Should I contest this parking ticket?

ispeshaled

ispeshaled

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Ok so I know parking laws are different everywhere but I recently got a parking ticket in Austin for parking in a 'no parking zone'. It's not much, $25, but I really don't want to pay for it if I was right.

The main question regarding whether I deserve this ticket or not is whether no parking zones extend across driveways.
 
[quote name='ispeshaled']Ok so I know parking laws are different everywhere but I recently got a parking ticket in Austin for parking in a 'no parking zone'. It's not much, $25, but I really don't want to pay for it if I was right.

The main question regarding whether I deserve this ticket or not is whether no parking zones extend across driveways.[/QUOTE]
Parking zones are for streets. Driveways aren't streets.
 
I'm not sure, but I think its really not worth your time to try and find out and then contest it. Just pay the $25.


Were you actually pulled into the driveway, or were you in the street still?
 
[quote name='rodeojones903']Were you actually pulled into the driveway, or were you in the street still?[/QUOTE]I'm wondering this, too. You weren't parked in the street blocking the driveway, right? Cuz I think parking in front of a driveway is not legal.
 
Sorry for the poor description but here is a sketch of how I parked.

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Unless I'm mistaken, I don't think you can fight a parking ticket. Even if you could, from your picture, it seems like the whole street was a no parking zone. Consider yourself lucky you never got caught speeding all those times you did, and pay the tiny little fee.
 
The ticket has directions as to how to contest it. I have to go downtown and present some form of evidence to the hearing officer (ie. a photograph of the spot) and see if he agrees.
 
[quote name='JohnnyA']Unless I'm mistaken, I don't think you can fight a parking ticket. [/QUOTE]In my city, I was able to successfully contest a parking ticket through snail mail, but my case was a lot more obvious than OP's.
 
[quote name='JohnnyA']Unless I'm mistaken, I don't think you can fight a parking ticket. Even if you could, from your picture, it seems like the whole street was a no parking zone. Consider yourself lucky you never got caught speeding all those times you did, and pay the tiny little fee.[/QUOTE]


The whole street wasn't a no parking zone...right before that first driveway, there is a whole line of cars parked along the curb.

Actually, I have been extremely lucky with speeding or driving in general...I've never been pulled over. In fact, this is my first ticket of any kind. I guess I just have a strong disgust for how Austin regulates parking around the UT campus....Put up a million no parking signs and force everyone to park in parking garages.
 
[quote name='Michaellvortega']It said on the back of the ticket if I contested the ticket they would cancel and not renew my plates :([/QUOTE]can they even do that?
even if what you did was blindingly obvious, there should be no reason for them to prevent you from contesting it at all like that
 
[quote name='ispeshaled']Sorry for the poor description but here is a sketch of how I parked.

_xy-15208358_docstore1
[/QUOTE]

Um to me the no parking sign by your car seems to be the culprit. I blame that no parking sign






[quote name='DT778']you parked in a no parking zone. how are you going to fight it?[/QUOTE]
:rofl: & QFT
 
take a picture and edit out the other no parking sign and say where you parked. chances are the officer who wrote the ticket will not show up.

FIGHT THE SYSTEM AND STICK IT TO THE MAN!!
 
[quote name='Graystone']Um to me the no parking sign by your car seems to be the culprit. I blame that no parking sign[/QUOTE]I think what confuses him (and what would probably confuse me) are the arrows. I had "No Parking" signs like that near my school, and usually they would act like parentheses (like the space in between these two arrows pointing at each other is the "No Parking Zone"). If that driveway had been a regular street, he would definitely have been able to park. The confusion is from the sign on the other side of the driveway, not the one next to his car.
 
[quote name='Storamin']take a picture and edit out the other no parking sign and say where you parked. chances are the officer who wrote the ticket will not show up.

FIGHT THE SYSTEM AND STICK IT TO THE MAN!![/QUOTE]


That's what I was thinking. I didn't even see that other sign when I parked. It was only after I saw the ticket when I returned that I looked around to see if there was a hidden sign somewhere. And even if I did, I probably would've thought nothing of it. The sign was sandwiched between 2 driveways. I still think that sign only applies to that curb.
 
[quote name='judyjudyjudy']I think what confuses him (and what would probably confuse me) are the arrows. I had "No Parking" signs like that near my school, and usually they would act like parentheses (like the space in between these two arrows pointing at each other is the "No Parking Zone"). If that driveway had been a regular street, he would definitely have been able to park. The confusion is from the sign on the other side of the driveway, not the one next to his car.[/QUOTE]


Thanks for mentioning that. Some places may not have these kinds of no parking signs. The signs either have arrows in both directions (meaning you can't park to the left or right of the sign) or an arrow in one direction (you cannot park on the side the arrow is pointing).

The question remains whether the no parking sign on the left ended at the driveway or not.

Either way....the sign next to my car should have had arrows in both directions if people aren't allowed to park there.
 
You MIGHT have a case here if you do not have a direct line of sight from the sign on the far left. All depends on how much time you want to invest. $25 is not worth more than an hours time. Last time I checked, the judicial system wasn't all too swift. ;) Pick your battles, pay the ticket. If the situation was a speeding ticket for example, I would fight it. Worst to happen is that you pay it though most likeyly it will be dropped to a 'moving violation'
 
[quote name='beerguy961']
My opinion. Really, for $25, it probably isn't worth the trouble.[/QUOTE]

Unless you are a poor college student like myself with too much free time.
 
[quote name='valor19']Unless you are a poor college student like myself with too much free time.[/QUOTE]

I fall into that category. The more I think about this...the more I'm leaning on just paying it off and to be more cautious in the future. That $25 could have bought me 250 packs of Ramen noodle :cry: . Oh well.
 
[quote name='Dr Mario Kart']If you've really got that much free time, do it anyway on the off chance that the officer has to take time out of his day just for you.[/QUOTE]

I don't get it? Trying to be rude to the cop? It may have just been a meter maid or a traffic cop who has tons of free time anyway. And on the off chance you go to court and the officer has the day off, then it is over-time pay for that officer.
 
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