John Deutzman's Blog

It's been my finding that there are repeat offenders. Some people I know get tickets all the time for the oh so obvious things.

No standing at bus stops
Double parking
Meter ran out

I don't understand why it is such a big deal. There are parking laws here in nyc and most of america for good reasons. Streets need to be cleaned, people need to be able to get in and out of buses safely, a double parked car causes a obstacle for everyone on the road, and parking meter areas are there for everyone to use, not your personal parking spot. It isnt all that hard to do, read the signs, ask if you arent sure about a sign.

Repeat offenders fill the city's piggy bank over and over again, and never learn.

Hi Guys,

The last time I checked there were about 9 parking tickets issued in NYC only 2 million people chose to fight them. Of the 2 million fought half..1 million, yes 50 percent were dismissed.
That is a horrendous record for people who write tickets. Since 7 million people decided to pay the tickets without a fight, it's hard to know for exactly how many of the 9 million total tickets were bad but for sure at least 1 nillion were tossed out.
That's one reason why the city shouldn't give tremendous weight to the ticket itself in a hearing. The is already overwhelming evidence that ticket writers make a whopping percent of mistakes...in some cases it's fraud.

John

Jane,

I've heard that story dozens of times. The judges presume you are lying and got your car back and then illegally parked.
That's how absurd their thinking can be. Although there are some decent judges too.

John

Thats soooo infair they made you pay that ticket Jane !

One time I got a ticket for back in only, I needed to pay it but it wasnt clear as to how much to pay, not knowing what to do I went to the place where you dispute them, and when they said oh you can pay only.. I stopped the judge short and said .. noooo I just need to know how much it is to pay it.. I know NOW what I did was wrong. Lucky for me it was 40 bucks.

I'll say,, but you know I got no comment about being honest from that judge that day, only when I walked out did I notice it...ehh.. thats ok, I don't do stuff for reconition anyhow. I just hoped that made the judge think twice before being "judgemental" about the next person before them.

dr.

true..however this is not a criminal case so there is no burden of proof "beyond a reasonable doubt."
it is a civil case based on the "scales of justice" it has been the city's position that the ticket itself, signed by an officer under the penalty of perjury, tilts the scale all to the city's side and it's up to you to overcome that weight with susbtantial evidence to prove that the ticket was wrong.
under the young decision and previous case law it is quite clear that the only thing you need to do to tilt the scale in your direction is to have an argument that cannot be considered "patently incredible" or "obviously a lie" or "obviously unbelieveable."
so, once you present an argument that the judge cannot rule is "patently incedible" the burden shifts to the city.
howver, the city does not use this standard and i know that judges are ignoring it in fear of their jobs even after our story aired.

john

Well, I've said this before and I have not seen a change yet. The way that parking enforcement is conducted in New York City is tantamount to legal extortion. Certainly, there is a need to crack down on people blatantly breaking the law and enforcement is needed to prevent total chaos. The problem is in the choices of when and where parking enforcement is engaged. It is so bad in my neighborhood that I have received tickets numerous times on days when alternate street parking is suspended. I have actually spoken directly to a ticketing officer (politely) and told them that alternate street parking was suspended. I was rewarded with several rude comments and an illegal ticket. Of course, I was able to fight the ticket, but I should have to. It is inexcusable that police officers are misinformed about parking rules when they are tasked to enforce them. The lack of courtesy, professionalism and respect in the Bronx is unacceptable and should be an embarrassment to the NYPD.

Daniel

Sanctus,

My take on this is that the NYPD inherited "traffic agents" or "brownies" who used to be part of the d.o.t. No one in the NYPD will admit this but the "traffic agents" have caused nothing but grief and have indirectly tarnished the NYPD's image.
There are many good traffic agents out there who are passionate about their jobs but there are just too many stories of fraud, laziness and incomptence amoung traffic agents to give the system any credibilty.
John

John,

I agree that is part of the problem. In my neighborhood, however, 95% of the tickets are written by police officers who were never traffic agents or brownies. I live very close to a police precinct and the major impound lot in the Bronx at the site of the old Lincoln Hospital. They are merciless in our area, especially in the neighborhood streets where everyone owns their own house, goes to work every day and makes a decent living. I really don't mean to beat a dead horse, but I am convinced that parking enforcement is enforced unfairly in specific neighborhoods for a variety of reasons including convenience, laziness and the ability of the victims to quickly pay tickets or pay to get their cars back. I know I can't prove it and I'm always willing to admit that I could be wrong, but I don't think so in this case. It's a win, win for the city. Frankly, I would prefer that they just knock on my door and demand cash every few weeks. That would, at least, be more honest and involve much less hassle.

Daniel

Hey Doug, I dont get what stem cell research has to do with parking tickets in NYC?