What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? VA
I live in the City of Alexandria where you are required to pay for parking along with your personal property tax. I paid for my parking last year and it is good through Oct 6th, 2008. I never received the decal in the mail, but I do have the Payment Confirmation # and proof that I paid for the personal property tax of my car as well as a decal fee of $33 and parking fee of $15. This morning, I took off from work and parked next to my house and received a citation for "Code 10-4-34, Permit Parking District, Parking Illegally In". I understood why I received the ticket (lack of decal) but felt that it should be waived considering that I have paid to park there. I immediately went to the Adjudication office to contest. I explained the situation and gave the adjudication officer the confirmation # but she didn't bother to research it.
She gave me a notice that the case would not be dismissed. I asked to appeal it and I now have an impending court case next month. In hindsight, I wish I hadn't acted in haste and just paid the ticket. However, now that I have court, I am wondering what the chances are that it will be dismissed when I show up there with evidence that I have paid to park in the zone and if I ask for leniency of the judge. After all, failure to display a decal should not have the same judgement as someone who never paid to park there. I also would like to know whether I should plead guilty or not guilty? And if guilty, is there such a thing as guilty with an explanation? Thanks for taking the time to read this.
I live in the City of Alexandria where you are required to pay for parking along with your personal property tax. I paid for my parking last year and it is good through Oct 6th, 2008. I never received the decal in the mail, but I do have the Payment Confirmation # and proof that I paid for the personal property tax of my car as well as a decal fee of $33 and parking fee of $15. This morning, I took off from work and parked next to my house and received a citation for "Code 10-4-34, Permit Parking District, Parking Illegally In". I understood why I received the ticket (lack of decal) but felt that it should be waived considering that I have paid to park there. I immediately went to the Adjudication office to contest. I explained the situation and gave the adjudication officer the confirmation # but she didn't bother to research it.
She gave me a notice that the case would not be dismissed. I asked to appeal it and I now have an impending court case next month. In hindsight, I wish I hadn't acted in haste and just paid the ticket. However, now that I have court, I am wondering what the chances are that it will be dismissed when I show up there with evidence that I have paid to park in the zone and if I ask for leniency of the judge. After all, failure to display a decal should not have the same judgement as someone who never paid to park there. I also would like to know whether I should plead guilty or not guilty? And if guilty, is there such a thing as guilty with an explanation? Thanks for taking the time to read this.