Oregon Man Arrested For Feeding Strangers’ Parking Meters
UPDATE #2: This seems to be a huge, HUGE story in Eugene. A more recent report from KEZI TV devotes over 10 minutes of video news coverage to this story and provides testimony from witnesses that back up Mr. Bond’s story and that he did not harass the parking enforcement officer in the way described in the police charges.
In addition, the police admit Bond did not obstruct the officer by plugging the meters (although there is a separate law on the books that makes feeding other people’s meters illegal).
Bond’s fine was $810, but he vows to fight the charges in court.
Check out the full story and video.
UPDATE: KVAL TV in Eugene, OR is reporting additional facts that seem to contradict the arrested man’s account of the situation. It makes him out to be much more of an aggressor and verbally abusive toward the ticket writer. They claim he followed the parking enforcement officer for three blocks in his vehicle while verbally haranguing her. It was this behavior and a fear for her safety, according to city officials, that prompted the parking enforcement officer to call for police.
Thanks to John Adams for the tip.
*****
A Good Samaritan in Eugene, OR had a run in with a parking enforcement officer for feeding the parking meters of complete strangers.
30 year old Benjamin Bond got angry with an enforcement agent writing tickets on the street, parked his truck, fed his meter and then, armed with a pocketful of change, plunked coins into a block full of parking meters.
But saving a bunch of drivers from an expensive expired meter ticket, brought three cops out to slap the cuffs on him and drag him to jail. He was charged with “harassment and obstruction of governmental administration.”
It sounds oddly reminiscent of a run in this writer had with a Parking Enforcement Aide last spring.
Remember, it’s not illegal to feed someone’s parking meter in Chicago.
Chicago has that Charge on the Books as well.
But try finding a cop that wants to do actual police work in this city.
So Chicago doesn’t have a monopoly on stupid government and stupid police. Who knew?! Who knew?!
Is it illegal to do what this man did in Eugene? What do their lawbooks say?
DoR, what does this mean?: “Chicago has that Charge on the Books as well.”
I can see the obstruction charge. Its annoying to do that but I know ticketwriters will show no mercy.
My advice not worth tryn to piss off a ticketwriter. For both the citizen n ticketwriter
That’s not police work. What proof do you have this guy didn’t own these cars? I wish all the police haters would try being the police for a day. They are jerks if they enforce this law and are jerks for not enforcing it. The deck is stacked against them.
If I called the police and had to wait for service only to find out they were wasting their time on a Good Samaritan I’d be pretty pissed. In order to bring this case to court, the city will pay the officer(s), witness (PEA or whoever), city attorneys and so on, all for the case to be dropped the first time up. Do the officers inventory the quarter or the meter? All because the city wanted some ticket revenue? They were already getting the meter revenue.
Doesn’t sound like obstruction to me. Sounds more like helping people comply with the law. Otherwise all those who put on the brakes to slow to the speed limit on the highway when they see a sheriff’s car are obstructing justice. I think of them more like helping me comply with the law.
By my understanding of Illinois Criminal Code…since the question was asked…
(720 ILCS 5/31-3)
Sec. 31-3. Obstructing service of process.
Whoever knowingly resists or obstructs the authorized service or execution of any civil or criminal process or order of any court commits a Class B misdemeanor.
PEA’s qualify as Authorized Civil issuers of legal notices.
Municipal violations issued by the Department of Revenue qualify as an Order to Pay or Appear in Court.
DoR-
How exactly is feeding a meter obstruction? Obstruction is if I stand in front of the car’s license plates so you can’t right them down. Obstruction is if I grab the electronic do-hickey and run away with it.
Feeding the meters isn’t obstructing someone from issuing a legal notice, it is removing the need to issue a legal notice.
Another question: is it obstruction if I run to feed the meter for MY car when the PEA is half-way down the block? I’ve never heard of anyone being charged for obstruction if they feed their own meter before the PEA gets to their car. By what logic is it obstruction for someone who doesn’t own a car to feed a meter? Does this mean that my hair colorist could be charged for obstruction when she goes out to feed my meter?
In my opinion, this incident is about petty, vindictive people who enjoy their power over others way too much. There are plenty of first-graders who aren’t this childish.
The PEA could have just walked away, thinking about how nice it was for someone to help out a bunch of stupid people who let their meters run out. But no, they just had to make an issue out of someone’s random kindness and have them arrested for it.
KC,
My thoughts EXACTLY. Obstruction my foot. Utterly ridiculous. Where can I send money to aid in this man’s defense?
Man, why do I come to this website, I just get pissed off all the time.
Mark said:
” I wish all the police haters would try being the police for a day. They are jerks if they enforce this law and are jerks for not enforcing it. The deck is stacked against them. ”
No one hates the police for doing their job. They hate them for over-stepping the law, being above the law in situations where they are clearly not above the law, and for not enforcing the law.
Unless it is clearly written in the law books of Eugene, Oregon, arresting someone for feeding parking meters is not enforcing the law. The officers should have told the enforcement aid that Matt Bonds had not broken any laws, and driven away. Simple.
Well, here’s the other side of the story. Very different from what the video showed. Maybe we’re wrong on this, I don’t know. Check it out for yourselves.
City of Eugene provides background, statement on parking meter incident
http://downtowneugene.kval.com/content/city-eugene-provides-background-statement-parking-meter-incident
Oh, btw, PTG, his name is Ben, not Matt.
Cheers,
John Adams
I think KC hit it out of the park as far as the feeding meters part.
However, it does sound from the KVAL report that this guy may have acted in a belligerent manner toward this woman. And of course, that’s not cool. If this was the case, perhaps the charges do fit the crime.
He could have fed the meters and not hassled the lady. The official report from the City of Eugene does paint a different picture.
Right on target PTG.
That’s where my comment stems from….the behavior of the person that caused the police intervention. I was wrong with the ILCS code though…
In Chicago…they could use either Disorderly Conduct or Harassment.
Threatening behavior is not tolerable for any reason towards anyone.
I know people don’t like what we do. I do get that. But the dumb%ucks that inhabit this country need to understand that we are just doing the job we are paid to do.
And please….stop making our job so easy..and learn how to park and tell time.
DoR,
Don’t be so quick to judge in favor of the police. Remember, the 2 stories we heard were different, and he is innocent until proven guilty.
His story made it sound as if he said something to the Parking Enforcer, then parked his truck, and payed the meters.
Her story made it sound as if he followed her for blocks yelling at her.
I don’t know which is the truth, but I find it hard to believe that he followed her in his truck in a threatening manner and then parked, got out, fed his meter, and then proceeded to feed meters ahead of her.
The stories are different. It’s he said, she said. And from the sounds of the comments on the stories about Eugene, OR, people there are also very frustrated with the parking situation. So it’s not unreasonable to believe that they are getting stiffed by the city, and this young man had had enough, and decided to do a good deed, and the Parking Enforcer didn’t like that.
After all, that’s what happened here in Chicago, remember?
So, neither story is proof of anything, they are just 2 sides. I know I was very quick to believe the young man’s side, but then I heard the other side, and now, I don’t know what the truth is. Next time, I will wait to hear both sides before jumping on the bandwagon.
-John Adams
So very well said Mr. Adams,
By the two or three reports, there does not seem to be any consensus on what the true story is. Obviously, it’s probably somewhere between his position and her position.
What probably can be said is to some extent, both parties should have acted more civilly. He should have just fed the meters and shut up and she should have been less frustrated by his meter feeding and shrugged it off as just some missed tickets that day.
But then again, everyone of us, even the best of us, behave badly every once in a while. One of the downsides to the human condition I guess.
The city fined the Good Samaritan a goodly amount which is bad PR for the city – $810!
If the PEA can’t take the citizen’s sentiments, then the city hired the wrong person. Reports are there were 5 witnesses who substantiate the Samaritan’s version of the story.
It might not be illegal to feed someone’s meter, but if that vehicle is there more than the allowed posted time. That person can still be written a ticket, even if there is time on the meter.
But the great thing about Chicago’s new meters are…. You really can’t do that anymore . Where do you put the receipt? .. hmm love it…..
Barnet- If me an ordinary citizen start to follow you and start talking crap to you, I am harassing you. If you start following a Parking Enforcement aide and start talking crap to them, thats part of their job? Being harassed and follow is not part of the job. Its just tolerated by so many because unless you can have a substantial charge its not worth calling the cops. Feeding meters is annoying yes, but if you are constantly following me and talking crap then there is probably a need for police to get involved.
If Mr. Parking Geek were to perhaps start feeding meters on the block that was being enforced, i would simply head into a residential area and write other violations.
Logic….I’ve seen people stick receipts under their windshield wiper because they are too lazy to grab their keys and open the door.
Personally…I don’t care if you are there more than 2 or 3 hours.
But the new Home Deployment squad has authorization to enforce for Overstay when multiple receipts are visible for the same meter and day.
Optimus, Dor, and so on,
You signed up to be the taxman, a job no one likes. It is part of your job. Just as the citizen doesn’t like the ticket and paying $50. If they would complain you would say tell it to the hearing officer. What ever happened to the first amendment? Citizens aren’t allowed to free speech?
What I don’t understand is this, the city treats you like crap from the looks of your contract and yet you guys can’t write tickets fast enough. You aren’t given a commission for these tickets. There is no quota or index. So as long as a private citizen isn’t complaining, why harass the citizens?
The law is not black and white. There is room for discretion.
You have a right to complain just don’t be harassing me when I recite the ordinances to you. Ticket fines and laws goes above us we don’t decide these things elected officials that you voted for do.
Hello Mark,
You are right, we did sign up for this job, and hearing people rant at us is part of the job. DoR and myself are big fans of the 1st Amendment (otherwise we wouldn’t be posting), but there is a BIG difference between ranting and harassing. Following us for a couple of blocks ranting and waving would be considered harrasement. While it is true, that some of us will say “tell it to the hearing officer” or give you a courtsey card. If you attempt to talk to us in a civil manner, more often than not, we can try to help you.
It’s not the city that treats us like crap, it’s some of our supervisors and upper-management. We write the tickets because that is what we are paid to do. I bet if we didn’t write one parking ticket, the public would be calling Pam Zackman or Carol Marine on us. While there is no commission on these tickets, management has used and is continuing to use our productivity as a way to deny us raises, write us up, and even attempt to discipline us.
The current City Ordinances are in writing thus making them black and white. The only discretion that we have is, do we write the ticket or not. From that standpoint, if we write it: you get mad. if we don’t write it: management gets mad and some other citizen would get mad if they received a similar ticket. We are in a no win scenario. The best way to avoid all of this: park legal.
2. FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS
City Employees, as private citizens, are permitted to express their personal opinions under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. City employees will not be investigated, prosecuted, interfered with or harassed as punishment or retaliation for engaging in conduct protected by the First Amendment.
This can be found on page 16, Cornerstone # 2 as issued by the Office of Compliance.
Well put by both of you.
As far as I know, harassment isn’t against the law unless its on phone. There is the stalking law which requires a surveillance and a threat to be documented twice. Assault, but that is not just words. There has to be an action. I don’t think just driving a car following someone would be enough. There was disorderly conduct but that needs a large crowd which would be stopping the local business and so on in the area. Since you guys, as far as I know, carry badges, I would think your peace can not be breached on it’s own so you can’t use that one either. And remember most of the criminal laws require intent which is hard to prove. Just because you may feel harassed doesn’t mean they intended to break any law.
I don’t remember this being a big problem in the past. I believe this is because the police are not the only ticket writers anymore. The city has saturated each department and private entities with ticket issuing ability which ends up getting more and more people getting tickets. Add that to increases in your property tax and water bill. Those are faceless entities. You on the other hand stick out. Be careful out there. A ticket isn’t worth getting hurt over. Just something to think about. These stories age getting more common. Like the one in Chinatown a few months back. He got charged with a felony. If he would have fled the scene, instead of sticking around, it would have been another story.
Mark…its not so much a problem in Chicago to be quite honest.
The problem is that the cornucopia melting pot we live in is full of personalities that were raised under different governments and have less respect for Legal/Lawful authority than someone raised at 115th and Western.
Legally speaking: It is against the law to interfere with a City Employee conducting legal city business.
Personally: I’d have just told the mook to piss off.
Some of the readers may be aware of comments in regards to Capt M plate (one of our more Efficient co-workers).
2 weeks ago..I heard through the grapevine that he was pulled out of the Austin neighborhood due to specific Death Threats.
The union is talking about trying to get us all sworn along the lines of the Parks District Security people, so that we have legal authority to carry Mace/nightsticks.
Chuckles@captain m plate.
-People are really unpredictable , pray that nobody gets hurt out there.
[...] documented here back in January, Bonds tried to feed nearby parking meters when he saw a city parking enforcement [...]
[...] picture in the blog post) and kids. There are numerous cases of people being harassed and even arrested for feeding other peoples’ parking meters! The negative media hardly delivers good news… just fear fear fear…. and while I [...]
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