curious about pkg ticket/ER

[sunoverla]

What is the name of your state? Cali

I recently had to take my little boy to the ER and found zero parking in the hospital...so I ventured to the street and parked right in front...no sign seen except a bit furthur up and I wasn't in any red zone...I then took him inside the ER and when I came out I found a parking ticket stating "no parking between 7am-6pm" Silly me, that's what the sign said.
So in any case, I had no choice but to park there, and even being in the wrong...do you think it's worth my time contesting it? What chance do I have of getting it dismissed?
(*no laughing please) thanks~

[FlyingRon]

You're clearly guilty as you realize. The "there weren't any other spaces" isn't going to wash. A sympathetic judge might buy the I had to take the kid to the ER story.

[patstew]

Originally Posted by FlyingRon

You're clearly guilty as you realize. The "there weren't any other spaces" isn't going to wash. A sympathetic judge might buy the I had to take the kid to the ER story.

Specially if you bring the paperwork with you.

[tranquility]

Necessity is a defense to a criminal act. You have a chance to win, but at what cost? How much is the ticket as compared to your time in travel and in court?

[sunoverla]

Thankyou all who replied. Appeciate your comments. The ticket is $47. bucks and well worth my time contesting since the travel time is 10 minutes and the ticket is quite expensive (for me). I do have the ER paperwork and his little ER wristband.

I've never contested a ticket and this is our constitutional right.

thanks again.

[CdwJava]

A parking ticket is not contested in court - it is contested by an administrative panel assigned to the task by the citing agency. Only after an administrative appeal of the panel's decision can the matter be brought to court.

In your case, the worst that can happen is the panel finds you guilty even if they empathize.

- Carl

[sunoverla]

A parking ticket is not contested in court - it is contested by an administrative panel assigned to the task by the citing agency.

Carl, I was told on the phone today that I will have a hearing date set once I pay the ticket at the traffic division's customer service ...is this the same as administrative panel?[

[FlyingRon]

Yes, most likely.

Don't know about your locality, but in some cases it's just a administrative officer that gives you the oppurtunity to have your say. You might as well try it (bring some sort of record showing the child was admitted to the ER). It's worth a shot.

[CdwJava]

Originally Posted by sunoverla

Carl, I was told on the phone today that I will have a hearing date set once I pay the ticket at the traffic division's customer service ...is this the same as administrative panel?[

Yes it is.

It's whatever procedure is in place to contest parking tickets.

For instance, at my agency, you speak to me. If you don't like MY decision, you appeal to the Chief. If you don't like HIS decision, you can take the matter to court.

In the city where I used to work, there was a panel of administrators/employees that would hear challenges one day per week. The appeal from there was to a panel of two or three appointed by the City manager. After that was court.

The traffic division's customer service unit is probably that first level of the challenge process.

- Carl