Should I fight this ticket? (law, groceries, bus)

[anderonia]

There is a bus stop in front of the entrance to my apt building. I've never had a problem unloading groceries before. Last week one of NY's finest gave me a ticket for standing in a bus stop while unloading the car. I respectfully asked how to unload groceries and he told me I should park the car first, then unload them.

[bungalowbob]

Fight it and ask for a jury trial if possible. If the city can waste your time, you can waste the cities time. This is the American way.

[Henna]

What would your excuse be? If the sign says no standing and you got a ticket you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. consider all the other times you parked there and didn't get a ticket freebies.

I have definitely fought tickets before - but I only fight them when I am in the right and the ticket-giver is in the wrong. Or if it's a judgment call and either one of us could be right.

Edited to say - I often park outside of my building next to the hydrant in order to unload. So far no tickets, but if I get one - I know that I've been breaking the law every time I park there and so far I've just been lucky not to get a ticket.

[009]

Every bus stop has a "No Standing" sign. I'm surprised it's actually enforced, but, like mentioned, it's a matter of "luck"

señal on Flickr - Photo Sharing!: new sign

No Standing on Flickr - Photo Sharing!: old sign

[krys9108]

Originally Posted by anderonia

There is a bus stop in front of the entrance to my apt building. I've never had a problem unloading groceries before. Last week one of NY's finest gave me a ticket for standing in a bus stop while unloading the car. I respectfully asked how to unload groceries and he told me I should park the car first, then unload them.

Maybe you can say you were unloading PEOPLE and THEY were carrying your PROPERTY.

[cyrusjul]

That is why you need to ask a family member or friend to unload while you wait in your car. It is a difficult city to have a car.

[SeventhFloor]

you should always fight the ticket.....there's a chance that the cop may not show up and if they don't, your ticket is automatically dismissed.

[Guywithacause]

Always fight the ticket and drag it through the system. I have contested every ticket...and even had one thrown out right off the bat because the court date was scheduled on a holiday..so it was automatically dismissed for some reason (Westchester County). When you drag it through the courts, they are always looking for ANY reason to decrease the case load. If everyone fought tickets..the whole system would be backlogged for years and they would just dismiss all tickets just for the sheer volume...and then they would think twice about writing tickets.

Please fight the ticket..no matter what excuse you have...you have a good 80% chance that it will either be dismissed outright even before the court case, dismissed at court for some reason, or decreased significantly due to some "hard luck" you have. FIGHT IT.

[baylovers]

the whole system would be backlogged for years and they would just dismiss all tickets just for the sheer volume...and then they would think twice about writing tickets.

Then everyone can do whatever they please and the whole city would go into anarchy. There is a reason there are laws and there is a reason why there are people enforcing them. No Standing means you cannot place your vehicle in the spot and leave your car, generally you cannot stay there for more than a few minutes. Now how about the bus that comes along and cannot get into the bus stop?
- the bus now blocks the traffic lane causing people to back up along the street
- other motorists try to move around the bus increasing the chance of hitting someone or causing an accident.
- the elderly or handicapped persons using the bus cannot disembark the bus safely or at all if there is a wheelchair involved.

It used to drive me nuts when bus drivers did not pull into stops when there wasn't a car blocking it. Parking there disrupts the whole flow of things and that is why it is illegal.

FYI, there is no "court date" for a parking summons. You request a hearing by mail and submit any evidence. A hearing officer decides if you are right or wrong without you or the officer going anywhere... and it appears that under these circumstances you are guilty and will postoning the inevitable fine.

Guy... where did you come up with that 80% figure? I amazaed at some of the things you profess here.

[Guywithacause]

No....fighting as ticket does not mean everyone would be free to do whatever they want...it would mean that officers would write tickets to only those that deserve tickets rather than just meeting unspoken quotas or targeting specific people/communities for whatever reason. And in this case..a simple warning would have sufficed, from what the poster claims at least.

FYI you CAN get a hearing in person for a parking ticket by schlepping your a$$ to the courthouse and waiting your turn to speak your case. And as I stated...you have an 80% chance of having it dismissed outright just for taking the time to plead your case, and in most cases it is substantially reduced...and you move on with your life. Either way it provides her with potentially a way out of paying the ticket, or at least paying alot less, as well as eating up the court's time.