Parking ticket 7 minutes late -- worth fighting? (Baltimore: cost, license plate)

[MaestroMateo]

I actually approached my vehicle before the ticketing officer got there. "Whew", I said, "that was close." She responded by saying there was no grace period for parking tickets in Maryland and then proceeded to use her little machine to scan my parking stub (expired at 4:57 and it was now 5:04) and then walked past me to scan my license plate. She then said, "don't think I'm trying to be rude, but I need to place this under your windshield wipers" and literally reached past me to put the ticket under my wipers. Throughout, I'm standing there with my driver's side door -- and mouth -- wide open. She then said, "you can always go to court."

So, my question is: can I really? Is it going to cost me more than the thirty-some dollars of the ticket? Do I have a case since I arrived before the officer at my car even though the stub had expired a couple of minutes earlier?

Also, just wow. Have some humanity, lady. I'm a teacher, my car is a piece of junk and she could've clearly seen the two car seats for my toddler and baby in the backseat. So yeah, Merry Christmas, Baltimore City.

[North Beach Person]

Pay the ticket.

[Seguinite]

So you were late? Why even ask the question?

[G1..]

Originally Posted by MaestroMateo

I actually approached my vehicle before the ticketing officer got there. "Whew", I said, "that was close." She responded by saying there was no grace period for parking tickets in Maryland and then proceeded to use her little machine to scan my parking stub (expired at 4:57 and it was now 5:04) and then walked past me to scan my license plate. She then said, "don't think I'm trying to be rude, but I need to place this under your windshield wipers" and literally reached past me to put the ticket under my wipers. Throughout, I'm standing there with my driver's side door -- and mouth -- wide open. She then said, "you can always go to court."

So, my question is: can I really? Is it going to cost me more than the thirty-some dollars of the ticket? Do I have a case since I arrived before the officer at my car even though the stub had expired a couple of minutes earlier?

Also, just wow. Have some humanity, lady. I'm a teacher, my car is a piece of junk and she could've clearly seen the two car seats for my toddler and baby in the backseat. So yeah, Merry Christmas, Baltimore City.

Nope, guilty ,pay it.

[MidValleyDad]

Originally Posted by MaestroMateo

I actually approached my vehicle before the ticketing officer got there. "Whew", I said, "that was close." She responded by saying there was no grace period for parking tickets in Maryland and then proceeded to use her little machine to scan my parking stub (expired at 4:57 and it was now 5:04) and then walked past me to scan my license plate. She then said, "don't think I'm trying to be rude, but I need to place this under your windshield wipers" and literally reached past me to put the ticket under my wipers. Throughout, I'm standing there with my driver's side door -- and mouth -- wide open. She then said, "you can always go to court."

So, my question is: can I really? Is it going to cost me more than the thirty-some dollars of the ticket? Do I have a case since I arrived before the officer at my car even though the stub had expired a couple of minutes earlier?

Also, just wow. Have some humanity, lady. I'm a teacher, my car is a piece of junk and she could've clearly seen the two car seats for my toddler and baby in the backseat. So yeah, Merry Christmas, Baltimore City.

And if she gives you a break someone else could use that as grounds for not getting a break. And next time someone will argue that they were only 9 minutes late. Then 11. She was doing her job, seems like she was polite and told you what your options were. Your job, the type of car, how many car seats has nothing to do with it. Pay the ticket.

[choccity]

not worth the stress, pay the ticket.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by MidValleyDad

And if she gives you a break someone else could use that as grounds for not getting a break. And next time someone will argue that they were only 9 minutes late. Then 11. She was doing her job, seems like she was polite and told you what your options were. Your job, the type of car, how many car seats has nothing to do with it. Pay the ticket.

As a retired teacher, whose wife is still teaching, it pisses me off when someone uses being one as an excuse/justification/rationalization for something like this.

We had 4 kids, by the way.

[Woodlands]

So...the late is late argument is certainly valid... That said, I have personally had a similar situation happen at Penn Station several years ago.. I was unloading several toddlers and an elderly grandmother at the station curbside before going to park in the garage as I was traveling with them.. I parked in the circle, got them inside.. went back to my car and there was a ticket on there. I was only inside for five minutes.. I pleaded my case to the Amtrak Police and after saying that I should have found an officer first before unloading so they knew my situation.. he bluntly said "go to court"


So, I did just that.. I went to court... the officer didn't show up.. case got thrown out. It cost me a few hours from being off of work.. but the ticket was $75 not $30. Also, this was Amtrak Police.. who I am sure have more important things to do than to show up in court over parking tickets...so I considered his advice to go to court pretty substantial. I say that to say.. the only way you would win is if the officer didn't show up.. Given that it is Baltimore City and they write a lot of tickets daily they more than likely will show.. it may not be worth you effort for $30

[steveklein]

Late is late.

I'd say there is about a 98% chance your ticket will hold up.

If the ticket is $30, you have to decide if the expected value of fighting the ticket (60 cents) is worth it. I'm guessing probably not.

[NOTELL]

Just for the principal of the thing-go to court. Its unfair that you were cited and the officer could have used some discretion and earned the good will of a citizen by not citing you for being a few minutes late. Request a court date and the officer's presence. Then ask for a postponement if the date is not convenient for you. If they don't show up-case dismissed. Otherwise, plead guilty, pay the court costs, and I think the judge will reduce the fine. The judge will also take note that the officer cited you anyway for being a few minutes late and will look at futures cases with skepticism.