Ever contested a DC parking ticket?

[Anonymous]

I got a parking ticket because the meter reader marked my car at 8 a.m. at a meter. I moved it two hours later, circled the block, and supposedly (who knows, I certainly wasn't paying attention) ended up at the same meter. Got a ticket when the reader noted the car was there three hours later (at a two hour meter). Anyway, I sent in a mail-in adjudication form, saying that I had indeed moved my car and who knows if I moved it to the same spot (heck, i'm sure I did but I wasn't paying attention and heck, I did drive around looking for another spot!). It was a shot in the dark, but I figured why not try, it's $25 after all. Ever tried this? Ever beaten a DC meter ticket?

[Anonymous]

I think the rule is that you can't park your car in the same spot and even in the same vicinity, including opposite side, next street etc. Combine that with your written appeal means you can't play the sympathy card in front of the hearings officer. My guess would be that you will be stuck with the fine.
P.S. Save proof of your appeal because sometime they don't receive your appeal and then you get another fine when payment is not received in 30 days. At least then you can show you contested the ticket.
I once waited almost a year for a decision (but law was on my side as meter was really broken and I reported it as such)

[Anonymous]

Yes, I've appealed a number of times by mail and won. You need to know the regulations and make sure that your argument fits within the rules. I think as long as you move your car to a different spot, it is okay. But I would have just said that you moved it after 2 hours and therefore the meter maid was wrong, not that you were not sure if it was a different spot; if there is ambiguity, the adjudicator will probably find against you.

I agree about keeping a copy of the appeal until there is a decision; if you need to renew anything at DMV, you'll need to show it is still contested.

BTW - Its been a few years, but I have heard several stories of women appealing in person and using some sex appeal to get the ticket reversed (obviously with a male adjudicator).

[Anonymous]

Please keep us informed about your progress if you decide to contest this!

I'm of two minds on parking tickets. On the one hand, I understand that aggressive, sometimes bogus ticketing is an important source of revenue in the District. At $25, the fines are set low enough that contesting a single ticket is hardly worth anyone's time. And I'd also like to see a DC that's more walkable. Discouraging driving and parking should help. On the other hand, I'm infuriated that affluent communities are disproportionately targeted. And when the Logan Circle church parking thing came out, I felt that the District lost all moral authority to issue tickets, since parking regualtions are enforced so selectively.

So, I think I'd like to hear about any victories over the Man you can share, even though I know where I'd like the city to put that $25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please keep us informed about your progress if you decide to contest this!

I'm of two minds on parking tickets. On the one hand, I understand that aggressive, sometimes bogus ticketing is an important source of revenue in the District. At $25, the fines are set low enough that contesting a single ticket is hardly worth anyone's time. And I'd also like to see a DC that's more walkable. Discouraging driving and parking should help. On the other hand, I'm infuriated that affluent communities are disproportionately targeted. And when the Logan Circle church parking thing came out, I felt that the District lost all moral authority to issue tickets, since parking regualtions are enforced so selectively.

So, I think I'd like to hear about any victories over the Man you can share, even though I know where I'd like the city to put that $25.

It is also possible that parking spaces in these more "affluent" areas are more needed. Rather than affluent, the word I might use is busy with businesses and retail. In other words, if I don't get a parking space in Dupont (which, by the way, I never actually can do) b/c someone is breaking the rules, I say ticket them to death.

[Anonymous]

I haven't contested in your situation, but I contested (by mail) a parking ticket at a broken meter and won. I had called in the broken meter--I always do that for just this reason!--and had the confirmation number of the call. The ticket was dismissed.

[Anonymous]

I've contested a broken meter by mail too and won. I also had a parking ticket fee reduced once (again by mail) because the signage explaining where the parking zone began was a little confusing.

[Anonymous]

When you've contested a broken meter- did you know it was broken when you parked? Whenever i park at a meter and it's broken, I always move for fear of a ticket- I've never been parked at a meter that later broke.....just curious because there are quite a few of them in front of my building (govt building off Independence ave).....

This parking mess will likely get me back to taking the VRE as I should, but during this heat, it's particularly rough going since I'm entering my third trimester and already an overheated, waddling basketball

[Anonymous]

17:28 PP here. Yes, I knew it was broken when I parked. There is a number on the meter to call in a broken meter, and if I park at a broken meter, I always use my cell phone to call it in right away, just in case of a ticket. This came in handy when I recently had to contest a ticket (I won; see above). Hope this helps!