Parking Ticket Robbery by Annopolis City

[iamgregor]

I got a completely unfair parking ticket when I parked in Annapolis recently. I put money in the meter, but they ticketed me anyway. When I sent them a letter telling them they had made a mistake, they said they didn't believe me and that I had to pay the fine anyway. When I called a few days later to pay the ticket (because it's not worth my time to fight it), I find out they had assessed a late fee because it hadn't been paid within 28 days of the original ticket!

They only gave me one day to pay the ticket from the time I recieved the letter refusing my appeal! I would have argued it, but they would have charged me an additional fee every few days.

I paid it to prevent it from getting huge and sent a letter explaining that they needed to refund me the $10 fee at the least, but I just got another letter stating that now that it had been paid, there's nothing they can do.

Are they robbing me on purpose!? I want to write another letter, but this time it needs to be to someone with half a brain and some authority over the situation. Any advice?

[Sharon (Premo)]

Originally Posted by iamgregor

Are they robbing me on purpose!?

This is Maryland, if the thugs don't getcha the government will.

[desertrat (Premo)]

Originally Posted by iamgregor

I got a completely unfair parking ticket when I parked in Annapolis recently. I put money in the meter, but they ticketed me anyway. When I sent them a letter telling them they had made a mistake, they said they didn't believe me and that I had to pay the fine anyway. When I called a few days later to pay the ticket (because it's not worth my time to fight it), I find out they had assessed a late fee because it hadn't been paid within 28 days of the original ticket!

They only gave me one day to pay the ticket from the time I recieved the letter refusing my appeal! I would have argued it, but they would have charged me an additional fee every few days.

I paid it to prevent it from getting huge and sent a letter explaining that they needed to refund me the $10 fee at the least, but I just got another letter stating that now that it had been paid, there's nothing they can do.

Are they robbing me on purpose!? I want to write another letter, but this time it needs to be to someone with half a brain and some authority over the situation. Any advice?

Get a pipe cutter and go cut the heads off of as many parking meters as you can.

[iamgregor]

HA HA HA!

Uh... I mean... Nah, that would be bad...

[bohman]

Originally Posted by desertrat

Get a pipe cutter and go cut the heads off of as many parking meters as you can.

Be certain that you aren't sober at the time.

[jetmonkey]

Originally Posted by iamgregor

I got a completely unfair parking ticket when I parked in Annapolis recently. I put money in the meter, but they ticketed me anyway. When I sent them a letter telling them they had made a mistake, they said they didn't believe me and that I had to pay the fine anyway. When I called a few days later to pay the ticket (because it's not worth my time to fight it), I find out they had assessed a late fee because it hadn't been paid within 28 days of the original ticket!

They only gave me one day to pay the ticket from the time I recieved the letter refusing my appeal! I would have argued it, but they would have charged me an additional fee every few days.

I paid it to prevent it from getting huge and sent a letter explaining that they needed to refund me the $10 fee at the least, but I just got another letter stating that now that it had been paid, there's nothing they can do.

Are they robbing me on purpose!? I want to write another letter, but this time it needs to be to someone with half a brain and some authority over the situation. Any advice?

Did you take a picture with your cell phone showing your vehicle, it's tag number, a copy of that day's newspaper and the unexpired parking meter? Send that to them.

[MMDad]

Originally Posted by jetmonkey

Did you take a picture with your cell phone showing your vehicle, it's tag number, a copy of that day's newspaper and the unexpired parking meter? Send that to them.

He could have taken the picture any time after the offense. He could have put money in the meter after getting the ticket.

Sounds like he should have paid the ticket and should feed the meter next time.

[GWguy]

Ride a bike. The meters down by the harbor are closed off and marked for bikes only, and are free all weekend with a 2 hour max.

[AndyMarquisLIVE (Premo)]

Originally Posted by iamgregor

I got a completely unfair parking ticket when I parked in Annapolis recently. I put money in the meter, but they ticketed me anyway. When I sent them a letter telling them they had made a mistake, they said they didn't believe me and that I had to pay the fine anyway. When I called a few days later to pay the ticket (because it's not worth my time to fight it), I find out they had assessed a late fee because it hadn't been paid within 28 days of the original ticket!

They only gave me one day to pay the ticket from the time I recieved the letter refusing my appeal! I would have argued it, but they would have charged me an additional fee every few days.

I paid it to prevent it from getting huge and sent a letter explaining that they needed to refund me the $10 fee at the least, but I just got another letter stating that now that it had been paid, there's nothing they can do.

Are they robbing me on purpose!? I want to write another letter, but this time it needs to be to someone with half a brain and some authority over the situation. Any advice?

It's Maryland.

If they send you a fine, just pay it because you WON'T win any appeal at this point. Unfortanently, it's pointless. The socialists are robbing us all now. And, yes, it's going to get worse.

[aps45819 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by iamgregor

They only gave me one day to pay the ticket from the time I recieved the letter refusing my appeal! I would have argued it, but they would have charged me an additional fee every few days.

I paid it to prevent it from getting huge and sent a letter explaining that they needed to refund me the $10 fee at the least, but I just got another letter stating that now that it had been paid, there's nothing they can do.

Are they robbing me on purpose!?

No, you're just stupid.

A ticket is a summons to appear in court, some low level clerk can't dismiss your ticket, it takes a judge. An appeal is what you file if you're dissatisfied with the judge's ruling and you wish to pursue the matter at the next highest court.. There was a date to appear on your ticket, choosing to write some clerk a letter instead of appearing could have resulted in a bench warrant for your arrest and again a clerk can't dismiss your ticket.
Paying the fine is an admission of guilt, once you do that you're done.