Nearly four months ago, I received not one, but TWO parking tickets within a two hour period of time. It was a weekend, and I had checked the sign, which clearly stated that I was in the right:
Sure, the tickets were only $20-25 each, but it was the principle of the matter. I was right, dammit. So, for the first time ever, I contested my parking tickets. (To be fair, I’d only gotten a couple before these.) I sent a polite, yet firm, letter in with my tickets and my proof, which consisted solely of the above photo.
To whom it may concern:
I received two tickets the other weekend, one on Saturday, May 2, 2009 at 11:22PM, and one on Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 1:07AM…
1) The signs on the…block…where I was parked, clearly state, “No Standing or Parking 7AM-9:30AM, 4PM-6:30PM, Monday-Friday.” I have included a picture of the sign by which I was parked.
2) Even if that sign were somehow out of date (which, for the record, should also not be my personal responsibility)…my ticket reads “No Parking 9A/1P/EXCP/SUN.” By that reasoning, given that I was issued the ticket at 11:22PM (i.e. after “1P”), this ticket should never have been issued in the first place.
Pertaining to the second ticket, issued less than 2 hours after the first…
The ticket that was issued on Sunday, May 3, 2009 has similar notes…that read “NO PKG 9A-1P EXCEP SUN, SIGN CLEARLY VISIBLE REAR.” Please note that Sunday is the exception. Please further note that the ticket was issued on a Sunday. Therefore, by your own comments, this ticket should be null and void.
As should the first.
And I WON!
Small victory? Perhaps. But please, let me revel.
They accepted my obviously eloquent argument and irrefutable facts and were truly sorry for the inconvenience they had caused. The time it took to craft that letter is time I’ll never get back. (Or: They were too lazy to disagree and backed down the moment they were challenged, but I like my version better.) Their admission of defeat went to my parents’ house, as that’s where the car is registered, and my mother texted me the happy news the other day.
So take that, DC. I’m sure that fifty dollars less in your pocket will really hurt.
Well done! NEVER regret fighting those bastards. I once got a ticket because my meter had been expired for 30 seconds… ON MY WEDDING DAY!
30 seconds?? That’s ridiculous! I hope you fought it.
Stick it to the man!!! I just wonder if they ever do anything to the douche bags that write the tickets.
If only…
Woot! High five!
I think they expect people won’t bother to contest and instead just cough up the money. SOOOO glad you didn’t!
I’m sure that’s exactly what they expect. I was just so annoyed. And at the same time I was thinking, damn, how bored are you that you’re giving a ticket at 1am?
Bravo! You? My idol!
Oh, you…you’re making me blush.
i love it! thank you, from all of us who have been victimized by the cruel insensitive overly-vigilant-to-the-point-of-obnoxious meter maid
I do what I can.
heck yes! i love taking down the man.
Especially when the man is costing me money!
Now we all have the properly formatted letter to use to protest a ticket. Thank you veddy, veddy much.
I’ve only gotten one ticket in the District and that was after my brother told me, “Sure, park in front of my place all day, they never ticket here…” Famous last words. I should have made him pay it.
You definitely should have…next time, for sure. If the letter doesn’t work.
Now THAT’S how you stick it! FTW!
Nice work! In my experience, generally if you provide a letter and a piece of evidence you’ll be let off.
Aw many you’ve seriously inspire me to fight every ticket and crime I’ll ever get called out on- thanks Liebchen!