CPA Ticket - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

sa226 · 03-12-2014, 12:53 PM

Just in reading the Bylaws posted in this thread. It would be difficult to dispute the ticket with any grounds.

But I would at least say the Bylaw is a tad vague. He essentially parked without paying. Case closed. But the added blurb at the bottom of the above post suggests that enforcement actually looked at the photo to see if there was any signs of anything going on. Which would kind of suggest that there is an unspecified or completely random timeline. How often does the area get patrolled? Are there cameras in place that scan the area? (I honestly don't know, I don't venture downtown much) Is there built in discretion with enforcement?

Isn't there loading zones for this exact scenario?

Flabbibulin · 03-12-2014, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strombad

I have come to believe he got a ticket because he parked in a pay spot and did not pay. Though, you wouldn't know it from reading his first few posts.

The OP doesn't specify- Couldn't it also be a loading zone or a no parking/stopping zone that he was stopped in? If it was anything other than a pay zone though, the rules are clear- no stopping at any time.

I could see being somewhat ticked if it was a pay zone and you are momentarily stopped to pick someone up. Even then, I cant see him being issued a ticket unless he was there for unreasonable amount of time. No way you are getting a ticket if it is less than 30 seconds.

bizaro86 · 03-12-2014, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

The OP doesn't specify- Couldn't it also be a loading zone or a no parking/stopping zone that he was stopped in? If it was anything other than a pay zone though, the rules are clear- no stopping at any time.

I could see being somewhat ticked if it was a pay zone and you are momentarily stopped to pick someone up. Even then, I cant see him being issued a ticket unless he was there for unreasonable amount of time. No way you are getting a ticket if it is less than 30 seconds.

I don't know if that's true anymore, with the parkplus cameras, it's just a drive by picture, they wouldn't know how long you were there.

Locke · 03-12-2014, 01:18 PM

I thought he wanted to become and accountant and showed up to warn him away.

Theres too many of us already! Accounting is full!

Wormius · 03-12-2014, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich204

CPA gave a ticket while I was occupying the vehicle waiting to pick someone up. They overturned my last ticket when I was clearly seen waiting inside my vehicle. My ordeal: How can they determine whether a vehicle is occupied with low res photos?

This reminds me of my adventures in Chinatown. People would park ANYWHERE - I guess the assumption that somebody is sitting in the vehicle with their hazard lights on justifies them being literally parked in the middle of the street, instead of driving a couple of meters and paying $1 or something to park for 15 minutes.

rich204 · 03-12-2014, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Without knowing what the citation was for specifically, I can't comment on your argument.

However, I would go to the CPA website (or wherever you got the information on resolutions) and send another email thanking them for the PDF but you understand there should be a high resolution photograph at (insert resoltution here) based on the information available online at (link). Then politely ask for that copy to be made available to you.

The PDF is likely a standard thing because the file size would be much smaller and would suffice for most people.

I emailed and asked for the high resolution photo, no luck. They won't release it.

rich204 · 03-12-2014, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burninator

I got the same ticket doing the same thing and I was visible in the car. Appealed the ticket and it was denied. This was their response.

95679662 - BYLAW 26M96 (s)9(14) - REMAIN IN A SPACE LONGER THAN TIME PURCHASED

Parking is a valuable commodity and short term parking must be available to the public for parking. Enforcement ensures that people using these zones are not remaining in a space longer the time purchased.

Vehicle found parked in a 'zone controlled space' for longer than the period of time for which payment was made.

CPA Investigation:

Section 9(15) of the City of Calgary Traffic Bylaw (CTB) requires that payment be made immediately after parking in a ParkPlus zone. The definition of parked is the same if the vehicle is occupied or not.

CPA is unable to authorize withdrawal of the Parking Infraction Notice. Photo Enforcement personnel have reviewed the photo and could not verify that a passenger was being actively loaded or unloaded OR that the vehicle was being moved. The review found no record of a payment for this license plate.

It doesn't matter if you are visible or not.

I guess you gotta catch them on a good day. I've got ticketed and they overturned it. There's no consistency with CPA.

rich204 · 03-12-2014, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducay

Well I'm trying my damnest and still can't see you. Doubt you're going to get an old lady CPA employee to see you without some serious photoshopping

That's the problem, they took the photo on a gloomy day. I don't have tint either. If CPA really wants to cash in, they should start taking photos after 4:30pm during the winter hours. It usually starts getting dark by then.

Maritime Q-Scout · 03-12-2014, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich204

I emailed and asked for the high resolution photo, no luck. They won't release it.

I can't even fathom this.

I don't understand think they can be allowed to deny the request.

rich204 · 03-12-2014, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strombad

So basically, it seems like unless you're there for 30 seconds, you're parked, in which case you should pay.

Why not get out and pop a quarter in?

I would but CPA says if they see you occupying the vehicle, they don't issue you the ticket. This came straight from CPA's customer service.

Wormius · 03-12-2014, 01:32 PM

By the way, is that normal that they take a picture of the side of the car? Any tickets that I have received in the mail just have a picture of my license plate and then one of the whole car.

rich204 · 03-12-2014, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squiggs96

This seems like a scene from Dude, Where's my car?

Seriously dude, what did you get the ticket for?

9(14) REMAIN IN A SPACE LONGER THAN TIME PURCHASED.
This is the second time I got a ticket like this, I appealed and they overturned it because they could see me in the photo.

This time, the photo has such low resolution that I can't be seen.

rich204 · 03-12-2014, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Yeah, but why would it matter if you're in the car?

What if you were just messing around in your car before you got out and then let it sit there for half an hour?
What if you had just returned after being illegally parked for half an hour?
What if you were just sitting in the car for half an hour taking up a parking spot for some strange reason?

Unless you can prove that:
a) You weren't parked there for any lenght of time prior to, or after the picture was taken
b) You paid either before or shortly after the picture was taken

Then what grounds do you have to actually dispute the ticket?

This is what came from CPA:

"If our officers see a person in a vehicle it is considered occupied and a ticket will not be issued."
What more do you want? Lol. I was "occupying the vehicle".

rich204 · 03-12-2014, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuffMan

And further, occupying the car should nullify said ticket

Thanks.

CPA is saying, "If our officers see a person in a vehicle it is considered occupied and a ticket will not be issued."

Flabbibulin · 03-12-2014, 01:48 PM

Is this a pick up you make regularly? If so, tell your wife to hurry it up so you don't get a ticket! My wife would get it if she was yapping away with coworkers while I was waiting outside like a complete clown!

Not assuming anything here though...

HalifaxDrunk · 03-12-2014, 01:58 PM

I was able to clean the photo a little better. I think the ticket should be nullified, dogs shouldn't have to pay tickets!

Flabbibulin · 03-12-2014, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I don't know if that's true anymore, with the parkplus cameras, it's just a drive by picture, they wouldn't know how long you were there.

Curious how this works then for the minute or two it takes to walk over to the machine, insert all the zone and license plate info and pay. I would think the driver would check out the closet machine to see if someone is trying to pay before snapping away?

Kjesse · 03-12-2014, 02:10 PM

"OMG! A dog that can drive!", said Felix the Cat.

Wormius · 03-12-2014, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

Curious how this works then for the minute or two it takes to walk over to the machine, insert all the zone and license plate info and pay. I would think the driver would check out the closet machine to see if someone is trying to pay before snapping away?

I think that is all taken care of later. CPA *probably* compares the time of the picture with when parking was paid for / expired.

getbak · 03-12-2014, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

Curious how this works then for the minute or two it takes to walk over to the machine, insert all the zone and license plate info and pay. I would think the driver would check out the closet machine to see if someone is trying to pay before snapping away?

I think they take photos of every vehicle that's parked, then run them against the paid parking fees for that zone and they'll give you some leeway to make the payment.

For example, if the photo is taken at 4:03 and you started your session at 4:05, you won't get a ticket, but if the photo is taken at 4:03 and you started your session at 4:30, you'll probably get the ticket. If there's no payment record for your vehicle at all, then you get one too.