Un-Paid NYC parking tickets

[jla]

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


I was working in NYC a few years ago, with permenant residence in Illinois. On one of my trips I ended up driving out and keeping my car out there for a month. While out there I received 2 parking tickets. One had a sign that was pointed the wrong way making it unclear which side of the sign you could park on (I choose the wrong one apparently), to which I pictured and disputed on-line (I was still found guilty). The other was for parking too close to a fire hydrant, which really aggrevated me because I asked a nearby cop what the law was for parking distance and he told me I was fine but I still found a ticket on my car. This argument clearly didn't hold up on the ticket. My situation now is, I talked to a friend of a friend who was a lawyer out there and asked him if I had to pay these tickets when I was found liable in both cases. He told me that NYC will boot you after i think 3 tickets and you can't register a car or a driver's license with any tickets on your record out there. This was fine since I don't live out there. He then told me they won't do anything else to enforce this and if they don't collect after 7 years the statute of limitations was up and I'd be clear. Someone from an old address where I lived recently called me saying that A letter from a collection agency came stating that they where representing NYC in collecting these tickets. Well maybe the advice I got was wrong? It looks like perhaps these tickets have gone to collections. What are my options here? I'm frustrated because the $200 in parking tickets is now $380 according to the letter from the collection agency. I'm somewhat hoping the letter is just a scare tactic and not a real collection agency, but this probably isn't the case. What are my options here, obviously if this is a real collection agency and going to have an affect on my credit I'll pay. Since I thought I was ok based on the advice I got when i first got them i didn't pay. (1) What happens if I don't pay? (2) Is there a way to negotiate how much I pay, can I call NY and negotiate to pay closer to the original amount? I know often times cities will do this, if so who do I call? Any help is appreciated.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

[I_Got_Banned]

Originally Posted by jla

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


I was working in NYC a few years ago, with permenant residence in Illinois. On one of my trips I ended up driving out and keeping my car out there for a month. While out there I received 2 parking tickets.

One had a sign that was pointed the wrong way making it unclear which side of the sign you could park on (I choose the wrong one apparently), to which I pictured and disputed on-line (I was still found guilty).

The other was for parking too close to a fire hydrant, which really aggrevated me because I asked a nearby cop what the law was for parking distance and he told me I was fine but I still found a ticket on my car. This argument clearly didn't hold up on the ticket.

My situation now is, I talked to a friend of a friend who was a lawyer out there and asked him if I had to pay these tickets when I was found liable in both cases. He told me that NYC will boot you after i think 3 tickets and you can't register a car or a driver's license with any tickets on your record out there. This was fine since I don't live out there. He then told me they won't do anything else to enforce this and if they don't collect after 7 years the statute of limitations was up and I'd be clear.

Someone from an old address where I lived recently called me saying that A letter from a collection agency came stating that they where representing NYC in collecting these tickets. Well maybe the advice I got was wrong? It looks like perhaps these tickets have gone to collections.

What are my options here? I'm frustrated because the $200 in parking tickets is now $380 according to the letter from the collection agency. I'm somewhat hoping the letter is just a scare tactic and not a real collection agency, but this probably isn't the case.

What are my options here, obviously if this is a real collection agency and going to have an affect on my credit I'll pay. Since I thought I was ok based on the advice I got when i first got them i didn't pay. (1) What happens if I don't pay? (2) Is there a way to negotiate how much I pay, can I call NY and negotiate to pay closer to the original amount? I know often times cities will do this, if so who do I call? Any help is appreciated.

Hooray for paragraphs!!!

Your options?

Either pay the fines or risk that negative information affecting your credit.

Also keep in mind that if New York can figure out your license number and if it is common practice to place a hold on a driver's license of the registered owner of a vehicle which has outstanding parking fines, then Illinois will get word of such a hold via what is referred to as the Driver's License Compact agreement between most states in the union.

Now whether that is a hold that will prevent you from renewing your license or if its a hold that can be interpreted into a license suspension is anybody's guess.

Chances are, you might find out which one it is while parked on the side of the road while an officer is asking you if you knew your license was suspended.

As for negotiating, my guess is you need "good credit" and a license to drive more than the State of New York needs your $380... Or should I say "their $380"? It wouldn't hurt to try though!

[You Are Guilty]

Originally Posted by jla

(1) What happens if I don't pay?

The same thing that happens to everyone else in collections, with the added benefit of NYC being able to boot your car if you should come back.

Originally Posted by jla

(2) Is there a way to negotiate how much I pay, can I call NY and negotiate to pay closer to the original amount?

Too late for that now, call the collection company. I'm sure if you offer a good chunk of the money, they'll be willing to work with you. Stress that you don't even live in NYC anymore.