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Talk About Tulsa => Other Tulsa Discussion => Topic started by: zstyles on September 06, 2011, 04:33:16 PM

Title: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: zstyles on September 06, 2011, 04:33:16 PM
So today I was visiting a building downtown to look it over for our new office and couldn't find a spot anywhere except in the alley.

I saw a 30 minute parking sign on the wall of the alley and parked there as I would only be there 20 minutes, I come around 15 minutes later out and WHAM! There is a 30.00 ticket!

I don't see anywhere you can actually contest it except by paying it and pleading not-guilty and paying court costs(makes sense right) I took a photo and from what I read you CAN park in an ally as long as your facing the flow of traffic and not blocking traffic..anyone else have a more in-depth knowledge of this?
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: jacobi on September 06, 2011, 04:51:44 PM
You need to know that there is much scuttbutt about this right now downtown.  Supposedly the parking enforcement people all quit and the head guy is out walking the streets ticketing anything he can.  If you are in the right, challenge the ticket.  Maybe it will help get that guy fired.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: TheTed on September 06, 2011, 10:19:50 PM
I'd like to see how much they increased revenue by giving that lady a bike. Before: never saw her. Never saw tickets. Now I see her and the tickets she's left behind constantly.

That bike had to have at least doubled ticket revenue. Expecting one person on foot to cover all of downtown was ridiculous in the first place. It can't be possible to walk every downtown street more than once during a day.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: TurismoDreamin on September 06, 2011, 11:33:37 PM
I got a parking ticket in downtown once near TCC. It was for $20 and I never paid it. Moreover, I got a different car a few weeks afterward with a different tag and I doubt I will ever hear about that parking ticket again. From what I understand, the city hires a private company to take care of downtown parking and its meters. I've since been pulled over by the police and said parking ticket did not come up during a 28/29 or 42/43 records check. Additionally, to my knowledge, there is only one person assigned to passing out parking tickets downtown and they work from 8a-5p Monday thru Friday...just avoid coming back during that time lol.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: rdj on September 06, 2011, 11:43:06 PM
Tulsa city employees patrol and write parking citations. 

They've had a car for a long time. 

Parking on the street is free downtown after 5 and on weekends.  As a result they don't patrol.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Gaspar on September 07, 2011, 08:49:58 AM
Went downtown to eat on Saturday for lunch and ended up parking a couple of blocks away at an American Parking lot.  Those lots make more money than developed space downtown.  I'm in the wrong business!  I calculated that the small AP lot that I parked in could rake in around $1,200 a day profit on a slow day.  Compare that with a restaurant on the same spot that would be lucky to net that!!!

The downtown parking racket is the way to go.






Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: zstyles on September 07, 2011, 08:50:17 AM
I had just seen the bike person riding up and down checking meters right before I saw my ticket, its funny though basically the ticket says "pay it" or "pay it and plead not guilty and pay more"....
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: custosnox on September 07, 2011, 10:47:00 AM
Quote from: zstyles on September 07, 2011, 08:50:17 AM
I had just seen the bike person riding up and down checking meters right before I saw my ticket, its funny though basically the ticket says "pay it" or "pay it and plead not guilty and pay more"....
There should be a way to contest it without paying it.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Townsend on September 07, 2011, 10:49:24 AM
I try to do everyone a favor and take them off any car I see and take them to the recycling center. 

No reason for anyone to come out to such a let down as "dang, I got a ticket."
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Gaspar on September 07, 2011, 10:52:13 AM
Quote from: Townsend on September 07, 2011, 10:49:24 AM
I try to do everyone a favor and take them off any car I see and take them to the recycling center. 

No reason for anyone to come out to such a let down as "dang, I got a ticket."

I take them off my car an put them on the car next to me.  That way when they call to contest it, all they have to say is "this isn't even my car!"

Works like a charm.

Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: DTowner on September 07, 2011, 11:05:26 AM
Quote from: Gaspar on September 07, 2011, 10:52:13 AM
I take them off my car an put them on the car next to me.  That way when they call to contest it, all they have to say is "this isn't even my car!"

Works like a charm.



In college I would reuse a parking ticket for a whole semester - park illegally and put the old ticket on the window.  At the end of the semester, pay the fine to get my grades released.  It worked pretty well for a couple of semesters, but then the campus parking cops figured it out.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: AquaMan on September 07, 2011, 11:08:49 AM
Quote from: TurismoDreamin on September 06, 2011, 11:33:37 PM
I got a parking ticket in downtown once near TCC. It was for $20 and I never paid it. Moreover, I got a different car a few weeks afterward with a different tag and I doubt I will ever hear about that parking ticket again. From what I understand, the city hires a private company to take care of downtown parking and its meters. I've since been pulled over by the police and said parking ticket did not come up during a 28/29 or 42/43 records check. Additionally, to my knowledge, there is only one person assigned to passing out parking tickets downtown and they work from 8a-5p Monday thru Friday...just avoid coming back during that time lol.

That is curious. I received a parking ticket one morning while parked on Cherry Street in front of Cafe Cubana on one of the rare occasions that I had enough pocket money to indulge myself. Couldn't have been more than 10 minutes and since the Camarellis had closed, there were no other cars parked in front. I swear, I didn't even note that there was a parking meter there. Anyway, $20 ticket which I ignored. Soon I received a collection letter from a local law firm that the city must have contracted with demanding payment or else. They must have gotten my address from the OTC or tag agent. Wouldn't have mattered if I sold the car, threw it away or placed it on someone else's car like the old days.

A $25 cup of coffee. This parking meter stuff is short sighted and drives customers away. No one in the suburbs has to pay for parking to get a cup of coffee.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: custosnox on September 07, 2011, 11:13:47 AM
Quote from: AquaMan on September 07, 2011, 11:08:49 AM
That is curious. I received a parking ticket one morning while parked on Cherry Street in front of Cafe Cubana on one of the rare occasions that I had enough pocket money to indulge myself. Couldn't have been more than 10 minutes and since the Camarellis had closed, there were no other cars parked in front. I swear, I didn't even note that there was a parking meter there. Anyway, $20 ticket which I ignored. Soon I received a collection letter from a local law firm that the city must have contracted with demanding payment or else. They must have gotten my address from the OTC or tag agent. Wouldn't have mattered if I sold the car, threw it away or placed it on someone else's car like the old days.

A $25 cup of coffee. This parking meter stuff is short sighted and drives customers away. No one in the suburbs has to pay for parking to get a cup of coffee.
Sooner or later I need to get around to putting my car in my name, I wonder if that ticket that I haven't had the money to pay is going to cause a problem there.  Haven't received anything on it yet.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Hoss on September 07, 2011, 11:15:11 AM
Quote from: custosnox on September 07, 2011, 11:13:47 AM
Sooner or later I need to get around to putting my car in my name, I wonder if that ticket that I haven't had the money to pay is going to cause a problem there.  Haven't received anything on it yet.

Can you say 'bench warrant'?  How delinquent is it?
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: patric on September 07, 2011, 11:50:19 AM
Quote from: custosnox on September 07, 2011, 10:47:00 AM
There should be a way to contest it without paying it.

Seems to be lacking Due Process.
A job for R.I.C.O.?
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: zstyles on September 07, 2011, 12:44:14 PM
Well I called the Municipal Court today and the lady seemed annoyed that I was given a ticket for parking in the ally, but said that I could pay the bond and set a court date and contest the ticket. I took a photo of my truck parked under the 30 minute sign but I am really not sure if this would be worth my time to even do all these hoops...its a 30.00 ticket FYI. My gut told me to go park in the BOA building parking garage but live and learn!
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Red Arrow on September 07, 2011, 12:53:33 PM
Quote from: AquaMan on September 07, 2011, 11:08:49 AM
No one in the suburbs has to pay for parking to get a cup of coffee.

It would seem that way but it is actually built into to everyone's cup of coffee rather than just the pockets of the rich few.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: AquaMan on September 07, 2011, 01:04:36 PM
Quote from: Red Arrow on September 07, 2011, 12:53:33 PM
It would seem that way but it is actually built into to everyone's cup of coffee rather than just the pockets of the rich few.

More of that creeping socialism I guess. Having to pay for parking forced a lot of downtown businesses to move to the suburbs where they could control their own parking needs at a lower cost. Cheaper land and moving populations also drove that, but parking was always one of the reasons.

I have a real hatred for parking meters. I wonder if anyone has ever really done a study as to their effectiveness as a revenue generator. I know that they are also, ostensibly, to control limited parking but come on. Its a 1930's solution to a problem that has better solutions today. And limited parking is not the problem downtown now. Parking meters merely strengthen the private parking lot operations. Second on that list of hated downtown sacred cows is the profitability of those private parking lots and how it has adversely affected best use of the land.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Conan71 on September 07, 2011, 01:09:57 PM
Quote from: AquaMan on September 07, 2011, 01:04:36 PM
More of that creeping socialism I guess. Having to pay for parking forced a lot of downtown businesses to move to the suburbs where they could control their own parking needs at a lower cost. Cheaper land and moving populations also drove that, but parking was always one of the reasons.

I have a real hatred for parking meters. I wonder if anyone has ever really done a study as to their effectiveness as a revenue generator. I know that they are also, ostensibly, to control limited parking but come on. Its a 1930's solution to a problem that has better solutions today. And limited parking is not the problem downtown now. Parking meters merely strengthen the private parking lot operations. Second on that list of hated downtown sacred cows is the profitability of those private parking lots and how it has adversely affected best use of the land.

I share your ire with the parking meters, but they actually serve a useful purpose in trying to help businesses survive in a land of limited store-front parking.  The idea is to keep some creep who works in an office over your deli from tying up potential customer parking space all day.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: jacobi on September 07, 2011, 01:10:31 PM
QuoteSecond on that list of hated downtown sacred cows is the profitability of those private parking lots and how it has adversely affected best use of the land.

That is unquestionably No. 1 on my list.  
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: AquaMan on September 07, 2011, 01:25:53 PM
I understand one of the meters' purpose was to keep the deli parking available to customers, even though there aren't many deli's or retail spots in the heart of downtown anymore. But the reason the guy who worked over the deli parked there was because his landlord didn't provide a parking space with the office, he insisted on driving his full size sedan to work when he could have rode a bike and parked it in the basement of the building, or rode a bus or walked if he lived downtown.

That scenario was based on rules that allowed office buildings and restaurants to not provide parking, which forced the city to provide and regulate for them. Stuff we find objectionable under today's political climate.

That is all changing now. This is a great time to take stock of how that scenario is not accurate anymore and how parking meters and cornering the market on private parking lots is more about revenue generation for the players than about service and efficiency.

Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: custosnox on September 07, 2011, 01:49:59 PM
Quote from: Hoss on September 07, 2011, 11:15:11 AM
Can you say 'bench warrant'?  How delinquent is it?
Months. But it was a parking ticket, so it was written on the car not me.  With that, wasn't there something about the reason that they can't do red light camera's is because you can't ticket a car?
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Gaspar on September 07, 2011, 01:52:42 PM
Quote from: AquaMan on September 07, 2011, 01:25:53 PM
I understand one of the meters' purpose was to keep the deli parking available to customers, even though there aren't many deli's or retail spots in the heart of downtown anymore. But the reason the guy who worked over the deli parked there was because his landlord didn't provide a parking space with the office, he insisted on driving his full size sedan to work when he could have rode a bike and parked it in the basement of the building, or rode a bus or walked if he lived downtown.

That scenario was based on rules that allowed office buildings and restaurants to not provide parking, which forced the city to provide and regulate for them. Stuff we find objectionable under today's political climate.

That is all changing now. This is a great time to take stock of how that scenario is not accurate anymore and how parking meters and cornering the market on private parking lots is more about revenue generation for the players than about service and efficiency.



Don't think parking meters are political, nor are pay parking lots.  Be it municipality or private business, when approximately 171sf of space can yield $8 to $20 dollars a day in revenue with little overhead, that equals more than the average yearly rate/sf for the lease of commercial property downtown.  It's a major profit center that must be factored in to the price/barrier of doing business downtown.

I paid $4 for a 1hr parking meter in Pittsburgh to attend a meeting last year.  We have it easy here.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: dbacks fan on September 07, 2011, 02:11:05 PM
Quote from: custosnox on September 07, 2011, 01:49:59 PM
Months. But it was a parking ticket, so it was written on the car not me.  With that, wasn't there something about the reason that they can't do red light camera's is because you can't ticket a car?

With red light cameras, and speed cameras for that fact, the photos plainly show the driver of the car which can or cannot place you in the car. A lot of the speed camera tickets were tossed out in Phoenix because spouses would drive each others cars (if not on the registration), and if the photo of the offense does not match the registered owner they can't enforce the ticket. Most people would say, "That's not me in the photo."
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: sauerkraut on September 07, 2011, 02:27:47 PM
It may be  best to pay the ticket and be done with it, Driving downtown to fight the ticket is alot of hassle and as always finding parking downtown  is a bear. When I have to go downtown I just take the bus, sure it's alot of hassle but no parking fees, parking tickets, or other worries. The last time I went downtown was to fight my homes apprasal value the first year I bought it. I took the bus to the tax office place.... I got a parking ticket in downtown Fort Worth back in the mid-1980's I did not see any "No parking sign", I put money in the meter, I came back 5-10 minutes latter and found a ticket on my truck, seems there was another sign that said no parking between certain hours or something like that, back then the ticket was $10.00- I just paid it. The parking ticket people work fast.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: AquaMan on September 07, 2011, 02:55:47 PM
Yeah, cause there is no parking downtown. No huge empty lots. No parking meters. No multi level garages.

Crying shame really.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Townsend on September 07, 2011, 03:00:58 PM
Quote from: AquaMan on September 07, 2011, 02:55:47 PM
Yeah, cause there is no parking downtown. No huge empty lots. No parking meters. No multi level garages.

Crying shame really.

Dang it, don't move.  If you don't move, he can't see you.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: patric on September 07, 2011, 03:08:37 PM
Quote from: custosnox on September 07, 2011, 01:49:59 PM
Wasn't there something about the reason that they can't do red light camera's is because you can't ticket a car?

Cant find the statute, but the Tulsa Whirled made reference to it: 
"The (state) law dictates that a police officer must personally come in contact with the violator and personally hand he or she the citation, "
and that another state law forbids private vendors (like for-profit camera operators) from running license tags.
The Turnpike Authority apparently has a statutory exception.

Just as well, because a lot of municipalities are removing red light and speed cameras.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: AquaMan on September 07, 2011, 03:43:35 PM
Quote from: Gaspar on September 07, 2011, 01:52:42 PM
Don't think parking meters are political, nor are pay parking lots.  Be it municipality or private business, when approximately 171sf of space can yield $8 to $20 dollars a day in revenue with little overhead, that equals more than the average yearly rate/sf for the lease of commercial property downtown.  It's a major profit center that must be factored in to the price/barrier of doing business downtown.

I paid $4 for a 1hr parking meter in Pittsburgh to attend a meeting last year.  We have it easy here.

Honestly, I thought this would be right up your alley. The current rules promote over regulation through parking meters, tickets, towaways etc. and diminishes the productivity of the whole area as choice land is paved over for parking.

Everything is political. Change the rules just a bit to reflect today's politics and all those poor use parking lots change hands and become profitable in a different way. A way that engenders more citizen usage, more jobs and better quality of life for more people. In the current environment, regulation of parking is making a few people money and pissing off the rest of us.

Add one rule that says for every X amount of square feet of a building Y number of secure bike storage must be made available and you increase that segment.

Add another rule that says any multi story building must provide adequate parking for its tenants (grandfathered) and you not only stimulate multi level parking but in off times that building can be rented for event parking making it a profit center without the ugly.

Add downtown specific shuttles since we're all so fat and lazy we don't want to walk more than a block from our destinations.

Read AdmiralTwin's post. I never have trouble finding a spot downtown at any time. The perception that parking downtown is expensive and complicated dies hard. Make entire areas free and publicize it.

Or, invest in broken asphalt lots, sit back and watch the area continue to grow parking lots till equilibrium occurs.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Gaspar on September 07, 2011, 04:57:10 PM
Quote from: AquaMan on September 07, 2011, 03:43:35 PM
Honestly, I thought this would be right up your alley. The current rules promote over regulation through parking meters, tickets, towaways etc. and diminishes the productivity of the whole area as choice land is paved over for parking.

Everything is political. Change the rules just a bit to reflect today's politics and all those poor use parking lots change hands and become profitable in a different way. A way that engenders more citizen usage, more jobs and better quality of life for more people. In the current environment, regulation of parking is making a few people money and pissing off the rest of us.

Add one rule that says for every X amount of square feet of a building Y number of secure bike storage must be made available and you increase that segment.

Add another rule that says any multi story building must provide adequate parking for its tenants (grandfathered) and you not only stimulate multi level parking but in off times that building can be rented for event parking making it a profit center without the ugly.

Add downtown specific shuttles since we're all so fat and lazy we don't want to walk more than a block from our destinations.

Read AdmiralTwin's post. I never have trouble finding a spot downtown at any time. The perception that parking downtown is expensive and complicated dies hard. Make entire areas free and publicize it.

Or, invest in broken asphalt lots, sit back and watch the area continue to grow parking lots till equilibrium occurs.

:D  Ahhh. If metered parking spots discourage people from doing business downtown, wouldn't it be wise to eliminate them?  As for private parking lots, eliminate the meters, and the costly private lots will be less attractive and make less money.  Make the private lots less lucrative, and the owners may wish to develop or sell the properties.  The additional properties will drive down the cost of DT development, and businesses will be more attracted by the free parking.  As you plan the developments pull in the sidewalks 6 feet and you have 45 degree free parking, tripling your capacity.

Could the only catalyst we need simply be the elimination of metered city parking?
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: jacobi on September 07, 2011, 05:08:57 PM
QuoteCould the only catalyst we need simply be the elimination of metered city parking?

Well as long as we had some way to eliminate the situation where the guy who works in the office blocks you from parking in front of Mod's Or elote, Or the suchi place.  It might work, but it also might turn into a race to see who can get downtown first.  Maybe it will spark new breakfast places.  ;)
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Townsend on September 07, 2011, 05:14:49 PM
Quote from: jacobi on September 07, 2011, 05:08:57 PM
Well as long as we had some way to eliminate the situation where the guy who works in the office blocks you from parking in front of Mod's Or elote, Or the suchi place.  It might work, but it also might turn into a race to see who can get downtown first.  Maybe it will spark new breakfast places.  ;)

Start shutting down the outside lanes of the 4 lane DT streets and make it angled parking.  That'd help.

I do believe that pay-for-parking lots DT should go away.  Especially in the condition they are allowed to be.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: AquaMan on September 07, 2011, 05:34:17 PM
Quote from: jacobi on September 07, 2011, 05:08:57 PM
Well as long as we had some way to eliminate the situation where the guy who works in the office blocks you from parking in front of Mod's Or elote, Or the suchi place.  It might work, but it also might turn into a race to see who can get downtown first.  Maybe it will spark new breakfast places.  ;)

There are solutions to that. Don't allow any parking at all in front of restaurants in the heart of downtown. It not only would open up the area for open air dining but would be safer. Nearby lots could absorb the parking and could be subsidized by the restaurant. Include passage on the dedicated shuttle running around downtown and you increase the numbers visiting the restaurant. They just get their ticket punched at the restaurant.

That lovely hotel by the Atlas building doesn't allow parking out front do they? They have doormen waving people along and I suppose parking their cars.

There would have to be several rule changes.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: nathanm on September 07, 2011, 08:22:42 PM
Quote from: AquaMan on September 07, 2011, 01:04:36 PM
I have a real hatred for parking meters.

Why? You puts in your money, and you don't get a ticket. I guess it is more than a small pain if you are out of change.

Edited to add: Not-quite-personal experience tells me that they won't issue a bench warrant for a single outstanding ticket no longer how long it goes (well, at least up to 4 years, at this point). They just pay some law firm in San Antonio to send letters every once in a while. If you get another and don't pay it, I think that's when they start booting and/or towing.

I like Fayetteville's method better. They send you a bill for all your outstanding tickets after a few months and give you an opportunity to send them a check for all of them at once before they apply the late fees. Last time I was ticketed there it was $3. I think it's up to $5 now, with a $20 penalty for each over four in a month. I used to get lots of tickets there. It was just a cost of doing business. I probably would have cared more had I actually had to keep track of each ticket myself, instead it was just another quarterly bill, like the trash bill.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: dbacks fan on September 07, 2011, 08:32:13 PM
Quote from: nathanm on September 07, 2011, 08:22:42 PM
Why? You puts in your money, and you don't get a ticket. I guess it is more than a small pain if you are out of change.

Better yet, install solar powered meters that take plastic as well as coins and could be enhanced so that you could add time from a smart phone.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/06/03/20110603tempe-parking-meters-plastic.html (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/06/03/20110603tempe-parking-meters-plastic.html)

Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Red Arrow on September 07, 2011, 08:34:27 PM
Quote from: Gaspar on September 07, 2011, 01:52:42 PM
I paid $4 for a 1hr parking meter in Pittsburgh to attend a meeting last year.  

Did you write it off as a business expense?
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Red Arrow on September 07, 2011, 08:35:57 PM
Quote from: dbacks fan on September 07, 2011, 08:32:13 PM
Better yet,... and could be enhanced so that you could add time from a smart phone.

Adding time goes against the premise of promoting parking turn over for local businesses.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: nathanm on September 07, 2011, 08:41:27 PM
Quote from: Red Arrow on September 07, 2011, 08:35:57 PM
Adding time goes against the premise of promoting parking turn over for local businesses.

At most meters, I believe the max time is 2 hours. Nothing wrong with finding that you estimated wrongly and your business will take an hour instead instead of half an hour and being able to add time up to the limit from your phone. If it allowed you to beat the time limit somehow, that would be a problem.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: dbacks fan on September 07, 2011, 08:55:09 PM
Quote from: Red Arrow on September 07, 2011, 08:35:57 PM
Adding time goes against the premise of promoting parking turn over for local businesses.

Right now, with coin-op meters, you can concievably feed the thing all day and keep your space (as long as parking enforcement doesn't notice), and yes I've done it in the past, at least with a smart meter you could enforce the time limit in a couple of ways and prevent meter feeding.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Red Arrow on September 07, 2011, 08:59:43 PM
Quote from: jacobi on September 07, 2011, 05:08:57 PM
Well as long as we had some way to eliminate the situation where the guy who works in the office blocks you from parking in front of Mod's Or elote, Or the suchi place. 

There could still be time limited parking.  A parking enforcing person would chalk mark the tread of parked cars' tires.  The enforcer's route would be such that the next time around he/she could determine cars parked over the time limit and ticket them.  Local businesses benefiting from limited time parking could subsidize the enforcer's pay.  

I do not claim originality on this.  The town (back east) where I went to college did the chalk mark thing. It was not so much for businesses but to keep resident students, who weren't supposed to have cars, from clogging the local streets.  Local residents had window stickers that exempted them from the limit as I remember.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Red Arrow on September 07, 2011, 09:04:23 PM
Quote from: dbacks fan on September 07, 2011, 08:55:09 PM
Right now, with coin-op meters, you can concievably feed the thing all day and keep your space (as long as parking enforcement doesn't notice), and yes I've done it in the past, at least with a smart meter you could enforce the time limit in a couple of ways and prevent meter feeding.

Plugging the meter, a time honored tradition.  TJC (1970s) students downtown did it all the time.  Run to your parking spot after class, plug the meter, and then run back to your next class.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Red Arrow on September 07, 2011, 09:12:58 PM
Quote from: nathanm on September 07, 2011, 08:41:27 PM
At most meters, I believe the max time is 2 hours. Nothing wrong with finding that you estimated wrongly and your business will take an hour instead instead of half an hour and being able to add time up to the limit from your phone. If it allowed you to beat the time limit somehow, that would be a problem.

My phone cannot transfer money to anything.  I still even pay my phone bill using a check.  I expect some day I will have to join the 21st Century but not yet.

Edit:  I don't know about the 2 hours.  I don't go downtown until after hours.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: custosnox on September 07, 2011, 09:44:56 PM
Quote from: Red Arrow on September 07, 2011, 08:59:43 PM
There could still be time limited parking.  A parking enforcing person would chalk mark the tread of parked cars' tires.  The enforcer's route would be such that the next time around he/she could determine cars parked over the time limit and ticket them.  Local businesses benefiting from limited time parking could subsidize the enforcer's pay.  

I do not claim originality on this.  The town (back east) where I went to college did the chalk mark thing. It was not so much for businesses but to keep resident students, who weren't supposed to have cars, from clogging the local streets.  Local residents had window stickers that exempted them from the limit as I remember.
They chalk the tires here as well.  I have wiped those marks off of my tires many times.  My biggest problem with the time limit is that the only other choice is to feed the parking lots money, which I refuse to do unless doing so can cost them money somehow.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Teatownclown on December 30, 2011, 12:29:19 PM
Went to Juniper then over to Fassler, but got a tickie from the lot owners....I must have parked there 30 times without incident. Oh well, stick to the suburbs. :(
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: jacobi on December 30, 2011, 02:05:52 PM
Private lot tickets have no teeth.  Next time park on the street.  It's free after 5.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: custosnox on December 30, 2011, 09:01:21 PM
Quote from: jacobi on December 30, 2011, 02:05:52 PM
Private lot tickets have no teeth.  Next time park on the street.  It's free after 5.
yeah, you can say that, until they chain a barrel to your front tire, and then sue you for $800 worth of damages when you cut the chain.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: jacobi on December 31, 2011, 02:13:39 AM
Holy crap!  I've never had them do that to me.  PArk on the street then.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: custosnox on December 31, 2011, 12:01:46 PM
It happened to the Manager at The Max.  Of course, I think she had parked there a few times without paying before they chained it up.  Personally, I can't stand American Parking and refuse to help them turn a profit, so I'm not in much danger of this happening.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: nathanm on December 31, 2011, 01:05:43 PM
Quote from: custosnox on December 30, 2011, 09:01:21 PM
sue you for $800 worth of damages when you cut the chain.

I would tell them to prove it. When I showed up there was a chain with a locked padlock on one end partially wrapped around a barrel. ;)
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: custosnox on December 31, 2011, 01:36:12 PM
Quote from: nathanm on December 31, 2011, 01:05:43 PM
I would tell them to prove it. When I showed up there was a chain with a locked padlock on one end partially wrapped around a barrel. ;)
That was along the lines of what I told her to do, except mine was nothing but the truth.  I just told her to say that someone else cut it off. 
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: patric on December 31, 2011, 01:57:09 PM
Quote from: custosnox on December 30, 2011, 09:01:21 PM
yeah, you can say that, until they chain a barrel to your front tire, and then sue you for $800 worth of damages when you cut the chain.

Counter-sue for all the nails and trash negligently left on the lot that damaged your tires.  No difference.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Ed W on December 31, 2011, 02:03:30 PM
I wonder if you could call the police claiming someone vandalized your car by chaining it.  If there's no sign stating the policy of the lot after hours, it may work.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: dbacks fan on December 31, 2011, 02:31:47 PM
TPD will just say it's private property and say there's nothing they can do.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Ed W on April 01, 2012, 06:45:26 PM
Number One Daughter got a ticket from a private lot operator today after church.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/7036856475_5f21393d01.jpg)

My first inclination was to tell them to pound salt, but there's the possibility of sending this through a collection agency.  That complicates things.

She said that she looked for a lot attendant, but no one was around.  Apparently a bunch of young adults parked there after church, and when they exited the nearby restaurant, all of them had these tickets.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: custosnox on April 01, 2012, 07:49:10 PM
Quote from: Ed W on April 01, 2012, 06:45:26 PM
Number One Daughter got a ticket from a private lot operator today after church.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/7036856475_5f21393d01.jpg)

My first inclination was to tell them to pound salt, but there's the possibility of sending this through a collection agency.  That complicates things.

She said that she looked for a lot attendant, but no one was around.  Apparently a bunch of young adults parked there after church, and when they exited the nearby restaurant, all of them had these tickets.
The problem with sending it through a collection agency is that they would have to prove that she parked the car there, not someone else that borrowed it.  I've never actually heard of them sending one to collections though.  I have yet another city one I need to pay.  Amazing how I'm the only one parked on the entire block on the street, and they make sure I get one within minutes of my meter expiring. 
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Red Arrow on April 01, 2012, 08:08:29 PM
Quote from: Ed W on April 01, 2012, 06:45:26 PM
Number One Daughter got a ticket from a private lot operator today after church.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/7036856475_5f21393d01.jpg)

My first inclination was to tell them to pound salt, but there's the possibility of sending this through a collection agency.  That complicates things.

She said that she looked for a lot attendant, but no one was around.  Apparently a bunch of young adults parked there after church, and when they exited the nearby restaurant, all of them had these tickets.

Life in the big city.  Don't like it, don't go there.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: nathanm on April 01, 2012, 09:06:48 PM
Quote from: custosnox on April 01, 2012, 07:49:10 PM
The problem with sending it through a collection agency is that they would have to prove that she parked the car there, not someone else that borrowed it.

Indeed, tell them to pound sand, at least if you are sure you're not going to park in any of their lots ever again. If you do, they may be eligible for a little self help, and even if they aren't, any self help you use to solve the problem caused by their..inconvenient..actions could get you in hot water.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: custosnox on April 01, 2012, 09:27:25 PM
Quote from: nathanm on April 01, 2012, 09:06:48 PM
Indeed, tell them to pound sand, at least if you are sure you're not going to park in any of their lots ever again. If you do, they may be eligible for a little self help, and even if they aren't, any self help you use to solve the problem caused by their..inconvenient..actions could get you in hot water.
Yes, there is that.  Of course, it's not parking in their lots again that will get their attention, it's parking in them and not paying the slot.  Know of someone who had gotten a few of their tickets, didn't pay, ended up with a barrel chained to their tire.  When someone happened along and cut that chain off (really wasn't the owner of the vehicle) they hit them with a huge fee for "property damages".  Like we are supposed to believe a link in a chain, or even the entire chain, is going to cost $80
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Red Arrow on April 01, 2012, 09:42:10 PM
Quote from: custosnox on April 01, 2012, 09:27:25 PM
Yes, there is that.  Of course, it's not parking in their lots again that will get their attention, it's parking in them and not paying the slot.  Know of someone who had gotten a few of their tickets, didn't pay, ended up with a barrel chained to their tire.  When someone happened along and cut that chain off (really wasn't the owner of the vehicle) they hit them with a huge fee for "property damages".  Like we are supposed to believe a link in a chain, or even the entire chain, is going to cost $80

Ah yeah, the blue tip special.

Just DON"T GO THERE!  There's plenty of free parking after hours and on weekends.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: nathanm on April 01, 2012, 10:34:54 PM
Quote from: Red Arrow on April 01, 2012, 09:42:10 PM
There's plenty of free parking after hours and on weekends.

And a surprisingly large amount during the day, too. You just have to be willing to walk 5 minutes.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: carltonplace on April 02, 2012, 07:51:58 AM
I don't understand why anyone parks in one of those lots after 5 or on the weekends. Are we just programmed to park in a surface parking lot?

Park on the street and walk a few blocks.
If you live closer to downtown, ride your bike

I went to the Luchadore run this weekend and there was tons of available street parking even with so many street blocked off for the run.

Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Red Arrow on April 02, 2012, 08:07:43 AM
Quote from: nathanm on April 01, 2012, 10:34:54 PM
And a surprisingly large amount during the day, too. You just have to be willing to walk 5 minutes.

I thought most of the street parking was metered during the weekday.  Where is it not metered, generally? 
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: carltonplace on April 02, 2012, 08:15:31 AM
Quote from: Red Arrow on April 02, 2012, 08:07:43 AM
I thought most of the street parking was metered during the weekday.  Where is it not metered, generally? 

There are no meters in the Brady IIRC, but the rest of downtown is metered from 15th St to Admiral and from Houston to Kenosha.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Hoss on April 02, 2012, 08:19:41 AM
Quote from: carltonplace on April 02, 2012, 08:15:31 AM
There are no meters in the Brady IIRC, but the rest of downtown is metered from 15th St to Admiral and from Houston to Kenosha.

Didn't the Admiral/1st/2nd street around Lewis area used to be metered?  Or am I incorrect?
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Red Arrow on April 02, 2012, 09:06:56 AM
Quote from: carltonplace on April 02, 2012, 08:15:31 AM
There are no meters in the Brady IIRC, but the rest of downtown is metered from 15th St to Admiral and from Houston to Kenosha.

Thanks
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: zstyles on April 02, 2012, 09:08:26 AM
After 4:30-5:00 M-F everyone's off work..park commercial, firezone..sidewalk...before that time..watch out! I actually saw three parking meter ladies downtown on Friday morning walking the blue dome district from the city office down the road, guess they just started their shift...so looks like they have upped the number of enforcement people downtown now...
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: rdj on April 02, 2012, 09:24:24 AM
Quote from: zstyles on April 02, 2012, 09:08:26 AM
After 4:30-5:00 M-F everyone's off work..park commercial, firezone..sidewalk...before that time..watch out! I actually saw three parking meter ladies downtown on Friday morning walking the blue dome district from the city office down the road, guess they just started their shift...so looks like they have upped the number of enforcement people downtown now...

That's called a revenue enhancement.

Which, personally I have no problem with.  If the fee is owed then people should pay it.  Street parking during the day should be utilized by those doing short term business in the adjacent buildings.  They need to ensure people are paying for their slot first.  Then, they need to enforce office workers using the meters in lieu of paying a monthly parking fee at a lot.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: nathanm on April 02, 2012, 11:28:22 AM
Quote from: carltonplace on April 02, 2012, 08:15:31 AM
There are no meters in the Brady IIRC, but the rest of downtown is metered from 15th St to Admiral and from Houston to Kenosha.

There are also some side streets here and there that are not metered and are not signed no parking. Obviously, that's not a lot of help if you'd like a short walk to 2nd and Main or something, but for anything but the very core of downtown, no charge parking is reasonably close by.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: sauerkraut on April 02, 2012, 03:24:51 PM
Going & parking downtown is always a hassle, I just try to avoid it. Ther last time I had to go downtown I took the bus.
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: custosnox on April 02, 2012, 04:28:33 PM
Quote from: sauerkraut on April 02, 2012, 03:24:51 PM
Going & parking downtown is always a hassle, I just try to avoid it. Ther last time I had to go downtown I took the bus.
We're talking Tulsa not Columbus. 
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Hoss on April 02, 2012, 04:29:58 PM
Quote from: custosnox on April 02, 2012, 04:28:33 PM
We're talking Tulsa not Columbus. 

..or Omaha...
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: AquaMan on April 02, 2012, 05:33:07 PM
They have great running paths in Omaha!
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Hoss on April 02, 2012, 05:59:33 PM
Quote from: AquaMan on April 02, 2012, 05:33:07 PM
They have great running paths in Omaha!

Let's not forget Ft. Worth!
Title: Re: Parking Ticket Question
Post by: Conan71 on April 04, 2012, 11:08:35 AM
Quote from: Ed W on April 01, 2012, 06:45:26 PM
Number One Daughter got a ticket from a private lot operator today after church.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/7036856475_5f21393d01.jpg)

My first inclination was to tell them to pound salt, but there's the possibility of sending this through a collection agency.  That complicates things.

She said that she looked for a lot attendant, but no one was around.  Apparently a bunch of young adults parked there after church, and when they exited the nearby restaurant, all of them had these tickets.

If it was an attended lot and there was no lock box to place payments in, I'd call the company and point this out.