The Parking Ticket

Parking tickets. Let's face it - if you drive; you've got one. It's usually within the first 30 seconds that you don't pay for your parking. It's always unfair. But this time - it really was, so I fought it. I am registered online for Parkplus, so can simply call in the parking zone to activate a session. It works well - most of the time. Of course, the one time I left the office, forgot a file, ACTIVATED a session, and came out 15 minutes later to find the session didn't activate - is the time I got a ticket. I decided I must have done something wrong. Surely, it couldn't be the multi-million dollar electronic parking system! So I paid the $50.

But - a month later - in the exact same spot, and by running in to the office to pick up a file; and after activating a session, I got a ticket. Now, I had become ultra alert about the activation process, so I know it was activated. Solely on principle, I decided I would fight the system and take this to court. 

The letters I received from The City left me wondering if I might actually do hard time if found guilty. Would the death penalty be instated? Would I ever be allowed to see the light of day? You'd think I was a hardened criminal simply based on the language in the letter! 

Once the date was set, another letter followed to say that court was not in session that day due to a Judge's conference, so I should show up on or before the day in question to adjourn. UH??!! A lawyer friend didn't even understand what had happened. Was their court, or not?


To shorten the story, I went to court; on the day of the judge's conference. Turns out, a judge (one evidently not invited to the conference), two legal representatives (near grads) and four witnesses (we think) were present. But, I had taken my lawyer friend, so we were bumped to the top of the list; the case was reviewed before the judge entered the room, and it was withdrawn. Not exactly the triumphant "change the system" victory I'd envisioned. 

Did the City learn any lessons? Did the Parkplus system change? Definitely not. But, I sure enjoyed the bottle of wine I bought with my $75!!