Ask The Parking Ticket Geek
Parking Ticket Geek,
Do you know anything about this law firm that collects money for the City of Chicago, Arnold Scott Harris?
I was garnished after I got on a payment plan and they claimed it was a “system” error. I am embarrassed at my job now and could scream! I can never get through to them and when I do, different people tell me different things, they always contradict themselves that is assuming I can understand what they say, some of them can barely speak good English.
Is this place legit?
Mike
I feel your frustration Mike.
Arnold Scott Harris is considered a legitimate collections firm, and has a contract with the city.
But much like any collections firm, people don’t like them due to the nature of what they do–try to pry money from the wallets of people who can’t pay or don’t want to pay.
In the case of Arnold Scott Harris, they’re not even collecting for something you actually enjoyed or something useful like a “Girls Gone Wild” DVD collection, but for parking tickets, which makes people hate them even more than a normal collections firm.
I would suggest taking a trip to their offices and talking to someone in person instead of wading through voice mail hell or their phone system maze.
If you have the paperwork proving you had setup a payment plan with Arnold Scott Harris and have made your payments on time, ultimately you should be able to get them to back off the garnishment and restore you to the payment plan you set up.
However, if you failed to make proper payments according to the terms of your payment plan, it would not be out of the realm of possibility that your wages would have been garnished.
You may need to get an attorney involved to clear up this situation, but that costs money as well. If you are up to it, you may try filing a motion in court to have the garnishment dismissed on your own.
The Geek
Good morning Geek,
I just want to ask questions regarding the ticket I got in NJ.
I am originally in VA, my family rented a van for the weekend to go to NJ. I got a ticket for an expired parking meter, I have no problem in paying it but I lost my ticket and I don’t know the tag number of the van.
Can the rental company (Budget) just pay for it and take it out of my credit card?
Cheryl
Normal policy is for a car rental company to just pay the ticket and charge your credit card for the amount they paid Cheryl.
You might want to contact the rental company and give them a heads up as a courtesy.
I believe they will appreciate the gesture and make sure the ticket fine doesn’t increase before they pay it.
The Geek
Hello Geek,
I recently received a parking ticket for $50 for an expired meter. Is there a way to get the ticket thrown out, or the fine reduced?
Jaclyn
If the ticket was legit Jaylyn, then the answer is no.
The city doesn’t just throw tickets out or reduce the fine for a violation.
I mean, you could trying donning a pair of tight fitting jeans and heels, slapping on some bright red lipstick and bat your eyes at the hearing officer or Department of Revenue cashier while asking for toss the ticket or have the fine reduced and see what happens.
But I don’t think even that will work.
Sorry.
The Geek
Dearest Geek,
On Wells street between Schiller and North Avenue there are numerous small businesses with very little available on street meter parking.
Over the 20 years that I have lived in the neighborhood, there are almost always vehicles double parked in front of a business they wish to use for a short period, and have never been ticketed.
Also, by double parking you end up in a bike lane.
I double parked in front of a store to run in for an ice cream cone. This is a location where folks have consistently double parked without tickets. Once there was a police car double parked there, they were having lunch; I double parked behind them and they didn’t say a word other than nod hello.
So suddenly with the new “meter maids”, I get two tickets; double parking and in a bike lane. I have about 20 photos taken on different days in the same block showing this is a regular event in this block.
Are defenses like selective prosecution, or waiver or estoppel applicable here?
Ron
From what you’re telling me Ron, you were actually doing what the tickets were issued for–double parking and parked in the bike lane.
And, while many drivers are doing the same thing you were ticketed for, it’s never a defense to say “other people were doing it too.”
Isn’t this the type of excuse kids use?
Back in 1973 when I told my parents my neighbor Kevin was throwing rocks at cars as the excuse for why I was throwing rocks at cars, my Mom pulled out some bright orange plastic Hot Wheels tracks, pulled down my pants and gave my butt what for. Ouch.
The “ice cream” defense carries no weight either. Selective prosecution, estoppel what? Huh?
I think the city is trying to send a message to drivers on Wells Street to not double park anymore. Maybe drivers will get the bright orange hints.
You could try fighting the bike lane ticket by saying you were double parked and were ticketed for that first. But no guarantee on that defense.
I think it might be wise to just pay the tickets before they double.
The Geek
Ask The Parking Ticket Geek is a semi-regular parking ticket advice column. If you have a question for The Parking Ticket Geek, please e-mail the Geek with your query at: askthegeek@theexpiredmeter.com
If I was Ron, I’d definitely go in person and see if you could get a nice hearing officer to dismiss one of the tickets.
Good luck Ron with trying to use that it was the wrong violation defense. If both violations exist, the City always goes for the higher fine. I was riding in the Critical Mass bike ride Friday night and a few of the Bike Ambassadors from C-DOT was telling me that they visited Revenue offices and instructed the ticket writers to write the Bike Violations instead of the Double Parking. They could be blowing smoke, but I doubt it.
Rinzler…
100% correct.
Its not selective either Ron. It comes down to Timing and Luck.
If I see Double Parked vehicles in a Bike Lane…I tag them for the Bike Lane. The 150.00 violation makes more of an Impact than the 100.00 violation. Up until 2008 we were even double tapping…100 & 150 and good luck with the ALO.
Geek…I think Ron is getting at the point that He got ticketed for something that others are doing and getting away with, and thinks it is Selective Enforcement of vehicles.
And in a way he is 100% correct.
When did you last witness a Police Officer or TMA write people for Double Parking or Bike Lane Violations? I know its been forever since I ever saw it. And its the Main reason we catch a lot of Shit from the Morons that are parking like that. “Oh, I was only there for X minutes.” or “Oh, everyone else has been doing this for X years; and we’ve never been ticketed for it before.” or other shit postulations like that.
To Postulate real fast:
Double Parking/Double Standing: ILLEGAL 100% of the Time 24/7/365
100.00 FINE if we catch you, despite the CPD being the Lazy Shits they are with ticket writing if it isn’t Street Cleaning or Rush Hour.
Park/Stand in Bike Lane: ILLEGAL UNLESS you are using the Lane as an Entry or Exit from a Valid Curb parking space. 150.00 FINE
Park/Stand Violations: Occupied Vehicle does NOT protect you from the Citation being Legally allowed to be Written.
RE: Cheryl
Certain rental companies will also charge an administrative charge for paying the ticket on top of the actual ticket costs. I believe Enterprise charges $200 for the administrative charge unless you give them the ticket and pay for it when you return the vehicle. I do not know if this is corporate policy or local branch policy. I would check with the local budget branch to find out for sure. The tag *SHOULD* be on your contract for rental.
Oh…….that brings up a Point.
Car rental Companies are 100% responsible for ANY tickets that are of a Compliance Nature.
Example:
Expired City of Chicago city sticker
Expired License Plate sticker/window vehicle registration sticker (WA/TX/DC/NY/PA).
No Front Plate (Illinois Plated Vehicles Only).
Tinted Windows (Illinois Plated Vehicles Only).
Non-Compliant Plates (Illinois Plated Vehicles Only).
The Rental Company can not Legally Hold you responsible for THEIR Car not being up to State Code.
And File a Fraud Complaint against them at the Corporate level if they Bill you for any of the above.
DoR,
The Municipal Code of Chicago definitions state:
“Parking (to park)” means the standing of an unoccupied vehicle otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading property or passengers.
So if you ticket an occupied car for a parking violation then you’re wrong.
“Standing (to stand)” means the halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers; provided, that, an operator is either in the vehicle or in the immediate vicinity, so as to be capable of immediately moving the vehicle at the direction of a police officer or traffic control aide.
The bike lane is actually a violation of obstructing traffic which specifically states no parking or standing. Fire hydrants, loading zones, etc only state no parking.
99% of the time, the Driver of said “standing” vehicle is NO WHERE NEAR the actual vehicle.
When I say ‘No Stop/Stand” violation; I am talking about HOW they are written in the Muni Code.
Examples:
9-64-080(b): No Park/Stand Time Restricted
9-64-110(a): Double Parking/Double Standing
9-64-110(c): Park/Stand on Crosswalk
9-64-110(d): Park/Stand on Sidewalk
9-64-110(e): Park/Stand on Parkway
9-64-110(f): Park/Stand on Bridge
9-64-080(a): Park or Stand During Rush Hour
9-12-060 : Park or Stand in Bus Lane
9-40-060 : Park or Stand on Bike Path
9-64-150(b): Parking/Standing Prohibited ANYTIME where Signs are Posted
9-64-110(g):Park/Stand within 10 feet of RailRoad Tracks
9-64-110(h):Park/Stand in Viaduct/Underpass
9-64-100(h): Park/Stand at Theater Entrance or Exit
Did I miss any?
As for Ticketing an Occupied Vehicle…
It is simple
Question 1 to passenger: Are you old enough to drive?
If yes: proceed to question 2
Question 2 : Do you have a License?
If Yes proceed to question 3
Question 3 : Are the Keys in the Vehicle?
If yes, move to Direct but polite Orders.
Order: Please Move the Vehicle or I shall Ticket you for being in Violation of X (where X = a Stop/Stand Violation)
If any of the Above questions are Answered with a “No” or the passenger doesn’t speaky da english or refuses to engage in polite discussion: We Issue the Ticket and apply the Comments: Refused to Move.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Fire_hose_through_car.jpg
DoR – You sound like an ignorant racist, and I don’t think you have the authority to ask if someone has a license or is old enough to drive.
AC2…
I was born and raised in this country and I happen to speak Spanish, English, German and a bit of Russian thanks to quite the diverse family. So stop proving to me the Mark Twain adage of “…..Opening your mouth and removing all doubt.”
You’d be amazed how often people try the “oh, i don’t understand the sign’ crap in some of the areas I work in. But suddenly they can speak English with no damn accent when you pull out the Ticket Book.
I used to give breaks on more than just meters.
But after XX number of years on the job and the vast stupidity of Motorists all over the City…If I have to start typing, I no longer stop if it is a Parking/Standing Violation.
PEA’s in Finance are authorized to Ask the question, we are Sworn Officers in a Public Safety Position in the City after all. I even have Legal Arrest Powers to some degree.
Oh….and :
“PARK or PARKING. The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not,
otherwise than when temporarily and actually engaged in loading or
unloading merchandise or passengers. (ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5 § 1-156)
BUT….In the City of Chicago you are not allowed by Municipal Ordinance to Double Park/Stand at any time. Or Stop or Stand or Load or Unload in a Tow Zone. Or Park/Stand in a Crosswalk. Or Stop/Stand in a Bike Lane. Or on a Sidewalk or Parkway. Or Next to a Fire Hydrant.
We Choose to Not Ticket Occupied Vehicles more than currently happens.
Don’t Push the Issue or we will become more like Capt-M Plate and not give a damn about the people and just focus on “Its Illegal and here is your ticket. Have a nice day” attitude.