Milwaukee: Parking Tickets First, Ask Questions Later
The City of Milwaukee has a new parking ticket policy.
Write the ticket first, straighten out the problem later.
Former Fox News Chicago reporter Steve Chamraz did a great piece for WTMJ 4 News spotlighting some very hard to digest parking enforcement policies from Chicago’s neighbor to the north.
The city is pushing parking checkers (Milwaukee’s version of a Parking Enforcement Aide) to write tickets even though they may know the ticket will be thrown out later.
Chamraz interviews several drivers who have been ticketed over and over for the same violations even even when the parking checker’s handheld device tells them the vehicle is in compliance.
This led to Milwaukee having to void over 38,000 parking tickets last year–about one million dollars in tickets.
“Our policy, again, is to issue the citation and straighten it out later,” said Thomas Sander, parking enforcement manager for Milwaukee.
Half of the 38,000 tickets were for overnight parking, but nearly 8000 of the voided tickets were for expired meters which were actually paid due to a one minute delay between when the meter is paid and when it shows up paid on the parking checker’s handheld computer.
Here’s WTMJ 4′s story and video, “Milwaukee parking checkers write tickets first, ask questions later.”
Damn,Milwaukee is taking lessons from some of our bosses. This should be criminal. They acknowledge that they write first and straighten out later. Almost like they are playing the odds that the ticket won’t be contested. This is truly a waste of resources.
Milwaukee is also well known for targeting Illinois drivers and ticketing for only a couple of miles over the limit. They also have some of the highest fines for moving violations.
Greg, you sure are not joking. I’ve given more money to Racine and Kenosha counties in one summer than I have ever given the City.
I think they should start charging everyone with murder, throwing us all in prison, and ask questions later.
If they start with Daley first…I’m with you BXK…
Tricky Dick II killed Chicago.
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I got a ticket in Milwaukee for something like 10 miles over the limit about 7 years ago. The fine was $175. I’m hearing fines are now close to $300 now.
Chicago already has this policy – it just isn’t officially announced. By the way, Wisconsin cops have a huge incentive to ticket Illinois drivers for moving violations since they will not go on the driving record of the Illinois driver (WI is one of the few states like this) thereby guaranteeing that even the most bullshit tickets won’t be contested in court since it would not be worthwhile to do it. They probably justify it by saying that every time they go to Chicago they get gouged so they’re going to get us bastards back for it.
I don’t know Pete….I’ve never gotten a Moving Violation in any state…and I’m not the best driver.