Parking ticket help

[DementedReality]

Do I have a leg to stand on?

I was at the Dalhousie Park and Ride and didnt know how much change we needed for the fare. So I pulled into a spot, jumped out and went to find out how much.

I left the car running and my wife and kids were still in it, but when I got back (2 minutes max), a white van had blocked us in and was issuing a parrking ticket for being in a handicapped spot.

Ugh ... I wasnt parked in my mind, I was STOPPED. Am I splitting hairs or do I have a leg to stand on here? It was a $150.00 ticket and I am not working so its money we cant afford.

Anyone with experiance in this matter?

[DementedReality]

Well I found my own answer ... ugh

Bylaw#26M96

DISABLED PARKING

...
(3) The owner or operator of a motor vehicle which is not identified by a handicap placard
or license plate that is issued or recognized by the Solicitor General for persons with
disabilities shall not stop or park or permit the stopping or parking of the vehicle in a
parking space designated pursuant to Subsections (1) or (2).

[JiriHrdina]

Kinda of a bad deal but I think the tolerance with handicap spots is pretty minimal.

[flip]

Sorry but you're screwed. There was an article in the Sun the other day about how terrible the parking ticket system is in Calgary.

Although if you were in a CT lot you may be able to take it up with them with less hassle.

On a related note I was parked at the 2 hr parking today by the University Ctrain stop (on the wall along Crowchild) and I noticed the ticket guy was there today but strangely even though I was one of the first cars there I didn't have one, despite being parked for well over 3hrs. I'll chalk it up to my Cornetto hanging from my rear view mirror.

[Dion]

If it was anything other than a handicapped spot they'd have probably given you a warning.

Did you try reasoning with the person?

[DementedReality]

Originally Posted by Dion

If it was anything other than a handicapped spot they'd have probably given you a warning.

Did you try reasoning with the person?

i did and it was of no use ... bummer, expensive lesson here!

[Dion]

Originally Posted by DementedReality

i did and it was of no use ... bummer, expensive lesson here!

Still think it might be worth fighting. Especially since your vehicle was running and the wife and kids were in there. It's not as if you parked, took out the keys and left to catch a train.

Feel for you man.

[DementedReality]

Originally Posted by Dion

Still think it might be worth fighting. Especially since your vehicle was running and the wife and kids were in there. It's not as if you parked, took out the keys and left to catch a train.

Feel for you man.

the bylaw says you cant even stop in the spot... i understand the intention, those with disabilities must get rightly pissed when there are people in their spots, but damn. its not like i took the last one, all the other spots were open.

i feel shame.

[OzSome]

Sorry dude you are SOL! It doesn't matter how long you stayed in a handicapped parking, if you don't have the sticker you are in violation. It doesn't matter if your wife and your kids were still in the car. Too many people are using handicapped parking even when they are not. I am sure the parking person told you he/she heard it before. Handicapped parking is for people with disabilities not for people who just want to run in the store or anywhere and come back even in few minutes.

[habernac]

I wish they'd ticket the lazy a-holes who park directly in front of grocery stores in the fire lane.

[Slava]

I'd be tempted to try to fight this anyway. I can see how you might be stuck paying, but at the same time you might get someone with some sympathy who agrees that you weren't trying to take a spot that you shouldn't.

[albertGQ]

I bet if you fight it, it would get knocked down to $100.

THat's what happened to me when I got a Ctrain ticket years ago

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by OzSome

Sorry dude you are SOL! It doesn't matter how long you stayed in a handicapped parking, if you don't have the sticker you are in violation. It doesn't matter if your wife and your kids were still in the car. Too many people are using handicapped parking even when they are not. I am sure the parking person told you he/she heard it before. Handicapped parking is for people with disabilities not for people who just want to run in the store or anywhere and come back even in few minutes.

What the F dude? A little bit of an overreaction for a guy who just went to quickly check how much parking was eh?

[guzzy]

don't mess with handicap stalls and fire lanes....zero tolerance

Impark on other hand.....

I actually used to pay these until someone told me they have no recourse against you.

Once our band was showcasing at the Unicorn. After our set i went outside to leave. When I got to my truck every vehicle in the lot had an impark ticket except the guy next to me. I looked on his dash and he had no receipt so i remembered what a friend had told me. He asked if I ever actually checked the make of vehicle or license plate after being issued a ticket. I thought about it and realized how many times i just paid the ticket without issue because I was knowingly illegally parked. Needless to say i put that ticket on the car next to me and he paid it. That was the only time i didn't pay a ticket and they never sent me any notices.

[COGENT]

Who is the ticket through, Calgary Parking Authority?

I would pull the "having the kids in car" card with a side of "not working right now". I honestly think you could get a reduction if not get it void.

[DementedReality]

Originally Posted by COGENT

Who is the ticket through, Calgary Parking Authority?

I would pull the "having the kids in car" card with a side of "not working right now". I honestly think you could get a reduction if not get it void.

its a city of calgary by law offence ticket .. looks exactly like a speeding ticket.

Originally Posted by OzSome

Sorry dude you are SOL! It doesn't matter how long you stayed in a handicapped parking, if you don't have the sticker you are in violation. It doesn't matter if your wife and your kids were still in the car. Too many people are using handicapped parking even when they are not. I am sure the parking person told you he/she heard it before. Handicapped parking is for people with disabilities not for people who just want to run in the store or anywhere and come back even in few minutes.

So a bit OT but what would you do if you went into a bathroom and all the stalls were occupied EXCEPT for the disabled stall and you REALLY had to do a #2?

Same rules apply? (I know this has been mentioned in another thread, I just find it interesting....)

And to OP... I think you're gonna be out of luck. Sorry.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

So a bit OT but what would you do if you went into a bathroom and all the stalls were occupied EXCEPT for the disabled stall and you REALLY had to do a #2?

Same rules apply? (I know this has been mentioned in another thread, I just find it interesting....)

And to OP... I think you're gonna be out of luck. Sorry.

I always go in the disabled stall, it is like the luxury suite of the bathroom stalls. Handholds, twice the space, they usually have a lid that blocks that goddamn autoflusher that always freaking goes off if I move at all on the toilet seat.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

they usually have a lid that blocks that goddamn autoflusher that always freaking goes off if I move at all on the toilet seat.

What you need to do is invest 88¢ in a roll of electrical tape. At my old job I would always keep a strip of electrical tape on the underside of my ID badge.

Obviously you missed that episode of McGiver.

[Tower]

Yes you have a leg to stand on. PM me your email address and I'll send you a file.