A police officer ticketed my vehicle, sitting completely in my driveway, at 2am, for not displaying a city vehicle sticker. I had purchased the sticker within the allotted amount of time, I just had not affixed it to the windshield. No other neighbors on the block were ticketed, despite the fact none of them had their stickers displayed, and some were even past due on purchasing the vehicle sticker. I feel targeted. Is it legal for the police to come onto my private property to see if the sticker is displayed, and ticket me if they do not see one?
2006-09-05 20:33:45 · 12 answers · asked by Josh and Megan C 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
The police officer would not have been able to know if sticker was displayed unless he came onto my property. There was no reason for him to do so. The sticker is a one that has to be bought yearly, (city ordinance) as a sort of tax, and displayed in the windshield. The town is Plainfield, IL.
2006-09-05 20:51:00 · update #1
Sounds harsh to me.
2006-09-05 20:38:26 · answer #1 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You will need to look up your local ordinances or tell us what city and state you are in so we can look it up. I know of many individual cities, but no state laws that require stickers. In my state thesestickers are not required anywhere in the state. Did the police have to go on your property to see you did not have the sticker or was it in plain site from the street? Did they have any other reason to go on your property or did they go there merely for the purpose of giving you the ticket? There is not enough information in your question for it to be answered by anyone not living in your city as every city and state has there own laws. In the city I live in if you don't have a current registration sticker on your plate and it is visible from the street the police can come on the property to ticket it and have it towed if it is not moved out of site or registered within 48 hours of receiving the ticket. Also in some areas of the city I live in you can be ticketed for a junky car (eyesore) sitting in plain view or a non-working vehicle sitting in plain view. Don't worry about what did or did not happen to your neighbors that will not do anything for your situation.
2006-09-05 20:45:58 · answer #2 · answered by Wilkow Conservative 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe this would be a parking violation. This would be some type of failure to comply. Higher degree of misdemeanor.
mrmsrich was correct when they mentioned checking your municipalities ordinances. This could be a city ordinance. They aren't going to give you a ticket just to give you one. It must be a law where you are. As for why your vehicle was the only vehicle ticketed? I'd look around you. Do you have any neighbors that you are not getting along with? Anyone else? Chances are a person called in and made a complaint about you specifically. It is the duty of law enforcement officers to follow-up on any complaints made and take action. To not do so would cause a world of hurt for them. They were only doing their jobs.
You have a couple of options. Either pay the ticket and consider this a lesson learned or you could (first) call the Department ask to speak with the ticketing officer and find out why he/she issued this ticket. Specifically ask if there had been a complaint from a citizen. If they say yes, ask who. There is a record of it somewhere. Then you know. Don't do anything dumb, you were in violation of the law. Seeking revenge might just get you in more trouble. If they say yes that there was a complaint filed but won't tell you by who you have the option to go to court. During the court proceedings you have the right to know who your accuser was. Chances are you will still have to pay and you also may be responsible for court costs. It's up to you.
If it were me and I was told that a complaint was made and it took going to court to find out who made the complaint, I would. Not to seek revenge but to know (for future reference) who is trying to cause trouble for me.
If no complaint had been filed and you can prove that other vehicles are in direct violation of the law and were not ticketed then you may have a case. Get your camera out and take pictures of the other vehicles. Preferrably vehicles that show no sticker visible from the roadway. Get a lawyer. Go to court. Any way you go it is going to cost you money. You were still in violation of the law but the city may want to make your violation just go away. Just be prepared that if you are going up against the police department citing unfair practices you aren't going to win any friends in the department.
2006-09-05 21:03:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not real sure how things go in your state, but everywhere i have lived was as long as your vehicle is not in the street but in your driveway or garage it does not have to have any kind of stickers.
Don't worry though if you had the sticker but had not placed it on at the time of the ticket just go to court and explain and show the judge that you were just lazy that day. GL:)
2006-09-05 20:44:35 · answer #4 · answered by whitebeanner 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In my city, your car must have all proper licences/stickers no matter where it's parked, unless it's covered or in a garage with the door closed. Sounds like somebody was in a bad mood and just looking to give out a ticket though. You might be able to take it to court and fight it, if it's worth it to you. Tough luck :(
2006-09-06 05:19:37 · answer #5 · answered by Kelli550 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where do you get the idea that it`s your Property They can take what you believe is yours .Stickers Deeds or license .Who did you talk to A Peace Officer. or A Law Officer or A parking Officer . The Fact is that you Own nothing you will find that out soon.
2006-09-06 00:44:35 · answer #6 · answered by Dvplanetwaves 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cops can do anything. They're cops! If you have the sticker or even get the sticker you can go to the judge and have it "fixed".
And F the police.
2006-09-05 21:13:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
only if it is parked on the street, otherwise, you can have the violation thrown out.
does the ticket say the address where the car was parked?
it was a parking ticket right?
you should contact a supervisor at the station... watch commander?
2006-09-05 20:43:06 · answer #8 · answered by anonymoususer987876 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you need to ask why he was on your property at that time of night without being called to investigate something,then he should not have ticketed you with the car being on your property.we have crooked laws in the town i live in too.
2006-09-06 04:27:50 · answer #9 · answered by Martha A 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends on the municipality, but as far as I know, only vehicles on public roads should get tickets. unless it's a code violation.
2006-09-05 20:42:01 · answer #10 · answered by Average Human 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋