2 parking tickets for same violation in 20 minutes - DC says Guilty

[healyp4]

Hi there,

I parked my car on a street during the weekly, 2-hour street cleaning window. I am guilty of this violation, that much is true. The only problem is that I was cited for the exact same violation twice, and DC wants me to pay for both.

You see, DC issued me Ticket #1 via a "SweeperCam" attached to the street sweeper. I received the ticket in the mail, with a nice picture confirming my violation.

Then, 20 minutes later, Parking officer "M. Cook" comes by on foot, notices my car and issues me Ticket #2 on my windshield, with the exact same description as Ticket #1.

I paid Ticket #1, and Denied Ticket #2, on the grounds that I already admitted liability to the violation and paid the penalty for Ticket #1, and should not be held to account for the same offense twice -- a "double jeopardy" argument if you will.

DC said no dice. They replied to my denial saying I have to pay BOTH tickets! Since then, the fine for Ticket #2 has doubled per the normal rules.

What result???What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

[patstew]

Our ordinances say we can issue a ticket every 120 minutes for the same violation.

What do your ordinances say?

[FlyingRon]

The fine got doubled because you didn't pay or file the contest within 30 days. I'd have contested them both.

However, I don't see anything in the screwage that is DC parking enforcement that really gives you an out here. Ticket writers are free to give you multiple tickets.

You can appeal, but you'll waste more time doing it.