Parking ticket corruption abounds and the money rolls in.

A few months ago I though parking enforcement existed to prevent people from parking where they shouldn’t but now I know that some of it exists just to raise money.

On 4/2/11 I got a ticket for parking after 8 pm, under a sign that did not restrict parking after 8 am and tried to contest it, only to find out that the system is so corrupt that the people who collect the money don’t even care if the signs authorizing the ticket haven’t been posted for years. Google street view has old pictures that prove it.

On 4/13/11 I went in to contest the ticket and was only allowed to submit a written request, and pictures. On 4/18/11 I got a letter telling me my submission was being reviewed and they would tell me when I could contest the result if they didn’t dismiss it by then. On 5/26/11 I got a letter saying it hadn’t been dismissed so I called the number listed on that letter for contesting the ticket and was told it was too late to contest my ticket.

The supervisor in the office seemed delighted that Vehicle Code 40215 clearly permits them to deny people like me hearings, even when it looks like they’ve been cheated. When I replied that I have been trying to get hearing date since 4/13/11 I got nowhere and they even seemed to relish letting me know that if I didn’t pay up immediately, my fine would be doubled.

When I asked if they were going to update the signs I was told that’s not their concern, and I guess I can see why, outdated signs are great revenue generators.

All that because I decided not to park in the hospital’s emergency room parking lot, so that ambulances and people with life threatening situations like gun shot wounds, wouldn’t find it full. I only had a leaky appendix, and it was removed hours later.

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