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parking on sidewalk

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mau99

Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Rhode Island

I rented a car and parked my car at the end of a row of cars in the parking lot
of the rental agency which is on a highway. When I returned to get my car, there was a $20 ticket for parking on the sidewalk. There is no sidewalk.
I went to the police station and was told that I either have to pay the ticket, talk to the cop, who works 12 a.m - 8 a.m., or "plead not guilty" and go to court. When I said there was no sidewalk, a cop asked if there was dirt, which there is. He said that there is a city ordinance that one cannot park within 8 feet of the highway. When I later looked at the ticket there were a list of violations. One is you cannot park within 8 feet of a fire hydrant; nothing about not parking within 8 feet of the street. I said what the rental agent said to me- they park a row of cars closer to the street than I was parked, and they have been there for years. He said that they were lucky they did not get tickets. When I walked into the police station, I thought it strange that there were 2 windows of offices - one solely for tickets with a few people in each of the offices- looks like it is big business here. Any suggestions
 


Isis1

Senior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Rhode Island

I rented a car and parked my car at the end of a row of cars in the parking lot
of the rental agency which is on a highway. When I returned to get my car, there was a $20 ticket for parking on the sidewalk. There is no sidewalk.
I went to the police station and was told that I either have to pay the ticket, talk to the cop, who works 12 a.m - 8 a.m., or "plead not guilty" and go to court. When I said there was no sidewalk, a cop asked if there was dirt, which there is. He said that there is a city ordinance that one cannot park within 8 feet of the highway. When I later looked at the ticket there were a list of violations. One is you cannot park within 8 feet of a fire hydrant; nothing about not parking within 8 feet of the street. I said what the rental agent said to me- they park a row of cars closer to the street than I was parked, and they have been there for years. He said that they were lucky they did not get tickets. When I walked into the police station, I thought it strange that there were 2 windows of offices - one solely for tickets with a few people in each of the offices- looks like it is big business here. Any suggestions
prove you were parked more than 8 feet from the highway, or pay the ticket.
 

justalayman

Senior Member
prove you were parked more than 8 feet from the highway, or pay the ticket.
apparently that was not an option on the ticket.
-----------------------------


So, either pay the ticket or fight it. I would think you have a decent chance of winning, especially if you have a photograph that shows no sidewalk where you were parked.

the thing is: which is cheaper to do?
 

Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
OP has no standing in this matter to contest the ticket - it was a rental car.
The rental company will pay the ticket and bill the OP's account. Problem solved ;)
 

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