I received a parking ticket for parking in a handicapped space. It was right in front of a store in a little town in Dover Township. The space looked exactly like the other spaces. It was not painted in blue and did have a small sign that was over 6 feet tall indicating it was a handicapped spot. In my quest to find a dress for my handicapped daugter's dance, I never took notice, until I came out of the store in 10 minutes and found a ticket. I would never park in a handicapped space, most especially since I have a handicapped child and realize the importance of special spaces. The ticket was $274.00. It took my breath away as I didn't feel that the space was marked properly. I am on a fixed income and it is going to be difficult to pay this, but I am wondering if I should just pay it and never go into that town again. I am very distraught. Do I have any chance of fighting this? Thanks for your input.
2006-06-13 03:22:39 · 12 answers · asked by tweety 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
since you yourself have said that you would never have parked there if if it were properly painted., but you saw the sign, plead guilty. Let it be a lesson learned.
2006-06-14 15:25:26 · answer #1 · answered by just m 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You stated that there was a sign indicating it was a handicapped space. It was marked, even if it was a very high sign, so you may not have a chance. Me personally, a sign that tall for a parking space is only going to be seen by someone if they are in a very large truck, like a semi! I would go back, document the height of the sign with pictures and take my chances in court. What's the worst thing that can happen? They'll say you should have noticed, the best thing - it gets thrown out and you maybe take a second glance at a sign before parking.
Send in your ticket and mark it as not guilty right away - this will just give you a date to speak with the DA about it later. They'll send you a letter telling you when the date is going to be. Next, when the date comes along, plead your case to him, be nice and let him know your situation with your daughter and how you would never really do something like that. Finally, bring into account the height of the sign and the fact that the space itself was not marked. Make sure you do have pictures since he/she may ask if you have proof of this. You want to be able to support your statements at all times.
Good luck - I hope you can beat this!
2006-06-13 03:36:33 · answer #2 · answered by Nicole 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope. You are not handicapped and neither is your girlfriend. Disabled parking is not a spot to park and wait, whether you were in the car or not. You're lucky that all you got was a ticket. You could have lost your car. It doesn't matter what time of the day it is or whether or not an establishment is open or closed. Consider this a lesson learned and leave handicapped parking spots to the handicapped. EMT
2016-03-27 02:26:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it must be posted and painted you need to take a photograph of it and take it to court with you and plead guilty with an excuse you cant plead not guilty in traffic court, its either no contest pay the fine or guilty with and excuse and the judge will hear your case and that s that and if unable to pay if found guilty tell the judge, you do not have the money and they will work out something. good luck if not posted fight it , also when you take the photo of the spot and if a sign is there when you get there , then the city will have a record of when it was installed so get a news paper and have some one hold it there to verify the date use the date that you took the photo
2006-06-13 04:14:24 · answer #4 · answered by Mechanical 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contest the ticket. Police write the ticket for the maximum amount. If you contest it before a judge, even if you don't get the ticket dropped (which will probably happen given the circumstances) they will probably lower the dollar amount because of your financial situation. Also, I don't know where you are, but I know that in the state of Washington if your finances are such that you cannot pay a ticket they will let you do X number of hours of community service to make up for it (usually not much. 10 or 15 hours or something...)
2006-06-13 03:28:59 · answer #5 · answered by Jessica Anne 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fight the Ticket if it was not marked..
Take some pics of the parking spot and bring this to court..
I once fought a speeding ticket in a school zone that wasn't marked and won..
2006-06-13 03:33:34 · answer #6 · answered by Vulcan 1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Plead not guilty, and look at your towns' regulations about the marking of Handicapped spaces. It should have been painted on the pavement also.
2006-06-13 03:27:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take a picture of the space and the sign to court with you. Explain the circumstances. I think there's a chance you could win.
2006-06-13 03:50:04 · answer #8 · answered by notyou311 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does not have to be painted in blue. The sign there was all that was needed to notify it was a handicapped parking place.
2006-06-13 03:28:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, i think you should fight the ticket as long as you were in a REAL parking space and it wasnt painted there should be know reason for your ticket, you had know idea about the space do to the fact the county didnt have proper signage...... i would fight it
2006-06-13 03:32:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My experience tells me that the only chance you have is to document this with pictures and send it in with your guilty plea explaining exactly what you stated here. The judge might find it in his heart to reduce the fine.
Trying to fight it with an innocent plea will cost you more in the long run. Hope this helps!
2006-06-13 03:31:02 · answer #11 · answered by mark v 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋