"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
07/13/2016 at 12:54 • Filed to: Wat
2
25|
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
07/13/2016 at 12:54 • Filed to: Wat | 2
| 25 |
So I got that belt fixed! I have an amazing story to tell of how I got it done...but that’ll come later. Today’s story is about a mysterious parking ticket I got!
As I got in my car this morning, I noticed there was a Parking Enforcement car in my apartment complex. My first thought was “aww, a Toyota Yaris is such a cute Parking Enforcement car!” then I realized the logo on the car...the city I live in! That’s when I turn my head towards the windshield. Oh crap, orange envelope.
I yank out the ticket and read it over. It has “no vehicle tags” followed by a city ordinance number. Alarmed thinking someone stole my license plates, I check my car, yep, both license plates are present.
So I checked the city’s law library. According to the law library, there is a city ordinance that every resident has to have a city sticker. Okay fine, so why wasn’t I informed I had to get one when I moved here? Oh, couple lines down...
The city is not responsible for informing residents to buy city stickers. Landlords are also not responsible for telling new tenants to buy city stickers. The city says residents are supposed to read all city ordinances (a book that’s longer than the Bible) upon moving into city limits...however, nobody is at all responsible for telling residents to even do that. Apparently the city also waits until July to start issuing tickets because that’s when the city sticker price jumps to $90. That’s a free $140 per resident.
My first reaction to moving into a new home has never been “better read all city ordinances”, but guess it better be now! lol
Neat, so literally a system designed to get the city money. Gotta love the cities that pretend to be like Chicago.
HammerheadFistpunch
> Mercedes Streeter
07/13/2016 at 13:04 |
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That’s a pretty low blow, first needing a “city sticker” because...why? Second to sucker punch people with the fine like that.
Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
> Mercedes Streeter
07/13/2016 at 13:04 |
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Wow, that’s some high-level bullshit right there.
Out of curiosity, what does Chicago do like that?
EL_ULY
> Mercedes Streeter
07/13/2016 at 13:13 |
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WTF is a city sticker?
Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
> Mercedes Streeter
07/13/2016 at 13:13 |
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At least they didn't put a boot on your car for first offense. Or just tow you. That would happen in places I've lived 100% of the time. At least there are signs generally but they have zero mercy. Parking tickets are just a slap on the wrist, a damn boot is a day of misery.
Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
> Mercedes Streeter
07/13/2016 at 13:13 |
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That sucks. Even if it’s not required, the landlord should probably tell.
PotbellyJoe and 42 others
> Mercedes Streeter
07/13/2016 at 13:14 |
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My town has an ordinance on bicycles. $1 per bike for 2 years of registration. The fine is $50 and impoundment, which will be paid when you pick up the bike. The impoundment isn’t free either, and it states “at a daily rate” but doesn’t say what that rate is. I figure it’s really a way to take bikes away from guys who can’t pay a $50 fine after they are caught riding on the sidewalk (not allowed here). So the drunks, the bums, and the working poor. Nice. Real nice. Steal their mode of transport and then hold it until they can’t afford to get it, auction it off in the spring as unclaimed property...
So a 50-cent sticker saves you from potentially $100 fine. Here’s where it gets fun.
Part of getting the sticker involves getting the bike inspected by the town. All bikes must have reflectors, a functioning braking mechanism, and a bell. I’ll admit I have bikes that have none of these but brakes and won’t have reflectors or a bell for their life because I’m not going to spend money on that. So I have one bell and one set of reflectors and brought my first bike (of roughly 8-10 depending on what you consider the kids’ bikes to be) to the muni building (you can only safely ride them one at a time) to get it registered. The guy goes, “You want what registered? No, we don’t register bikes. You’re good.”
So even by reading the local codes you’ll have no idea what to do.
fourvalleys
> EL_ULY
07/13/2016 at 13:18 |
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It can’t be that uncommon, right? Lots of cities require a separate permit for overnight parking if you live within city limits. I’ve been fortunate to always have private parking when I lived in urban areas, but even in my current town (under 30k people), I knew the parking regulations from day one.
Of course, I’ve never had a parking ticket (knock on wood), so maybe I’m just extra careful.
Little Black Coupe Turned Silver
> Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/13/2016 at 13:19 |
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You have to get a city sticker every year. Most of the city has street parking regulations so that only residents of that neighborhood can park there, which are tied into the sticker. But even if you don’t street park, if you live in the city you need a sticker. It’s pretty much a way to make an extra $100 per car every year.
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Little Black Coupe Turned Silver
> HammerheadFistpunch
07/13/2016 at 13:20 |
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It's suppose to be to that only residents of that neighborhood/city can park there overnight. It's just a way to get an extra $100 per car every year.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> Little Black Coupe Turned Silver
07/13/2016 at 13:22 |
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There is something like that in Sedona Arizon in the beautiful canyon to the north, you are supposed to by a pass or be fined for parking there...only it turns out as long as you claim you are there for “spiritual/religious purposes” they can’t apply the fine (so of course everyone does). if only that worked in the city.
CaptDale - is secretly British
> Mercedes Streeter
07/13/2016 at 13:29 |
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What if you don’t live in that town?
Wacko
> EL_ULY
07/13/2016 at 13:34 |
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oh wait you said sticker and not slickler....
punkgoose17
> Mercedes Streeter
07/13/2016 at 13:40 |
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This system is evil and hateful.
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EL_ULY
> Wacko
07/13/2016 at 13:46 |
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LOL Curly. Part 2 is my fav!
WiscoProud
> Mercedes Streeter
07/13/2016 at 14:21 |
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I rocked Wisconsin plates for the first 6 years I lived in Chicago and was able to avoid city stickers. However, when my license renewed I got an Illinois one, which flagged me in the system, and I got popped that summer. I don't remember if I had to pay $90 or $120 though. Anyways, its a scam and I hate them.
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WiscoProud
> fourvalleys
07/13/2016 at 14:22 |
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In Chicago all vehicles kept in the city needed one, regardless if you had off street parking or not. They would actually go into parking garages to ticket people, which was a bit of a controversy.
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Mercedes Streeter
> WiscoProud
07/13/2016 at 14:34 |
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They literally drove around the apartment complex. I’ve always figured the complex was a sort of safe zone. But naaaah, the officer walked around giving dozens of cars tickets.
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WiscoProud
> Mercedes Streeter
07/13/2016 at 14:37 |
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Nope. No safe zones aside from covered, secure parking like at a condo building. A few years ago they were bad enough, I have to imagine they're even worse now.
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Mercedes Streeter
> CaptDale - is secretly British
07/13/2016 at 14:38 |
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Technically I don’t. My car is registered to a small town. Ah, but the ordinance says it doesn’t matter where my car is registered, so long as the officer sees any evidence of me living in the city (in this case, the parking pass for the apartment complex), it’s fair game for a fine.
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CaptDale - is secretly British
> Mercedes Streeter
07/13/2016 at 14:59 |
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Could you fight it then? Cause otherwise that’s against their own law.
StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8
> Mercedes Streeter
07/13/2016 at 15:01 |
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Wow, thats pretty fucked up. I’ve never heard of a “city sticker” for a licence plate.....
Chasaboo
> Mercedes Streeter
07/13/2016 at 15:50 |
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At LAX the city has a huge outdoor parking lot. The police will cruise through the lot and ticket you for not having a front license plate, missing headlight, missing taillight and so on. So you fly back, find your car, bam ticket waiting for you.
FashionableFeldspars
> fourvalleys
07/13/2016 at 17:47 |
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I’ve literally never heard of that! Learn something new every day.
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Mercedes Streeter
> CaptDale - is secretly British
07/13/2016 at 20:28 |
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I’m going to fight it all the way...nothing about the ticket is right. I was never given the tools to ensure I didn’t break their silly law. It’s not even a large or prosperous city...
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CaptDale - is secretly British
> Mercedes Streeter
07/13/2016 at 20:30 |
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That is really odd. Update us on what happens