Parking ticket while picking up elderly mother

[qllleee]

I live in Wisconsin. We were visiting Washington DC last week (using my mother's vehicle). My mom is almost 80 yrs old.

We were at the Jefferson Memorial and I was asked to go get my mother's vehicle and pick her and the others up at the curb. (The parking lot was at least a quarter mile from the memorial.) I pulled up and within a minute a police officer approached my window. His words were a gruff, "Move ahead." I moved ahead about 300 feet where there were no other cars or vehicles and waited for my mom, husband, and kids. My mom has had foot surgery and walks very slowly. Shortly after I moved, the police officer put a parking ticket on my windshield. I got out of the van to ask the officer why I got a ticket... wanting to explain that I was picking up my elderly mother. I had to say "Sir..." 3 times before he even turned around to look at me. When he finally did, he said i was parked illegally.

I had never left my vehicle (except to ask the question, and was only there for a few minutes waiting. I circled the block one time and by that time my mom and family were waiting for me at the curb and I picked them up.

This ticket is for $50.
Since I had not parked and was not there long, do I have to pay this ticket? Can one get a parking ticket if one is not "parked?"

I have no criminal record and have probably 2 speeding tickets in my past. However, I'm considering ignoring this parking ticket. I was so angry at the police officer for ignoring me when I was calling to him. Given how he spoke to me the first time when he barked, "Move ahead," I took him to be a grumpy man.

Will the District of Columbia let the state of Wisconsin know of this outstanding ticket? Because we were in my mother's vehicle would they try to do anything to her... issue a warrant ... put anything on her credit report or anything like that?

Thank-you so much for your advice!
Lee

[racer72]

Unless the vehicle was in continual motion, you were parked. Go ahead and ignore the ticket, your mother is the one that is going to put up with the collection calls and possible suspension of her license.

[I_Got_Banned]

Originally Posted by qllleee

Since I had not parked and was not there long, do I have to pay this ticket? Can one get a parking ticket if one is not "parked?"

Were there signs posted and if so, did they say "no parking", "no stopping" or "no standing"? And was the curb painted with any distinguishing color?

Also, why don't you post the statute or the violation code shown on the citation?

Originally Posted by qllleee

Will the District of Columbia let the state of Wisconsin know of this outstanding ticket? Because we were in my mother's vehicle would they try to do anything to her... issue a warrant ... put anything on her credit report or anything like that?

Well, since a parking ticket is usually issued to the vehicles license plate number, then it will be easy to associate the registered owner of the vehicle to that particular ticket (regardless of who was driving).

So, will DC contact WI for information as to who the vehicle is owned by? If the ticket remains unpaid, then yes, that is VERY likely.

Originally Posted by qllleee

Because we were in my mother's vehicle would they try to do anything to her... issue a warrant ...

Do anything to her? They may and can try to collect the fine and if not paid on time, the fine in addition to late fees.

Will they issue a warrant? Highly unlikely.

Originally Posted by qllleee

... put anything on her credit report or anything like that?

Very likely.

[HighwayMan]

The officer's attitude doesn't mean anything when it comes to the violation.

Do you know how much grief people give cops and other enforcement personnel over parking tickets? It's not worth the hassle and one common way to deal with it is to pretty much ignore a person's pleas and complaints at the curbside.

You were parked - makes no difference if the engine was running or you were in the van, it was still parked. Certain areas (probably like that one) need to be kept clear and there's zero tolerance.

The wrong thing to do is ignore the ticket. Have it adjudicated. Don't count on winning, but you might get lucky.