Got a parking ticket that wasn't even me

[mickz]

My car is leased so the insurance company forwarded a letter from the City of Burnaby to me. Only the ticket number and my plates are noted on the letter, no other information like time of the ticket, make, model or color.

I called the inquiry number on the letter and apparently my car was parked on the 4300 block of Dominion Street (near Grand Villa Casino) in Burnaby on June 29 2009 at 1:30pm with a meter violation.

I found it strange because my car was parked on Kingsway and MacPherson Ave (near Metrotown) where I work from 9am-5pm. My work place is 5.1km away from 4300 Dominion.

After putting me on hold for a bit the girl on the phone said she's going to get the guy who issued the ticket to call me on Saturday.

She told me the ticket was definitely for my car, a Toyota (I drive a Jetta btw, with all VOLKSWAGEN badges in tact) but she quoted my plate numbers which was correct. She says she'll "look into it" with ICBC and she may or may not call me back prior to the other guy on Saturday since they want to ask if my plates are on some sort of Toyota.

Obviously I'm not going to pay this ticket since it wasn't me. I'm just wondering if I will get a confirmation letter or number stating I'm off the hook for this because the City of Burnaby messed up? The last thing I want is more letters to come in the mail because of them.

Also, the violation was on June 29 with the payment due July 14. My letter is dated July 20. How is anyone supposed to pay it on time?

[sho_bc]

Make sure you follow up with the city in order to find out what happened/what is happening and get any dismissal in writing. That is the closest to being sure of the result.

[mickz]

Thanks for your answer. Would I still have to write a letter of dispute? I'd call the inquiry line to ask again but they're closed right and I'll have to call tomorrow.

[mickz]

I got a call back from the officer who issued the ticket and he says it was a mistake on their office staff. He said he wrote the ticket for a license plate with 305. Apparently the girls at the office thought his "3" looked like a "5" and they charged me instead.

I asked for a reference number or something in writing stating the charges have been dropped. The officer on the phone seemed pretty reluctant to give me a number and ended up not giving me one. However he says I MAY get something in the mail after they sort this out.

I got his name at the least so I know who to go after if I start getting letters from collections agencies. I'm going to give them a call again sometime next week before my supposed ticket is due just to make sure I'm in good standing.

[i_eat_r1ce]

i find it weird that can he remember the details of every vehicle that he issued a ticket to.
especially ones from 1 month or more ago...

[subordinate]

If it's the officer's writing, then he should be able to read them?

The girls in the office made the mistake, so he likely referred back to the ticket and the plates he wrote.