Can you fight a "street cleaning" ticket, if they don't actually clean the street?

[Factor88]

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

parking tickets are not about what's "right" they are about making the city money. period.

Very narrow-minded opinion, and wrong; at least in part. My family owned a house in a tourist town that had very limited parking. Our house was the only house on the street with a driveway; and also street parking after certain hours was by resident sticker only. I can tell you for a fact, that as a taxpayer of that City, it was annoying as heck to find someone parked in front of my driveway in violation of the clearly marked yellow curb and then not be able to find parking on the street becuase there were 10 cars sitting there witout the required resident sticker. I also knew business owners on the main drag that would be annoyed becuase people would violate the 30 minute street parking limit. Some cars would be parked there all day, making it more difficult for their customers to find a spot. It tangibly hurt their sales until the City began agressively enforcement the parking with ticketing and finally even towing people away.

So, maybe for some cities parking codes are partially about revenue generation. But I've just provided you three examples where they were also for the good of the taxpaying citizens of that City. Period.

[DwaynieAD]

violating the law because you don't agree with it is not the correct avenue to rectify the situation. If the truly aren't cleaning the streets the do your civic duty and do what it takes to have the signs removed. in the meantime you broke the rules you pay the price.

[Tractorr]

Originally Posted by Factor88

Very narrow-minded opinion, and wrong; at least in part. My family owned a house in a tourist town that had very limited parking. Our house was the only house on the street with a driveway; and also street parking after certain hours was by resident sticker only. I can tell you for a fact, that as a taxpayer of that City, it was annoying as heck to find someone parked in front of my driveway in violation of the clearly marked yellow curb and then not be able to find parking on the street becuase there were 10 cars sitting there witout the required resident sticker. I also knew business owners on the main drag that would be annoyed becuase people would violate the 30 minute street parking limit. Some cars would be parked there all day, making it more difficult for their customers to find a spot. It tangibly hurt their sales until the City began agressively enforcement the parking with ticketing and finally even towing people away.

So, maybe for some cities parking codes are partially about revenue generation. But I've just provided you three examples where they were also for the good of the taxpaying citizens of that City. Period.

I think this is more the exception than the rule. For instance, did you know that in many cities it is illegal to put money in parking meters other than your own? Why would that matter to the city? Because they use meters to generate profit and not through the meters themselves but through tickets.

I have lived in Philadelphia for 2.5 years and there are street sweeper signs all over the place. In the time I have lived here I have literally seen a street sweeper twice and it was on the same street (Lombard which is one block over and runs parallel to South Street which is an entertainment district). Now I don't think that people should disobey the signs but if the city is going to ticket people they should clean the streets, lord knows Philly could use a good cleaning.

[6jase5]

I find it less sympathetic of a cause that it only became an issue, the $70 injustice unethical breaking of a TBD legal contract....AFTER the ticket was issued. Everyone on this street was apparently obeying the signs and moving their cars and you knew that it was never cleaned, so why didn't that perk your spidey sense and raise a red flag pre-ticket?

I would have been behind you if you did the homework prior to, checking on the use of tax payers dollars when you noticed that this street that is never cleaned forces people to move and ticket offenders.

I like Munji's idea. Every major city has a media consumer advocate (like Turko in San Diego on KUSI). That way it will take less resources on your part and you may find that this very issue has been raised with whatever resolution.

[Factor88]

Originally Posted by Tractorr

I think this is more the exception than the rule. For instance, did you know that in many cities it is illegal to put money in parking meters other than your own? Why would that matter to the city? Because they use meters to generate profit and not through the meters themselves but through tickets.

You may be right, but I was responding to a poster's tone of absolutism; that there could not possibly be ANY other reason that a city would have, and enforce, parking codes other than to generate profit. And I say again, that is absurd. I've just provided other reasons...such as the desires of the taxpayers.

And just to throw facts into the equation, I took a look at Philly's estimated budget for FY 13 (http://www.phila.gov/pdfs/Mayors_Ope...ief_FY2013.pdf). Did you know that estimated revenues from tha Parking Authority's net proceeds amount to less than 1% of the City's income? And since that surely includes revunes from the city-run lots like those on Independence Mall, that means revenues from parking tickets amounts to a tiny fraction of the entire budget. That in turn tells me that Philly could post a whole bunch of trumped up parking codes, double enforcement and ticketing activities, and still not make much difference in the City's finances. How does that fit in with the idea that parking codes have everything to do with making money and usually nothing to do with attempting to provide good management of the City's streets to the taxpayers?

[Tractorr]

Originally Posted by Factor88

And just to throw facts into the equation, I took a look at Philly's estimated budget for FY 13 (http://www.phila.gov/pdfs/Mayors_Ope...ief_FY2013.pdf). Did you know that estimated revenues from tha Parking Authority's net proceeds amount to less than 1% of the City's income? And since that surely includes revunes from the city-run lots like those on Independence Mall, that means revenues from parking tickets amounts to a tiny fraction of the entire budget. That in turn tells me that Philly could post a whole bunch of trumped up parking codes, double enforcement and ticketing activities, and still not make much difference in the City's finances. How does that fit in with the idea that parking codes have everything to do with making money and usually nothing to do with attempting to provide good management of the City's streets to the taxpayers?

My guess is that a vast majority of the money does not wind up in the city's budget due to Philly's infamous public corruption, but now that is my full on cynic showing. Chances are if you tried to get those parking laws changed here you would quickly start getting some strange phone calls as well as other things. Don't think I am joking either do a search about the towing in this city, it is INSANE. I am talking drive by shootings, arson, hit and runs. You don't mess with parking in Philly for a reason and it is probably the same reason that a lot of the violation money does not end up in city coffers.

[Tractorr]

Here is the first article I could find http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/h...operators.html

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

I dont speak for Munji, but I believe he was saying that the media likes to make a big deal out of this kind of stuff:

You can speak for me this time. I'm unable to figure it out.

[duff beer]

Originally Posted by jugglingfreak

Again, that is irrelevant. It is posted not to park there during whatever time frame.

That is all that matters. It doesn't matter if it for street sweeping or because a parade of dancing bears wanders past at that time (Or whether they show up or not)

But...wait. I'm special...the rules are for others, not me.

[bobba66]

If someone was truly civic-minded I suppose they could clean the streets themselves. After everyone moved their cars, of course.

[runmikeyrun]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Over in CA, you'd not be able to renew your registration with outstanding parking tickets.

Same in OH, but no one's ever enforced it. I think it's only enforced for people who have multiple tickets. Worth a shot right? Worst case, you have to pay it when you renew.

[two fingers]

The oldest saying ever..........

"You can't fight city hall."

Representing yourself in court is almost always a disaster. And paying for an attorney for your ticket probably isn't worth it. But, then again, your local courts already know this.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by two fingers

The oldest saying ever..........

"You can't fight city hall."

Hmmm ... I thought it was "Hey, sailor! Looking for a good time?"

[Buslady7803]

If there is a sign posted with the hours, I doubt you can fight it. Down here in Corona, the idiots CHANGED the day on us without telling!! We got a freaking ticket, I looked down the road and a neighbor was following the chick going "How can you put a ticket on my baby?" (which is his hot rod) He had no idea either...

We paid it and got on with life. The End.

All the sweepers do is throw dust and crap around, it might suck up a leaf. The tickets are just a cheap money grab. Eastvale is a "city" but it's broke, it's a big fat joke (and i hope the state nullifies it's cityhood) and now they're doing anything to get a buck

[GregC]

Originally Posted by Factor88

Very narrow-minded opinion, and wrong; at least in part. My family owned a house in a tourist town that had very limited parking. Our house was the only house on the street with a driveway; and also street parking after certain hours was by resident sticker only. I can tell you for a fact, that as a taxpayer of that City, it was annoying as heck to find someone parked in front of my driveway in violation of the clearly marked yellow curb and then not be able to find parking on the street becuase there were 10 cars sitting there witout the required resident sticker. I also knew business owners on the main drag that would be annoyed becuase people would violate the 30 minute street parking limit. Some cars would be parked there all day, making it more difficult for their customers to find a spot. It tangibly hurt their sales until the City began agressively enforcement the parking with ticketing and finally even towing people away.

So, maybe for some cities parking codes are partially about revenue generation. But I've just provided you three examples where they were also for the good of the taxpaying citizens of that City. Period.

I'm with ya. Sure, there are blatant "revenue-generating" tickets. But parking tickets are an unfortunate but necessary deterrent due to the many very special folks who think the world revolves around them and who would otherwise continually park in handicapped spaces, block fire hydrants and fire lanes, block driveways, double park and block others in (and block lanes), park in neighborhoods where permits are required because spaces are scarce, etc. etc.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Buslady7803

All the sweepers do is throw dust and crap around, it might suck up a leaf. The tickets are just a cheap money grab. Eastvale is a "city" but it's broke, it's a big fat joke (and i hope the state nullifies it's cityhood) and now they're doing anything to get a buck

Ah, my sister lived in Eastvale for a few years, up until a year or so ago. I didnt know it was actually a city, I thought it was more of a "community".

[LarryO]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Hmmm ... I thought it was "Hey, sailor! Looking for a good time?"

What? you Talking to me? can I buy you a drink? LOL

[michael_atw]

In my hometown they issue $30 tickets for street parking on the wrong side.

May-October - even side, even months; odd side, odd months
November to April - even side, even days; odd side, odd days


This is so the plows can go through; the streets are quite small where I'm from in the great white north. This is a very necessary and important regulation. If it did not exist, cars would be on both sides blocking plows, trucks, anything big enough to not fit. Happens all the time. Beyond that, if there is a big storm (lots of them here in a bad season) they need to plow both sides of the street. Doesn't always snow; so what? So I'm allowed to not keep the rules when the ground is bare?

Pay your ticket, suck it up. I had to fork over money in my friends' town as they had no night parking on street. Learned my lesson; won't do it again.