WTF - $500 parking ticket in Arlington

You did it, so just pay it. You took the risk and it did not pay off.

 

At 1:18 AM, wasn't there another spot nearby you could have used? And at 1:18 AM, there's very little chance the ticket was written by a meter maid.

Pay the focking ticket, you deserve it. Should have booted you ass, or flat bedded it out of there.

There's no excuse for being lazy, and it is its own reward.

DM

 

Dam that is a hefty fine!!!! Down here the handicap ones are $100 max.

 

Robin,

That seems excessive too me. That said, it's a revenue generator........

Why don't you take a picture of the area at that time in the am showing no one else there? Then take it to court and take your chances. I find judges far more reasonable then officers.

G/L

 

Those officers are just abunch of *****S.

 

'aint that the truth!!!!!

 

VA sucks for any ticket. i was doing 70 on a quiet bright beautiful highway ,posted 50 mph. got a 6 point negligent driving must -appear ticket ,475.00
if i had a gun , i would have shot the cop, then myself . that was 5 yrs ago ...no ticket since, knock on wood.

 

for 50 bucks you could "borrow" someones handicap mirror hanger go to court and sat the hanger must of fell off. case closed. mdshore dude shooting cops is not cool, even in jest..

 

that wouldn't really work if they saw you go into court walking right and its just better to pay it off than to just lye and get your self in morw s**t than your already in.

 

may be some old lady was there at 1:10AM and her spot was taken so she called meter maid.

 

I would go to court and try the "I really screwed up" defense with the judge. Most judges are not out to get max penalties or fines from the average citizen. Showing up and being contrite will usually at least get the fine reduced. They are looking for evidence that the punishment they decide upon will have the effect they want - that is, to motivate you to never disobey a traffic or parking law ever again the rest of your life. So, if you appear to be fully aware that you violated the regulations and that you are now very sorry you did, it eliminates their need to make your punishment "a significant consequence" to you.

Also, avoid discussing the f-car. It works against you in this case. It implies that you can afford the $500 fine and traffic judges probably don't understand why someone would buy a car that can go 3 - 4 times the max speed limit.

 

I once got a $500 parking ticket in Arlington at my company's office in a company truck when I parked in a "no parking zone" but the sign was faced where I could only see the back of it. I didn't pay it because there was no way to track who had the company car and the officer didn't get my license number. These days parking or any other ticket will find you even if you live out of the state where you got the ticket. If you don't pay it you may find that your license has ben revoked and that is a real problem to straighten out. What ever you end up paying make sure you save all the paperwork for many years to come, I've heard some real horror stories.

 

Hahaha! I just got a picture of my Buick hoopdee speeding in DC. I'll see if I can scan it in for sh#$ and giggles. I hate DC (oh, yeah, but I was in the wrong, too).

 

Go to court, plead guilty, and ask the judge to consider you prior record. I'm sure you'll get a reduced fine (at least that's what usually happens here in Maryland, which ain't much better than Va.) Good luck!

 

First and foremost, indicate you simply did not notice it was a handicapped space, and would never willfully use a space for those who rightfully deserve it.

Indicate you saw the ticket, read it, then saw the handicapped parking sign for the first time.

Upon closer inspection, the sign indicated there was a $100-500 range for the fine.

Mention your law-abiding, spotless record and reiterate your oversight was unintentional.

Humbly request your previously unblemished record be taken into consideration as "your honor" reviews the charge which you accept but the upper range of penalty is the only thing you question.

Remember to use the words, "your honor," early and often as you fake sincerity.

 

do not go to court. you will be found guilty and have to pay the ticket plus cost and if you upset the judge it could get worse (voice of experience). with a mirror hanger it doesn't have to be yours. you can use it if your transporting someone handicapped.

 

While it's not right, you can definitely use someone else's handicapped tag.. My g/f was in Philly a few months back with some friends, and they got the front spot in front of a hot nightclub.. Only later when they came back to the car and saw a ticket on the windshield did they realize that they parked in a handicapped spot. Ticket was for $300!

The passenger's mother is actually handicapped, so they called the station and said that the tag must have fallen off of the mirror. They asked her to fax a copy of the handicapped tag, and they'd cancel the ticket. Problem solved.

Good luck!

 

SAGE ADVICE..... Robin are you getting the picture here? Transporting relatives is really very noble of you..... I too have been in this exact situation!
PM me if you need more info.

 

you just reminded me that I have an unpaid parking ticket (only $25 though... expired meter in Georgetown)

 

I can think of a few


Antony

 

I hate to rant here but I can not believe how low most of you are going on this, Look guys...he did it, admits it and still you are trying to lie your way out of it. All in all it is pretty cheap,petty and classless. Be a man and buck up and pay, and stay the hell out of handicap parking spaces. Karma is a ***** some days.

 

AMEN!

Pay the fine, move along. If the $500 is because you parked a Ferrari in the space, and it would have been $100 if you parked a Yugo there, so be it.

The cost of going to the hearing to get the fine lowered may be more than the fine itself in your time and energy.

DM