Alexandria City Car Decal Extortion (DMV, tax, office)

[car54]

Originally Posted by TheEggman

I live on a short, dead-end with a cul-de-sac, no Homeowners Assn or Covenants and have had no problems with neighbors for 20 years here.

The police LOVE to set up radar on the corner of the street, it seems to be a cash cow, so I get a lot of motor officers up and down the street.

Also, there are several high-ranking and would-be high-ranking politicos who live on the street and there is a lot of police traffic. (A neighbor recently had Condi Rice over for dinner) and no, I'm far from wealthy. I bought the house over 20 years ago BEFORE it was a pricey neighborhood. I couldn't afford the mortgage if I bought it today.

Finally, the county in which the truck lives doesn't issue county stickers. (Many areas are phasing them out as an unnecessary expense.) A vehicle in Alexandria without a sticker (especially a white, full-size pickup) would draw attention.

Best,

Egg

Okay, there is a simple solution. Park the truck on your property, or even better, in the garage or around back. I don't believe the police will come onto private property to ticket a vehicle.

The reason some jurisdictions are phasing out the stickers is that there are now better (and cheaper) ways to induce people to pay the car tax. The sticker was once the only way to enforce the tax. Current law allows the Revenue Commissioners to direct the DMV to put a stop on the delinquent vehicle's license plates.

As for the police "LOVING" certain spots to set up radar....love has nothing to do with it. Speed enforcement in residential areas is almost always the result of citizen complaints.

[Azmordean]

Seems like Alexandria has a racket going here to me. I mean, it should not be difficult to find out where a vehicle is garaged, sticker or not. Officer sees vehicle without a sticker, realizes its been there a few days. Officer runs the plates, notes that vehicle is properly registered in Stafford County, and moves on.

Frankly I'd take the parking ticket to court. Yeah, it'll cost you more, but from what I'm seeing, this scheme is NOT proper under state law and I don't think a judge would care for it. (PS - this is not meant to be legal advice of any kind).

[TheEggman]

They don't do temporary stickers.

As more surrounding jurisdictions eliminate their City/County decals, I believe Alexandria is attempting to find a way to impose a citywide 'parking/commuter tax' through a back door.

[TheEggman]

Originally Posted by car54

Okay, there is a simple solution. Park the truck on your property, or even better, in the garage or around back. I don't believe the police will come onto private property to ticket a vehicle.
...
As for the police "LOVING" certain spots to set up radar....love has nothing to do with it. Speed enforcement in residential areas is almost always the result of citizen complaints.

I can't ALWAYS park the truck on my property, and if the police can SEE it from the street, they can ticket it.

In Alexandria you can be charged (though I don't believe anyone has) with drinking in public in your own yard or on your own porch if visible from the street and what you are drinking can be identified as alcohol. IOW, put the bottle in a bag, or pour it into a glass. They WILL write a ticket on private property.

It won't fit in the garage and the house in Alexandria is on a tiny lot, there is no room to maneuver it behind the house without tearing up some landscaping. In any case, at some point, I have to travel a City street or stop at the Lumber store.

I'm friendly with one of the motor police who runs the Radar (none of them gave me the ticket) and while they do set it up most places because of an accident or complaints, this location is a rather unique one and the police themselves have let me know it's a favorite 'discretionary' location. When they set up there they always get 20 or so violators in a very short period.

[TheEggman]

Originally Posted by jahutch

Seems like Alexandria has a racket going here to me. I mean, it should not be difficult to find out where a vehicle is garaged, sticker or not. Officer sees vehicle without a sticker, realizes its been there a few days. Officer runs the plates, notes that vehicle is properly registered in Stafford County, and moves on.

Frankly I'd take the parking ticket to court. Yeah, it'll cost you more, but from what I'm seeing, this scheme is NOT proper under state law and I don't think a judge would care for it. (PS - this is not meant to be legal advice of any kind).

I'm taking it as far as I can take it. I've spoken with several lawyers now and the whole thing they way they are attempting to enforce it (in my case at least) is patently illegal. SPECIFICALLY in violation of

§ 46.2-755. Limitations on imposition of motor vehicle license taxes and fees.
A. No county, city, or town shall impose any motor vehicle license tax or fee on any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer when:
1. A similar tax or fee is imposed by the county, city, or town wherein the vehicle is normally garaged, stored or parked;

I've penned a formal letter to the City Atty. advising them that they are violating State Law with a CC: to the Commonwealths Atty's office.

The ironic part is that I had originally thought I'd just bite the bullet and pay the 40.00 rather than go through the hassle. That's when I found out that I was not allowed to pay the ticket until I produced proof that I bought a Decal, and that's when I got REALLY P.O.d and started doing research.

I'm also 'supposed' to hear from someone in Parking Enforcement today who promised to look into it.

I've set Friday as my deadline for satisfaction since the 'due date' on the ticket is approaching.Now that I know I am 100% in the right, have VA Law on my side and have collected a few truly idiotic e-mails from various City officials, if Friday passes with no news I'm taking a day or so next week and dropping down to City Hall and irritating a few people in person. If i still get stonewalled I'll start the legal ($$) ball rolling.



Best,

Egg

[greeniebean]

Originally Posted by TheEggman

I've set Friday as my deadline for satisfaction since the 'due date' on the ticket is approaching.Now that I know I am 100% in the right, have VA Law on my side and have collected a few truly idiotic e-mails from various City officials, if Friday passes with no news I'm taking a day or so next week and dropping down to City Hall and irritating a few people in person. If i still get stonewalled I'll start the legal ($$) ball rolling.

This sounds like one of those stories that the news outlets love; such as WTOP's Call For Action.
Call For Action

Given your research, you could always submit it and see if they air it. Might save another driver stuck in a similar situation some hassle.

[Fern435]

Please post the outcome, Eggman. With the crazy patchwork of town/county governments around here, these situations must happen often. They should definitely be more reasonable to people who own multiple properties in the region. It's understandable that they are trying to stop people from dishonest reporting, but it seems in your case they are attempting to create a crime where there is none. Good luck!

[TheEggman]

Originally Posted by greeniebean

This sounds like one of those stories that the news outlets love; such as WTOP's Call For Action.
Call For Action

Given your research, you could always submit it and see if they air it. Might save another driver stuck in a similar situation some hassle.

I've advised WTOP Call for Action and 7 on your side. No response as of yet.

I'll keep you posted, thanks ...

Egg

[kevbros]

It seems this whole question is more about your residence than the vehicle. You seem to be claiming two residences - one in Stafford and one in Alexandria. Alexandria just sees you as a City resident, who must pay taxes on any vehicle within the City limits.

[not2creative]

It has to do with where the vehicle sleeps at night (so to speak) for the majority of the time. Police in Leesburg routinely search apartment complexes at night and if they spot your vehicle more than X days in a given time you will get a ticket for no sticker. Back in 1998 I traveled five days a week for my job and left my car (with MD tags) at a friends apartment in Leesburg while flying out of Dulles. I thought I would save money on parking, instead I ended up with a ticket. I was living in MD, working in NYC with my car in VA. I tried fighting it and ended up paying to park at the airport but I did get out of the ticket. Certainly something broken there.....