bigwillq]

18. I would protest it!

Take pics of the area and plead your case that there was no sign and it's tough to see the yellow paint at night.

[lenidog]

19. Sounds like you might be able to fight it then

If you want to go for it on principal then I would do it.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

21. I'd just like to get the fine reduced...

$100 is ridiculous...

[Zuni]

4. The parking ticket ladies in Annapolis

are a bunch of fucking Nazis. One day at work, I moved my car every two hours to keep from getting a ticket, but they still gave me one because I kept parking in the same area! Fucking parking Nazis! :grr:

Along with tow truck drivers and impound lot fascists, parking enforcement people are among the highest places on my shit-list. :mad:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. !!!

I would take that one to court! Where does it say you have to move to another area? You moved your car!

[Zuni]

12. It was like 2 years ago

and, i stupidly paid it without challenge to save myself the stress. It was only like 25$, but I should have challenged it out of principle.

I know how you feel tonight. The Annapolis Parking Nazis have plagued me for years.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

17. I'm going to remember that....

I play a lot of gigs in Annapolis, and parking can be rough, especially around State Circle!

Thanks for the warning! :toast:

[vpigrad]

5. My last ticket was $2.50...

$100, ouch!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. I think I'll take it to court

and appeal to the powers that be to reduce the fine.

I won't try to get it knocked off completely, but they could take pity...

[lenidog]

6. The last time I got a parking ticket was when I was going to college

I pulled through to another parking spot and went to class. When I cam back I had a $25 dollar parking ticket. Funny thing is that no where in the campus handbook did it say that was illegal and to top it off there were no signs. Damn I was pissed, because if you didn't pay it they would revoke your rights to park on the campus and tow your car if they found it.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. That is nasty!

And they probably prey on students who are too busy to complain...

[lenidog]

20. Exactly or they think the kids wont complain and just give it to

dad and mom to pay it off.

[leftofthedial]

7. well, I hate to be mean, but

that's what you get for parking in a no *&$#ing zone.

$100!! That's outrageous!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

13. Meanwhile, of course,

people were lined up in front of the store and blocking access to the pick-up lane. :grr:

[leftofthedial]

15. there is no justice