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]

Are they robbing me on purpose!?

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

 

[desertrat]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[iamgregor]

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.

Not that day's newspaper, but otherwise yeah. No dice.

 

[iamgregor]

No, you're just stupid.

Great. I come here for help and instead I get insulted.

The parking ticket had instructions stating that I could return the fine or a statement that I wanted to challenge it. I sent in a letter pleading my case instead. So what if it was the wrong thing to do? Like I should magically know the details of the Annapolis city ticketing system?

Instead of randomly insulting strangers in need, if you know so much about the system, perhaps you could answer my original question about who I should send a letter to. It would save a lot more time than typing all that information of what I SHOULDN'T have done.

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

Great. I come here for help and instead I get insulted.

The parking ticket had instructions stating that I could return the fine or a statement that I wanted to challenge it. I sent in a letter pleading my case instead. So what if it was the wrong thing to do? Like I should magically know the details of the Annapolis city ticketing system?

Instead of randomly insulting strangers in need, if you know so much about the system, perhaps you could answer my original question about who I should send a letter to. It would save a lot more time than typing all that information of what I SHOULDN'T have done.

He DID tell you what to do.

You don't send a letter to anyone. You appear in court. Simple enough.

Freakin' moron.

 

[aps45819]

Great. I come here for help and instead I get insulted.

Just another service I offer

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!
Any advice?

Don't whine about the outcome of events that aren't worth you time to be involved in.

 

[red_explorer]

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?[/QUOTE]

Get serious-- you are talking about Annapolis here. I worked there for 10 years, and can tell you stories of watching the parking guards writing tickets as the meters were expiring. I even saw one sitting there with his pen already writing before the meter expired. The best bet is pay it. You are not going to win. Just avoid downtown Annapolis unless they are running the parking holidays.

 

[Gwydion]

Or park in a deck...

 

[bcp]

heres what you do.
start by spray painting the words, "you thieving bastards" on a public building.
dont worry about the jail time, its to be expected.
while in jail, read a comic book that has a lawyer in it, then claim you are a self educated lawyer.
next run for a public office while pretending to be mr or mrs handicapman or handicapmam.


you are welcome.

 

[edinsomd]

heres what you do.
start by spray painting the words, "you thieving bastards" on a public building.
dont worry about the jail time, its to be expected.
while in jail, read a comic book that has a lawyer in it, then claim you are a self educated lawyer.
next run for a public office while pretending to be mr or mrs handicapman or handicapmam.


you are welcome.

You forgot:
Post your bizzare and senseless ideas on a public forum, and use the emoticon a lot.
There, much better!
Ed

 

[Oz]

I'll take a $25 parking ticket over being towed any day. I did just that at the Branch Avenue Metro station last fall. The free spaces were full. So, after asking the parking lady if they towed, and how much the parking ticket would be, I said "I'll be right over here." Should have made Jaie pay it for making an appointment too friggin early to catch an after 10am train.

 

[Katterine]

No kidding

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

Of course this is happening on purpose. The government (local, state and feds) will tell you that they are protecting you and others by what they do. In reality, they're mostly concerned with their budget.

For example, why wouldn't they allow people to enjoy nature? Instead they are fining them $640/day in parking ticket at a "parking trap" here:

Pay Annoying Parking Ticket