A DRIVER was left outraged after being slapped with a hefty parking fine for somewhere she’d never been to.
Heather Clement from Sudbury, Massachusetts, first thought the parking ticket in the mail from Queens, New York, was a scam, but became increasingly concerned when the fines kept coming and the fee increased from $30 to $90.
A couple from Massachusetts were outraged when they were hit with a parking ticket from New York[/caption]
They first thought the parking ticket in the mail from Queens, New York, was a scam[/caption]
They grew concerned when the fines began to pile up and the fee tripled in cost[/caption]
Speaking to Local News 8, Clement revealed she and her husband received a ticket for failing to show a parking meter receipt in a Queens parking lot at 9:06 pm.
But the Clements were at home in Sudbury – more than 200 miles away – at the time, while the penalty notice provided minimal information and lacked any photo evidence.
“We were not in New York City. We’ve never been to Queens,” Heather Clement said.
“Our truck has never been to New York City, so we absolutely thought it’s a scam.”
But after receiving a third notice, they figured something might be wrong.
“I think it started at $30 or something,” Clement added. “It’s up to $90.”
“Most scams are sent by text and email, and this was an actual notice on paper. That made us think, ‘OK, maybe there’s something to it.’”
As New York City does not take photos for parking tickets, the Clements faced an uphill battle to prove they were not at the location in question.
It’s unclear how the ticket was linked to the Clements, but the issue may have been caused by a typo or clerical error.
Perhaps more likely is an ongoing problem with duplicate Massachusetts license plates, where different types of plates such as standard, veteran plates and commercial plates share the same letter and number combinations.
Indeed, in the past, the distinction in the plate type has not been enough for overhead toll readers to pick up – resulting in some drivers getting hit with electronic tolls for vehicles that didn’t belong to them.
This eventually led to the state stopping duplicate plate numbers from being issued in 2019.
However, as recently as 2023, 161,000 Massachusetts plates were still on the road with the same letter and number combination as another plate.
But despite this common occurrence, the couple’s appeals were denied – partly because they ignored earlier notices.
Clement, though, couldn’t believe New York doesn’t have photographic proof.
She added: “I think it’s very unfair.”
Local media was eventually able to connect them with the New York Office of the Parking Summons Advocate for assistance, with the couple now appealing the fine again.
This comes as another driver in Texas recently revealed she had been handed a toll bill for trips she didn’t take.
Andrea Lynn from North Harris County, Texas, got a $20 bill for 11 trips in Montgomery County over a three-day period in June that she didn’t take.
Initially, she thought the bill was simply sent in error, until a closer look at the CCTV grab of the vehicle showed what really happened.
How to fight a parking ticket
You can avoid being ticketed by following all posted laws and ordinances, but sometimes mistakes are made
Like any form of citation, parking tickets are preventable by reading and obeying posted signage. However, when visiting a new city, or state, or in a hurry, things can be missed and mistakes are made.
Suddenly there’s a ticket you weren’t prepared to pay for. If the ticket is a surprise to you, there are a few things you can do to help your case when appealing a parking ticket.
- Carefully read the ticket. Look for errors like incorrect street names, license plate numbers, vehicle make and model, time and date, etc. Errors would then make the ticket invalid.
- Take photos. Of the vehicle in the parking space, lack of signage, or other vehicles that weren’t cited for performing the same parking job. If the ticket involves parking too close to something like a fire hydrant, a photo showing a reasonable distance would help your case. Make sure metadata with the time and date are accessible. Signs that are obstructed by trees, or are on bent posts, or aren’t “obvious” are great things to photograph, too.
- Make sure the statute that was violated is listed on the ticket. If not listed, the ticket is not valid.
- Promptly follow the appeal instructions on the ticket. All legitimate tickets will have directions for appeal. Waiting until the very last moment weakens your argument and can result in late fees.
- When in court, avoid these phrases as they reduce your credibility and weaken your argument: I didn’t know the law; I was on my way to move my car; I can’t afford this ticket; I’ve been doing this for years; or I checked with the parking officer, who said it was OK.
- Contact a lawyer. If you’re running into roadblocks and feel stuck, it may be best to reach out to a traffic lawyer in your area. Many have free case consultations.
Source: Reader’s Digest
