20+ parents ticketed for parking in Red Zone

[9four68]

What is the name of your state? Utah

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by 9four68

What is the name of your state? Utah

Advice: Don't park in a red zone.

[9four68]

Sorry I'm new at this and didn't get my story down, and then got logged out. So here I go again. I'm wondering if an appeal in my case is worthy.

I parked at a school (semi closed down) where the kids play soccer. This space has been used for parking for as long as my kids have been playing soccer there and others have said as long as they have- 5 years - and never been ticketed. This soccer association has 1100+ kids playing and parking is limited to the school parking lot. The area we were parking is in designated as the bus zone, so presumably people have thought in the past its Saturday no bus', should be OK to park there. I'm an Aussie, been here little over 12 months and was just following the crowd. The ticketing officer could understand how we could be upset and suggested we appeal the ticket. My question would be "Is anybody successful in appealing a ticket, or should I just suck it up and pay the fine"? I've never been through the process, in Oz you get a ticket you suck it up and pay the fine, though I have to say our parking limitations are alot better sign posted and some areas that are No Parking through the week turn to Parking at other times on the weekend like at schools.

[CMLANDLORD]

Red zone means no parking ... PERIOD. This type of violation is only enforced by the officers when they see the incident happen. They don't necessarily baby sit the curb to see if people are violating this law on a daily basis. Using the "we've been parking there for the past two years and never got ticketed" as your defense won't fly w/ a judge. Red zone means no parking and the judge will enforce this. Its like making a U-turn at a stop light that says NO U-turn. You can make the turn 20 X before getting caught and the excuse of "I've done it before" won't get you out of that sticky situation. Consider it a lesson learned. You can always appeal and possibly win if the officer who issued the ticket doesn't show up in court to defend the city or county he works for.

[9four68]

Though I have to ask why do they offer appeals court if you don't have a chance of getting off. Seems like a waste of everyones time. If the officer not turning up is the only chance I have of getting the charge dropped (and considering she wrote 20 odd tickets that day, in that parking lot), then I have Buckley's chance (no). So how much does the cost of parking tickets vary? or are the all one fee? It is not stated on the ticket? And it says "if I fail to appear a warrant will be issued for my arrest", if I pay the fine will all this go away.

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by 9four68

Though I have to ask why do they offer appeals court if you don't have a chance of getting off. Seems like a waste of everyones time. If the officer not turning up is the only chance I have of getting the charge dropped (and considering she wrote 20 odd tickets that day, in that parking lot), then I have Buckley's chance (no).

For example: If the red zone in your locality allows you to stop briefly to discharge passengers, then you could appeal a parking ticket with that as a defense (if you were actually dropping off passengers). That's an example of why they have appeal procedures...

[HiThere]

First you say red zone then you say it was a bus zone, so that's a little confusing. I'm going with bus zone here...

41-6a-1307. School bus parking zones -- Establishment -- Uniform markings -- Penalty.
**************..
(3) In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the Department of Transportation, after consultation with local highway authorities and school boards which may include input from school traffic safety committees established under Section 53A-3-402, shall make rules establishing specifications for uniform signage or markings to clearly identify school bus parking zones.
(4) A person may not stop, stand, or park a vehicle other than a school bus, whether occupied or not, in a clearly identified school bus parking zone.
(5) A person who violates Subsection (4) shall pay a minimum fine of $75.

It doesn't appear to exclude weekends, so a bus zone looks to be enforced for any day. So unless you can argue that the zone was improperly marked, then I don't see much hope in contesting. You do mention "semi closed down", but didn't elaborate. Maybe there is something there. Unless you are just saying because it was on a weekend there wasn't much activity, then re-read the first sentence of this paragraph.

People do contest tickets in court and occasionally win because officers make mistakes in enforcing laws, etc. but you can't complain much if you broke the law.

[Zigner]

A red zone in a bus zone is still a red curb

[FlyingRon]

Originally Posted by 9four68

Though I have to ask why do they offer appeals court if you don't have a chance of getting off.

Because some times a ticket is issued when the person is not guilty of the infraction.

But if you're guilty, and you don't have any reason to legitimately challenge things, it is a waste of time. Fortunately with these sort of tickets you can plead guilty by mail and pay the fine without having to waste your time.

"if I fail to appear a warrant will be issued for my arrest", if I pay the fine will all this go away.

That's pretty much it.