Category Archives: Ask The Geek
Cops Accused Of Bogus Tickets Push Back At Hearing
We didn’t do it.
Someone else wrote those parking tickets.
That’s what two Chicago police officers, accused of writing some of the 24 bogus parking tickets issued to motorist Mark Geinosky, contended in their police board hearings earlier this week.
In other words, according to the Chicago Tribune, the two officers became victims of the same scam that targeted Geinosky when another officer or officers stole a handful of tickets from their ticket books to harass Geinosky.
Ask The Parking Ticket Geek
Dear Mr. Geek,
Can I get a ticket for no city sticker if I am legally parked at a meter?
Sagar
Of course you can be ticketed for a city sticker violation parked at a meter Sagar.
Being legally parked at a meter does not magically project an invisible force field over your vehicle that repels ticket writers from issuing you tickets for other violations.
If your car’s license plate is expired, missing a front plate, parked over 12″ from the curb or not sporting a valid city sticker on the windshield you can be ticketed–even if you have time on the meter.
Ask The Parking Ticket Geek
Hi Geek,
I got a ticket at 7 am for parking in a spot that clearly states its a 30 minute standing zone only from 10 am – 8 pm. I will contest this ticket by mail. Should I submit a photo? I don’t have a good printer so doing so would be a bit extra work for me.
Chan
Please, PLEASE provide photos Chan.
Photos are perhaps the very best way for a driver to illustrate the parking environment when the violation was issued. It allows the hearing officer to see what you saw on the street at the time the ticket was given.
Otherwise, it’s just your word against the ticket writer’s word. And guess what? Without the photos, the word of the ticket writer is going to carry more weight and most likely, you’ll lose.
Take the extra time and effort to do this or you risk losing.
The Geek
Hello Parking Ticket Geek,
I got a ticket during the week , the reason for my ticket says “VIOLATION OF WHEEL TAX STICKER” what exactly does this mean?
Jessica
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.
Ask The Parking Ticket Geek
Hi Geek,
Do you know if you can contest a parking ticket via email or online?
I have the supporting documentation to show they ticketed me while I was parked legally. I have the ticket showing the issue time of 3:08PM and I have the ticket from the meter showing that it did not expire until 3:41PM.
I also have the transaction from my bank debit card showing the fee paid to LAZ. I’d like to email something right to Bea as well to complain…got her email address?
Best regards,
Angry
Maybe in the future, but currently tickets cannot be contested online Mr. Angry.
Ask The Parking Ticket Geek
Dear Geek,
Apparently I have over $4,000 in parking tickets.
Arnold Scott Harris (the collection agency) has been contacting me like crazy.
The problem is I have no money. I have been unemployed since September of 2010.
Do you have any idea what my options are? I wanted to see if they would offer me a settlement where I can pay half, but they claim they don’t do that. Do you know if that is true?
The lady said my only option is a payment plan. Is that true?
Thanks,
Jake
Unfortunately, the payment plan is your only option Jake.
Ask The Parking Ticket Geek
Mr. Geek,
I recently received a citation for Improperly Displayed City Sticker.
Which was given for a good reason there was not one on the windshield and the car is registered to an address within the city limits of Chicago.
I have been living in New Orleans for the past 6 months working for the federal government, and yes my car was with me. While there I had an apartment, obtained a Louisiana State ID, and even obtained a New Orleans residential parking/city sticker so that I could park my vehicle within the City limits of New Orleans.
So my job ended and I moved back to Chicago around the 20th of December. I was cited 01/05/11. I was wondering if I would fall within the 30 day grace period for new residents to Chicago?
What you think do I have a good argument?
Colin
What a nice warm welcome Mayor Daley gave you on your return to the Windy City Colin!
But based on your circumstances, your documentation from New Orleans and your time line, I don’t see why this wouldn’t work to have the city sticker is dismissed.
Ask The Parking Ticket Geek
Dear Parking Geek,
I hope you can answer this perplexing question. The husband was parked on a Sunday in an 8am-6pm, Mon-Sat, Loading Zone. He was issued a $50 ticket for Expired Meter or Overstay.
There were no meters present in the Loading Zone and the Paid Parking Zone was clearly indicated with signage with an arrow pointing in the opposite direction of where he was parked. We’ve checked out the city code and couldn’t find anything stating that one must pay for parking in loading zones outside of restricted hours and days. There was no sign stating this either.
Do you know what the code is on this particular situation? In the pre- LAZ days, parking in Loading Zones outside of restricted days/hours was considered a free spot—no meter to expire—but we’re curious if the rules are somehow different with the pay boxes? BTW, we’re contesting this ticket.
Thanks for your help.
Sugar
From your description, this is a totally bogus ticket Sugar.
It’s the signs that dictate where the metered parking exists.
Ask The Parking Ticket Geek
Hi Geek,
I recently received a ticket for parking in front of a driveway.
I parked there after it had snowed and the space was unrecognizable as a driveway since it had not been shoveled and at the building line there is a 7 foot chain link fence across the driveway from one building to another.
A few days later I returned to a ticket.
With the snow melted it was a little more clear I was in front of a driveway. At first I was surprised that the car had not been towed but considering the circumstances I now assume the driveway was not in use. Should I try to fight this ticket? Is there a chance for it to get dismissed?
Thanks,
Evan
I think you’re in kind of a grey area here Evan.
But, you should definitely fight it.
Ask The Parking Ticket Geek
Dear Parking Ticket Geek,
On Friday my family & I visited the Shedd aquarium and fed a meter $5 to park until 4:01 p.m.
At 3:45 we made our way out of the aquarium, but as we were walking past the lockers heading out of the accessible exit, my 2 year old grabbed a door and shook it – and got her thumb pinched between the doors. She instantly shrieked and a blood blister appeared on her thumb. We sat, calmed, consoled, and bandaged as quickly as was humanly possible.
We grabbed our stuff and walked as briskly as you can lugging a 2 year old and a 5 month old, and just as we rounded the odd fountain with the man holding a fish, we could see flashing lights, and my watch read 4:01.
By the time we hit the crosswalk we could see him at our car, and when we reached our car at 4:04 we had a ticket that read 4:03. BAH.
I know since it’s a meter we don’t fall under the 5 minute grace period, but is it worth pleading our sob story? We’ve NEVER had a parking ticket.
Jessica
