REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

speedking · 02-07-2011, 11:38 PM

just dont pay the ticket.

InvisibleSoul · 02-08-2011, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiquidTurbo

Thanks for your post. It sounds like the definition of parking is >5 minutes. I'm going to try and dispute this. We'll see what happens. It was brutal that I wasn't even able to leave my car. I was on the phone reading a work email.

I've been reading trying to find some information about the bylaws, but your document seems to be the most helpful.

Well, that blurb is specific to No Stopping Zones, so it does not necessarily represent the rules that relate to parking meters... but I guess it doesn't hurt to try and dispute it.

CRS · 02-08-2011, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedking

just dont pay the ticket.

Where's the fail button at?

This is a City ticket not one from Impark or Diamond. If you do not pay this ticket, you're going to actually go through heartache because the city will get its money one way or another.

gars · 02-08-2011, 10:47 AM

Quote:

What happens if you don't pay your parking tickets?
Chad Skelton, Vancouver Sun
Published: Saturday, February 28, 2009

Most people who get a parking ticket in Vancouver -- 73 per cent, in fact -- pay it, usually early to take advantage of the lower fine.

Others decide to fight their tickets in court, convinced either that they're not guilty or that they have the perfect excuse that will get them off.

But every year, thousands of people decide to take another approach to their parking tickets: Ignoring them.

In fact, about 75,000 Vancouver parking tickets a year -- one in every five -- are unpaid.

So what happens if you don't pay your parking ticket?

The city has a few options at its disposal.

If you don't pay your ticket -- or arrange to dispute it in court -- the city will eventually send someone out to hand-deliver you a court summons.

If you then don't show up in court, it's technically possible that a warrant could be issued for your arrest.

More likely, however, is that the judicial justice of the peace will hold the trial in your absence, usually resulting in a guilty verdict.

The city will then send you a demand letter, warning you of legal action if you don't pay your fine. This letter alone is enough to make nearly half of people pay up.

If you still won't pay, however, the city files a case in small-claims court, which can affect your credit rating and lead to things like having your assets seized or your paycheque garnisheed.

When it comes to legal action, the city said repeat offenders are its first priority. But it said it also goes after people for only a few unpaid tickets, or bundles together a number of unpaid fines into a single legal action.

By the time all these measures are taken, the city gets paid in about 70 per cent of cases.

According to the city, one of the worst cases of unpaid fines involved a resident with 223 tickets totalling more than $16,000 in unpaid fines.

After going to small-claims court, the city eventually garnisheed his wages and seized his vehicle, eventually recouping 100 per cent of the fines owing, plus interest and court costs.

In addition to legal action, the city has one other weapon it can use against scofflaws: towing.

The city can't tow your car away for simply not paying your tickets.

But parking officers have the discretion to order a tow for any violation they wish.

And if you've got a ton of unpaid tickets -- something the officers know as soon as they punch your plate into their hand-held computers -- chances are you're getting towed away.

That means $59 to get your car out of the impound lot and, if you've been avoiding getting served with your court summons, parking enforcement now knows where to find you.

One enforcement weapon the city doesn't have at its disposal is the Insurance Corp. of B.C.

Unlike speeding tickets, which ICBC makes you deal with before getting your licence renewed, you can renew your licence no matter how many unpaid parking tickets you have.

Last year, Vancouver's Civil City report recommended ICBC start enforcing municipal bylaw fines as well.

However, ICBC poured cold water on the idea, saying it had no interest in becoming the city's collection agency.

Despite the number of unpaid tickets on the books, the city still rakes in a healthy $12 million a year from parking ticket revenue, about twice the $6 million it spends on parking enforcement.

What happens if you don't pay your parking tickets?

Phil@rise · 02-08-2011, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiquidTurbo

I got back in my car and snapped a pic.

Couldn't believe it.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_R...%2004%20PM.jpg

so you were stopped/parked after the time zone allotted? IE no stopping after 6pm kinda thing.
If you were sitting there between the time allotted on the "no stopping" sign then I'd say dispute it as you were just taking a call and then intending on getting out and paying the meter.
If you were stopped after the time allotted suck it up you were stopped in what is generally a lane and holding up potential traffic.

Eff-1 · 02-08-2011, 06:37 PM

Parking cops are people and most are very reasonable. The ones I know, if they see an illegally parked car and there's a driver inside, they'll first always ask the driver to move. They'd rather not have to write a ticket (why bother when you can just keep walking?). Maybe in your case, because it's raining, she just simply didn't see you sitting in the car? Or maybe she was just a dink (there are a few for sure).

As for getting commission, no they don't.

As for making a ton of money, they get paid the same as any other municipal worker. But many of them are only part time. You need tons of union seniority to get full time hours. So $25/hr isn't much when you only work 12 hrs/week.

speedking · 02-08-2011, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRS

Where's the fail button at?

This is a City ticket not one from Impark or Diamond. If you do not pay this ticket, you're going to actually go through heartache because the city will get its money one way or another.

i got about 6 tickets in the past 10 years and never paid a single one.

CRS · 02-08-2011, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedking

i got about 6 tickets in the past 10 years and never paid a single one.

Question. Were they city tickets or from a private business like Impark/Diamond?

gars · 02-08-2011, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRS

Question. Were they city tickets or from a private business like Impark/Diamond?

And if they were from the city, were they all from the same municipality. And was the car registered under the your name?

need2speed · 02-08-2011, 11:54 PM

If it's a city ticket pay for it. One time i pulled over to use my cellphone didnt notice the no stopping sign, meter guy pulls up flashed his lights, i drove off and received a ticket in the mail.
Posted via RS Mobile

SupraTTturbo2jz · 02-09-2011, 12:21 AM

anyone know where those impark patrol ppl hide out in richmond? if i leave my car for 5 mins n come back theres a ticket and i don't see them anywhere. they hide and ticket unsuspecting ppl, it'd be nice to catch them in the act one day..

Soundy · 02-09-2011, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SupraTTturbo2jz

anyone know where those impark patrol ppl hide out in richmond? if i leave my car for 5 mins n come back theres a ticket and i don't see them anywhere. they hide and ticket unsuspecting ppl, it'd be nice to catch them in the act one day..

Impark only hires ninjas.

LiquidTurbo · 02-09-2011, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil@rise

so you were stopped/parked after the time zone allotted? IE no stopping after 6pm kinda thing.
If you were sitting there between the time allotted on the "no stopping" sign then I'd say dispute it as you were just taking a call and then intending on getting out and paying the meter.
If you were stopped after the time allotted suck it up you were stopped in what is generally a lane and holding up potential traffic.

It was on Davie and it was a metered parking zone all the time.
Posted via RS Mobile

Phil@rise · 02-09-2011, 12:09 PM

Is that a not a no stopping sign (with time allotments) above the meter and in front of you?
If its not then go fight it and tell the judge you had just pulled over to park took a call while looking for change and was going to drop change in the meter.

RCubed · 02-09-2011, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundy

Impark only hires ninjas.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SupraTTturbo2jz

anyone know where those impark patrol ppl hide out in richmond? if i leave my car for 5 mins n come back theres a ticket and i don't see them anywhere. they hide and ticket unsuspecting ppl, it'd be nice to catch them in the act one day..

I used to work for Impark =P
They're now hiding in unmarked Silver Yaris or Corollas.
Back when I was working we had a marked red smartcar. Not exactly inconspicuous.

dachinesedude · 02-09-2011, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by need2speed

If it's a city ticket pay for it. One time i pulled over to use my cellphone didnt notice the no stopping sign, meter guy pulls up flashed his lights, i drove off and received a ticket in the mail.
Posted via RS Mobile

dude thats the exact thing that happened to me, except i was stopping to drop someone off, i stopped for literally 10 seconds and still got a ticket in the mail, wtf

gars · 02-09-2011, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dachinesedude

dude thats the exact thing that happened to me, except i was stopping to drop someone off, i stopped for literally 10 seconds and still got a ticket in the mail, wtf

No Stopping = No Stopping.... If it was a No Parking, it's different.

need2speed · 02-09-2011, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gars

No Stopping = No Stopping.... If it was a No Parking, it's different.

Exactly why i didn't dispute and just paid the ticket.
Posted via RS Mobile

need2speed · 02-09-2011, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dachinesedude

dude thats the exact thing that happened to me, except i was stopping to drop someone off, i stopped for literally 10 seconds and still got a ticket in the mail, wtf

Same thing happened to a buddy of mine. The city guys have no sympathy.
Posted via RS Mobile

optiblue · 02-09-2011, 07:59 PM

maybe you were on the phone calling in the pay by phone service :P

LiquidTurbo · 02-09-2011, 08:37 PM

^ Unfortunately I was checking work email via iPhone.

Come to think of it, I would love to spend a day to dispute this, but in the end, I don't think finding my way all the way downtown, parking, disputing, all this during work hours isn't worth $35, or my time.

Doesn't help that the only times to to this is Mon-Fri 830-500. It wasn't about the money at first, but a matter of principle and fairness. I've already wasted enough time to try and find Vancouver's legal definition of parking in a metered zone, which I can't.

Parking Maid, you win.

gars · 02-09-2011, 09:50 PM

I thought Vancouver has one freebie a year. Try calling them first.

FerrariEnzo · 02-10-2011, 05:20 AM

for people who say not to pay...

when you go to renew your license, wouldn't it show up?... if you owe the city money, they want it...

3rd party parking agency are different..

Soundy · 02-10-2011, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gars

I thought Vancouver has one freebie a year. Try calling them first.

Not anymore.

winson604 · 02-13-2011, 04:59 PM

Your lucky the City's new Bylaw Adjudication system isn't in play yet otherwise even if you disputed you would get owned. Try it if you want but I wouldn't cross my fingers. Who knows though.

FerrariEnzo - No it doesn't. City parking tickets have nothing to do with renewing licence or insurance. Those are Provincial Tickets such as speeding tickets etc.