Parking ticket - opinions wanted - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Language · 03-31-2016, 03:08 PM

I recently got a parking ticket downtown. It was after 6 PM (when parking is free), and myself and my two passengers, who are also from Calgary, analyzed the sign and assumed that we were parking lawfully.

I ended up getting a ticket for parking in a handicap spot and lost the appeal from the Calgary Parking Authority (not surprised...they're not going to admit their own signage is confusing).

Am debating taking this to court but just wanted to see how others interpret this sign, and whether I'm out to lunch or if it's reasonable that it's interpretation is confusing to say the least.

The handicap sign on the right has an arrow pointing to the right. The sign on the left has an arrow pointing to the right and the left (with no handicap sign).

My car is parked to the left of the sign post (you can make it out in the corner of the picture).

Sign is below:

Direct link to photo (not showing up for me for some reason): http://imgur.com/rEZPefr

Hockeyguy15 · 03-31-2016, 03:13 PM

From the looks of it, part of the car is in the handicap space.

I assume you got the ticket because part of your car was in the handicap space to the right. Had your car been completely to the left of the pole you would have not gotten a ticket.

Barbecue · 03-31-2016, 03:15 PM

Not sure what you're looking for as you seem to be confident in your case

Take it to court and explain it to the judge as you have to us

OutOfTheCube · 03-31-2016, 03:16 PM

The photo won't hold up as evidence you didn't do anything wrong. Not saying you did, but you could've easily moved your car and taken the photo.

I'd just pay it and move on -- not worth getting riled up and going to court over.

Fuzz · 03-31-2016, 03:16 PM

Looks like a good 3rd of your car is over what I'd consider "the line" but your photo isn't doing a good job of showing your point.

Language · 03-31-2016, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

From the looks of it, part of the car is in the handicap space.

The rear of my car was slightly encroaching in the handicap space.

My point of contention was that the sign on the left has arrows pointing left/right (but with no handicap sign). As a result, I was unsure if it was a handicap spot for 24 hours or not.

Fuzz · 03-31-2016, 03:19 PM

The sign is fairly clear. It's a handicap spot. The sign on the left just says indicates hour ranges, the one on the right would supersede that.

Handsome B. Wonderful · 03-31-2016, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Language

The rear of my car was slightly encroaching in the handicap space.

My point of contention was that the sign on the left has arrows pointing left/right (but with no handicap sign). As a result, I was unsure if it was a handicap spot for 24 hours or not.

It says PERMIT REQUIRED 24h. If you are encroaching on that space, you better have a permit.

rd_aaron · 03-31-2016, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

From the looks of it, part of the car is in the handicap space.

I assume you got the ticket because part of your car was in the handicap space to the right. Had your car been completely to the left of the pole you would have not gotten a ticket.

This is exactly my thought too. I think the signs are straightforward. It's 2 hour parking (payment required) in both directions. However, the spot right before the pole is handicapped reserved (need a permit but is still 2 hour, payment required). I'm guessing there's another handicap sign behind you showing where the handicap spot starts.

I'd just pay. I don't think you're going to win, and it'll be a waste of your time (court date will be during regular work hours).

Language · 03-31-2016, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzz

The sign is fairly clear. It's a handicap spot. The sign on the left just says indicates hour ranges, the one on the right would supersede that.

Thanks for your opinion. I live downtown and barely drive, and clearly should stick to walking as I'm a bad judge of parking signs then.

Rjcsjc62 · 03-31-2016, 03:21 PM

Zone 2466 is for handicap parking only, anytime. Zone 2467 is not.

If any part of your vehicle was to the right of that sign, you are parked in a handicap stall.

The hours noted on the handicap placard are the hours for which payment are required.

From 0900 to 1800 mon to sat you need both a permit, and payment.

calgarygeologist · 03-31-2016, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

From the looks of it, part of the car is in the handicap space.

I assume you got the ticket because part of your car was in the handicap space to the right. Had your car been completely to the left of the pole you would have not gotten a ticket.

I would assume this is the case. I once received a similar ticket and my car was actually towed as well (from a bus zone and not a handicap zone though.) I tried to squeeze my car into a parking spot in front of a bus zone but about 16 inches to two feet of my car was into the bus zone. My wheels were ahead of the sign so I assumed I would be okay but I guess some angry bus driver must have called my vehicle into parking enforcement and I was ticketed and towed. It sucked.

Language · 03-31-2016, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbecue

Not sure what you're looking for as you seem to be confident in your case

Take it to court and explain it to the judge as you have to us

I was fairly confident; however I just wanted to see if I was alone in my opinion or whether anyone could reasonably interpret the sign as such. It's a $200 ticket, and if it seems I won't win I don't want to waste my time going to court and arguing and losing, it will just cause more frustration.

rd_aaron · 03-31-2016, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Language

As a result, I was unsure if it was a handicap spot for 24 hours or not.

I see what you mean now, but....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handsome B. Wonderful

It says PERMIT REQUIRED 24h. If you are encroaching on that space, you better have a permit.

This quote above would basically say it's always a handicap spot. If it didn't say 24 hours beside the "Permit Required" I think you would have a case.

squiggs96 · 03-31-2016, 03:30 PM

I'm not sure how confusing a sign can be, when it says PERMIT REQUIRED 24h. If you don't have a handicapped permit, you can't ever be in that space, whether you pay or not.

polak · 03-31-2016, 03:31 PM

Never pay parking tickets. It's a 10 dollar fee and I've had two city of Calgary parking tickets I never paid and had no issues registering my car after. One was recent too.

Never pay until they send you a letter.

northcrunk · 03-31-2016, 03:31 PM

Ugh. Nothing worse than parking tickets the the people who hand them out. Scum.

Language · 03-31-2016, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polak

Never pay parking tickets. It's a 10 dollar fee and I've had two city of Calgary parking tickets I never paid and had no issues registering my car after. One was recent too.

Never pay until they send you a letter.

I've never paid Impark tickets but didn't think this was the case with City tickets. I thought outstanding City tickets show up for car re-registration purposes.

The ticket goes up to $300 from $200 if I don't pay within 30 days. Are you suggesting not paying until they send me a letter? If they send a letter after 30 days, I'd actually have to pay even more.

calgarywinning · 03-31-2016, 03:42 PM

Heads up that the fine for not moving your car when street cleaning has doubled. Something like $57 to $120 something. They post signs at the beginning and exit of your community.

polak · 03-31-2016, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Language

I've never paid Impark tickets but didn't think this was the case with City tickets. I thought outstanding City tickets show up for car re-registration purposes.

It normally does. But the fee for paying it late is 10 or 20 bucks so it's basically paying 20 bucks for the chance of not having to pay the whole ticket. I personally won't pay another parking ticket on time ever again after getting away with two city tickets.

Your fee is a lot bigger though so probably not worth the risk.