Speaking of parking tickets...

[JusFlyinBy]

Has anyone heard of anything as ridiculous as this? My g/f and I went to Cortland to visit a friend at college. We parked on a city street, where there was a sign that said, NO PARKING MON-FRI 8AM - 4PM. So we were like, ehh, no problem, its 6PM on a Friday. So she parked her truck. Next morning we come out, she has a ticket thats marked "Parking between 2AM-6AM". After talking to a cop down at the station, apparently there is "no parking anywhere in the city between 2AM and 6AM on any streets or lots.". He claimed there is a sign posted at the main entrance to the city, which we went and looked and their wasn't. If you want to park for the night, you have to register your car, and they allow you 3 days of street parking.

Is that not a bunch of BS or what? They dont give any leeway. How can any out of town visitor be aware of this especially when there is no freakin sign! Anyone else ever run into something like this? Sounds like a money gimmick to me. :mad: Just wanted to rant.

[ellik]

A lot of villages have peculiar things like that. Bars close at 2 so people have a reason to go home, and cops can keep control of parties and young hooligans hanging out on the street corners. Preserves the quiet small town image.

Again, if you go before the judge, they may dismiss it. You'd be suprised how many they throw out around here as long as you are respectful in court and make up a good excuse.

[JusFlyinBy]

Yes, but still, going before a judge is a royal pain for her, because shes currently in Mass for a coop, which means she'd have to travel 5 hours to get back to Cortland, just to argue over a 20 dollar parking ticket. Her Jeep will use like 50 bucks in gas and 8 dollars in tolls, so its not worth it. Its just money lost which sucks. Well, its money lost to me cause I paid it.

[ellik]

that sucks. Ive found a lot of times the meter maids will just stick it to you, expecting you to pay anyway... just because it is more convenient than contesting.

The ones you really have to watch out for are the parking tickets issued by the cops. The meter maids are just tickets with a fixed fee associated with them. The ones issued by cops have all the extra fees tacked on like when you get a speeding ticket. a $15 parking violation issued by a cop can end up costing over $50.

[JusFlyinBy]

Seriously???? It was just my assumption that it was issued by a cop... This isnt a big city, and I doubt they have "meter maids". In fact, there isnt meters anywhere in the city, not even their tiny downtown. Man, I hope there isnt more to that ticket than I thought...

[ellik]

you might be fine up there. Whatever is on the ticket is what you have to pay. Down here getting a ticket from a meter maid is a whole lot cheaper than one issued by the cops.