Tag Archives: fighting parking tickets
Cops, Red Light Cameras, Arrests, Craziness
Woman Claims Cop Ran Red Light in Her Car: MyFoxCHICAGO.com
Crazy.
Lottie Williams just got back from contesting a red light camera ticket on Tuesday.
She lost, but then called Fox Chicago News to share the crazy story of why she should not have been liable for the ticket.
It starts with her brother and sister borrowing her car. The two got pulled over on the Southside of Chicago and were arrested.
Local Lawyer Doles Out Parking Ticket Advice
Read Tickets Carefully for Grounds to Contest: Beach: MyFoxCHICAGO.com
If The Expired Meter is not enough parking ticket fighting info for you, local attorney Charlie Beach was recently on Fox Chicago’s morning program to dish out some ticket fighting advice.
While he generally has the right idea, some of his information is mildly inaccurate.
Blogger Makes Beating Parking Tickets Look Easy
Steve Tanner dislikes parking tickets just as much as the rest of us.
But Mr. Tanner, after getting two tickets in February for not displaying a Chicago city sticker, decided to do something about it and fight back.
Unfortunately, Tanner’s sticker was one of the tens of thousands of city stickers sold last year without enough adhesive to remain affixed to his windshield.
The cold weather of the Blizzard of 2011 ultimately took its toll and Tanner’s sticker wound up on the floor of his car and thus, replaced by two orange tickets on his windshield.
Tanner does an amazing job of documenting how the entire process of his journey from violation to building a case to ultimately having both tickets dismissed at his hearing on his blog, SteveandAmySly.com.
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.
Driver Survivor Seminar In West Loop Monday
Monday is President’s Day.
Kids are off from school, the post office is closed but the Driver Survivor Seminar rolls on!
On Monday, February 21st, the DSS is coming to the West Loop.
Aldermanic candidate Tom Courtney has invited the DSS crew to help 37th ward residents on the best way to avoid and fight parking tickets, red light camera tickets, speeding and moving violations, avoiding the Denver boot and much more.
Seating is limited so attendees are encouraged to register for the event by e-mailing: DSS27@theexpiredmeter.com. with their full name, e-mail address and the name of any guests they plan on bringing.
This FREE event is being held at Nia Restaurant, 803 West Randolph Street in the West Loop neighborhood, starting at 7:00 PM.
Ald. Moreno Brings Driver Seminar To 1st Ward
Chgo. Driver Survival Seminar Set For Saturday, Feb. 5th
Alderman Proco “Joe” Moreno is bringing the Chicago Driver Survival Seminar to the 1st ward this coming Saturday, February 5th from 11 AM to 1:30 PM.
This FREE event will be held at Moonshine Bar & Restaurant located at 1824 W. Division Street in the Wicker Park neighborhood. Food and drink will be available during the seminar.
The Chicago Driver Survival Seminar is a two and a half hour motorist education boot camp to arm Chicago drivers with the basic tools of avoiding and fighting parking tickets, understanding and avoiding red light camera tickets, dealing with speeding and other traffic tickets, keeping the Denver boot off your car and keeping drivers up to speed on recent changes to driving laws.
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
Hello Parking Geek,
I really annoyed by a parking ticket that I just received, it is for violation 9-64-110 (g) Park in Underpass.
So I have three questions:
1) Why is it illegal to park in underpass?
2) Why is this violation valued at a $75 fine?
3) Do I have a chance to contest it?
I am a diligent driver and parker and always look for parking signs. I avoided parking in the yellow curb area and I was far away from the hydrant. There were no signs posted anywhere regarding no parking or tow away.
So, after checking the area I thought it was a legal place to park.
I was not aware that this type of violation existed. I took pictures to show that there were no signs posted. Do I have a chance to fight this, and if so will I have a chance to win if I do it by mail? I can’t believe this is a $75 fine, way too much in my opinion!
Please advise.
Thank you,
Pissed off for Parking in Underpass
Ugh. I think you’re screwed here POFPIU.
Ask The Parking Ticket Geek
Dear PTG,
I have an ethical question for you.
There is a car that has been parked on my block for over a month–they were doing street construction farther down the block so they seem to have skipped the street cleaning. I know that the law says one week max, but this is not about the law, it is about what is right.
I wouldn’t normally care in the summer but for the fact that the car is taking up two spaces instead of one–it is parked at the beginning of the block and is parked about a half a cars length behind the yellow line so that no car can park in front of it.
I feel like a cranky old man with this get off my lawn behavior, but parking is really a problem where I live and I have difficulty feeling sorry for someone who parks in such an inconsiderate manner. So, what are your thoughts?
Brandon
Ethical question? No comprende “ethics” Brandon.
