Another Bogus Parking Ticket
Today I went with an old friend for sushi in Bloor West Village. I took the car. I parked the car. I proceeded to the ticket machine, popped in my credit card at 7:12pm, and bought time until 9:00pm. Dinner and conversation were lovely.
At 8:47pm, I returned to my car and found a dreaded yellow parking ticket on my windshield. My reaction was most certainly of the WTF!? variety. This was the second time in one month that I'd gotten a totally bogus parking ticket! Apparently parking officer _____ thought I didn't pay for parking, even though my stub and expiration time were placed visibly enough on my dash. There's absolutely no reason why someone who is trained in this job shouldn't have seen my stub, and I'm starting to think that they either don't care or they're doing it on purpose.
I looked around hoping to see a parking vulture nearby, but none were to be found. Calling the phone number on the back of the ticket only frustrated me further. So what do I do now?
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I have to arrange to appear in court to protest the infraction, but I'm almost inclined to just pay the fine (even though I did nothing wrong) rather than waste time trying to protest my case. Maybe this is what the city is hoping might be the response? None of the four trial locations are particularly close to where I live, and I would have to take off time during working hours to appear in court. There's a quick $30 for you, City of Toronto.
The kicker is that In late August the same scenario happened to me downtown. "Failure to display receipt in windshield". Bogus.
Is there a parking blitz still in effect? Are the officers getting sloppy, or is there a greater conspiracy to dig up here? I don't know. All I know is that I'm out $60, illegitimately. I can't possibly be the only one that has been wrongfully fined, am I?
Comments (44)
you are not the only one.. a co-worker has the same experience recently.. i think u should definitely take it up to the toronto star or city tv.. it is absolutely ridiculous as this sounds like a harassment to me
you may not have to go to court... I had the same thing happen in the spring and when I took it to the office to sign up to fight it the guy behind the counter (who sets up the court times) got rid of the ticket for me when I showed him the valid parking stub. So the trick is not to ring up for a court date but to book it in person and see if you can get a friendly clerk.
I had this happen last year. Call the ticket office and explain what happened.
I just had to mail them the ticket & receipt (keeping copies) - and they cancelled the ticket for me... no court... +/- 5 min of effort...
and that's one of the reasons why we are paying so much tax for these idiots giving out bogus tickets and wasting court time for things like this
I've not had this experience but I did have my car ticketed multiple times parked outside the thief's house while stolen. You'd think they would have time at 4am to run the plates. Perhaps it would be flagged once the ticket went into the system?
One more thing - the credit card function does not work on most of the automated machines in Toronto. The rollers that move the credit card back and forth don't seem to stand up to our winters. You generally have to pry your card out once they fail.
Whatever you do, do not pay that ticket! I've gotten bogus tickets like this in the past and am convinced that they prey on people not wanting to go through the court process to fight it. If you do have to go to court, it'll likely take a year to even get a court date, and then you can count on the parking officer not showing up.
This also happened to me and I took my parking stub and ticket to the John street ticket office and they cancelled it. However, they said they would only do this once. Does this mean that if I get another bogus parking ticket in the future I will be out of luck??
I say go with the mail-it-in thing after talking to them on the phone. Make sure you get all the information you can and then make them (and Canada Post) do it for you.
I think the parking ticket people have been told to be aggressive due to the city's budget woes.
I'm sure the ticket will be cancelled when you provide the parking receipt.
I'm remaining hopeful that the fine will be revoked, but my concern (as evidenced by my recent experiences and those recounted by others) is that these bocus tickets should not be issued in the first place. It's a huge inconvenience, and I'm certain that the city will end up collecting on a large number of them for that reason alone. That's UNFAIR.
Ben: If the city introduces new sin taxes for car owners, I'll gladly pay those taxes to continue having the privilege of driving.
But I do not intend to pay for my "sin" when I'm done my part to abide by the law to the full extent and am erroneously slapped with illegitimate fines.
This shouldn't turn into a "ride a bike" or "take the TTC" argument. The issue I'm trying to tackle here is improper city officer practices.
I now it will work out to be a bigger hassel for you, but I second the suggestion to raise this with the media. In a time where our city's budget is dwindling, why are they wasting time/money with fake claims just to confuse/intimidate the public.
I do. I work mostly from home. Stop being an idealist and wake up to the reality of the modern world?
Definitely legit. You're not supposed park in a no standing zone:
No Standing - motorists are only permitted to receive and discharge passengers. Typically used in the area of TTC bus stops.
source:
http://www.toronto.ca/transportation/parking/parking_faq.htm
I just spoke with Parking Tags Operations and they confirmed that the only way I can dispute this ticket is in person (because I live within 100km of Toronto and don't have a physical disability). My trial date will be set within 8 months to 1 year.
Back when I drove I would just pay whatever ticket. It would take more time fighting it than it the cost of the ticket. The investment of time is not worth it.
I don't do things on principle. In my opinion, it is better to be logical.
You're right, the investment of time is not worth it. That's what the officer giving the bogus ticket is likely thinking as they fill their quotas.
When I'm being falsely accused of breaking the laws when in fact I'm being certain to follow them I will fight on principle. This is especially true if I'm being fined.
i've had the exact same thing happen to me on the same stretch of street. i went to the ticket office at keele and eglinton, showed the counter lady both the ticket and my parking receipt and she just deleted the ticket. but she won't delete it again the next time it happens.
Like people have said before, just take it to the ticket office and get it cancelled. No trial, no fuss. Don't believe the "I'll only do this once" line either. I used to get several tickets a week in a legitimate parking spot that the local parking officer seemed to think was verboten. I would show up every two weeks with a stack of tickets and get them cancelled. I was a regular, and they always remembered me.
Your point still stands though - you should never have gotten the ticket in the first place and ANY effort on your behalf here is too much.
I got one of these tickets as well.
I paid it but only because it would have cost me more than that to fight it.
The bogosity of the entire parking ticket system is unbelievable. I drive, I ride a bike, I travel by TTC (which is why I bought a car) and I can only say that owning a car is an easy way for the city to add a tax. Now they are underfunded etc, but what I particularly dislike is the attitude that your are GUILTY of an offense with an expired ticket and it is akin to something like an armed robbery. Ticket people are not fighting crime, they are just extorting money for the city. So get over it ticket guys. Your superior attitude is deplorable, as is the lack of judgment so often shown in the handing out of parking tickets.
James, Ben, go give it to each other in the ear. The TTC buses and streetcars have a nasty habit of not arriving on schedule, being broken down, issuing false information to transit users regarding non-existent "shuttle buses", and still having the gall to up the monthly price by almost $10. If you're that much of a god damn hippie, move to the woods and live off nuts and berries; your consumption is killing the planet!
This just happened to me on the weekend. I paid the meter with my credit card at 7:30 for 1 hr. I got back and found a ticket issued at 8pm for failure to display ticket. Knowing that this is not an isolated issue makes me more angry. I hope the fact that my credit card statement shows that I paid will help my case. Where is this ticket office that I should bring my receipt to?
Why not use the services at http://www.fightmyparkingticket.com and file for a court date. This will in effect backlog the courts for years. You can pay at anytime while you wait for a court date (if you ever get one). Think of it as a do not pay until 2009. Fight your Toronto parking tickets.
Welcome to my world. I recently got a ticket stating "failture to display permit" when my permit is as clear as day on my windshield. I sent my permit number into investigations and they refuse to throw it out. I need to set a court day. I am so angry that these parking officers get away with this....
Hey. I've gotten a bogus ticket too.
Here is how it happened: Firstly, I was parked for two and a half hours on a street with no signs. Secondly, I left for half an hour. Thirdly, I came back and parked on an identical parallel street that's one block away. Forty minutes later they gave me a ticket for parking longer than 3 hours. I decided to take it to court. Three weeks later I received a notice of impending conviction in mail. As it turned out,few days before the other ticket, I got another ticket(that I never saw) for the same type of offense in the same area. The saddest part is that it is going to be very hard for me to prove that the tickets were issued in error. It just sucks that the parking dudes can do whatever they feel like and the ordinary people have to spend their time and/or money and effort to prove them wrong.
Recently, I saw a parking enforcement car with two dudes inside driving around that same area and stopping by every single car to note the license plates down. They should be getting out of their car and chalking the tires to get the evidence that a car was there for all 3 hours. They are not doing their job. They are just giving other people trouble.
I recently had your exact experience. I sent everything to the "Investigations Department" to prove I had paid for the spot and received a letter that basically said "Too Bad". Apparently, I had purchased the ticket from the "wrong machine" - even though the machine was within 15m of my car. My money is still going to the City of Toronto, whether I put it in machine A or machine B is it not? YES! Like you, I decided to pay the ticket since it will cost me more money to fight it.
If you get tickets all the time and you can see your car from your office or home, take a video of the purchase and record the surrounding area of your car. Get a close-up of the date and time of your ticket.
In your office/home, zoom in to your car and show the surrounding area to show that it was taken within minutes of you parking.
Say you parked at 7:00pm for an hour and get a ticket for less, you got the proof. Make sure you get the city car number too. Then go to the media with it, such as Silverman. They'll have the proof and shame the city.
We are told how much the city is broke. Closing the pools was in inexcusable example at how the city that once maintained the pools for years, now cannot keep the financial books in order. Something stinks. It sure didn't help to watch mayor Miller fly to red communist China. The airfare alone could have kept many pools open for the summer.
You can complain all you want, but that won't change the fact that these douchebag ticket guys will continue to give out ticket at their own discretion and free will, just because they have the power to do so.
What you need to do is show up at the parking infraction office on 55 John St, 3rd floor (or any other office listed on the back of the ticket) and either complain about that bogus ticket (as they can throw it out for you on the spot) or ask for a trial. It takes you 5 minutes to wait in line and fill out the little trial request form, and you're set for about 3-4 years. Sure, the people working there would tell you that you'd get a trial notice in the mail within 6-12 months, but any paralegal dealing with these traffic offenses will tell you that in reality courts are so backed up with all these trial requests for parking tickets that you'd be "lucky" if you hear from them in less than 3 years, if at all.
My last 2 court appearances were just this January and February, and they were both for tickets I contested back in 2005. Of course I pleaded not guilty to both and contested them and had them thrown out of court, those money grabbing douchebags...
I just got a ticket in front of my house for parking within 3 meters of a fire hydrant (after being parked there all week). I park in this spot all the time, for five years now. I measured 3 meters and 10 cm, took a picture.
Ticket prices just went up to $100 so it's definitely worth my time to go down to John St on Monday and complain my ass off.
I too got stung for the same bogus claim. I live 2 hours north of toronto. SO... for me to dispute this I have to go to one of the offices during their hours. That's 1/2 day off work and 4 hours driving for me. Then I have to show up to court. Again, another 1/2 day off work and 4 hours driving.
So... I've lost 200 dollars wages, 60 bucks in gas, 8 hours of driving I'll never get back... for a 30 dollar ticket. That's what they are betting for. You now to show up.
Karma will have it's way with those involved.
Parked a bit farther of the corner where there was a sign that said that you can`t park near the corner. Took three pictures. It shows that my car has about 3/4 the other side of that sign that says "can`t park Left side of this sign". 5 min after I left my car, I got the ticket. If my car was parked that way, was it my fault? Reading all this, it looks like it`s better just to pay than to say not guilty and then loose where I will then have to pay the court and lawyer too. Too much hazle. But do you guys think I have a chance on this???
This happened to me just last night. I guess the city needed to make up some money, either that or the ticketing officer needed to make his quota. I have no doubt that this is a total scam intended to make a quick $30 out of people who just don't have the time to take off to go and fight it. You can bet your ass I'm not paying this one.
DON'T PAY YOUR PARKING TICKETS!!!
Bring you ticket in and choose to fight it. It will get thrown off the books. The city of Toronto does not want you to know this but they are not setting court dates for parking tickets!!! Your ticket will get thrown out!!! Trust on this... Ask anyone who has fought a parking ticket in the last two years. Look into it!!! I got another one today even though I paid to park!!! They don't care!!!
From the Toronto Sun... "This year, some 37,000 trials for $30 parking tickets have already been requested but, according to the report, not a single court date has yet been assigned."
El,
You didn't have to do that. If you live more than 100km from the city you can insist on the trial being held in your local provincial court.
Always fight it. Chances are two years down the road the officer won't even be employed by the city anymore and won't be able to show up at your trial. :)
I've just got a bogus ticket as well. Last night I was out with some friends, and when we decided to head out, I went over to get my car from the parking lot and bring it closer to where we were. When I got there, I parked the car near the curb (the car was still running), turned on my 4 way hazard lights, and ran upstairs to tell my friends that the car was out front, and we were ready to go. So as my buddy finished paying, I headed downstairs to see a police officer sliding a $30 dollar ticket under my wiper blades for parking within 3 meters of a fire hydrant. I told him, that I had been there for 15 seconds, and that I was leaving right that second. Instead he replied to me with "that hydrant must have been invisible to you huh?" So I didn't bother arguing and just accepted the ticket.
You guys think I should just pay it out, or is there something that I can do about it. Because realistically speaking, I wasn't "parked". I just ran upstairs to tell my friends that the car was there. I mean my 4 ways were on, and my car was still running. Also, do these type of tickets affect my driving record by any chance? I don't know what to do. Any suggestions?
Friday July 1st, poker game at friends house on Euclid Ave. I know from experience to read the signs, all along Euclid the signs are clear, no parking after 12.01 am unless with a permt. So fine I parked on Ulster, right bellow the sign which clearly states , no parking after 2am
So I get out of the game knowing full well the bastards will be waiting to tag at 1:45am , and wham on my windshield is a $30 ticket, parkeing without a permit, time stamp is 12:25am. WTF??? Right bellow the sign!!!!
This is my second bogus ticket, 2 years ag0 parked in the parking lot of a bank (RBC) and got a ticket. Spent time out of my day to register intent to dispute, NOTHING happened, tickes just disapeared ( have no outstanding tickets)
spent time again today to register intent to dispute this ticket.
This city is OUT OF FREAKIN control. They realy should get audited and class action sued, we play by the rules why should they not too?
Mad as hell.
Does anyone know whether "The Imperial Parking Canada Corporation (Tor)", a private property parking authority company have real jurisdiction, and is it necessary to pay there fines.
I got one of those years ago. I laughed and never paid it. Never heard peep again. Pretty sure only city issued tickets are valid. Those other "fines" are considered user fees and you don't have to pay them. But if some people do then it's easy $$$ for them.
Nope, you're not hte only one. IN the last three days my fiance received TWO parking tickets by the same officer even though he had a valid visitors parking permit displayed in his window stating he was allowed to park in the VP section for the dates in question. When he confronted building security as to WHY he is receiving these tickets when he has a permit, they simply responded with 'I don't know, you'll just have to fight it.' SUCH bullshit.
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