Got a Ticket at a State Park
My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: California
ok so a couple months ago, my group of people from my college went on a camping trip. I couldn't spend the night so i wanted to stop by and chill for bit. So i drove to the park at night and when i got there, it was dark and no one was in front of the entrance booth so i just drove through to the camp site and parked in the 20 min zone in front of the bathroom. Well turns out my friend needed a ride back so less than 20 minutes later i returned and saw a parking ticket on my window for 64 bucks and they marked that i did not resgistor my car to the front desk or something. Apparently all overnight guest have to have their car resgistor. So one of my friends that was there said that even at night you still have to do it somehow. I remember passing the office on my way out and they were closed. So i wrote a letter of appeal stating my case that i was only there for less than 20 minutes and was there to pick up a friend and did not spend the night so i did not feel i had to get a ticket. I got a response back that the ticket was upheld and the reason i didn't know cause i did not read the hand writing. Something tells me that because of the recession that they don't care and will get money wherever they can even if it means ripping off poor college students. They said it i want a second appeal that i had to schedule a court date which they hope i would just pay the fine which i did. So was i wrong so just being there for less than 20 minutes and getting a ticket?
Re: Got a Ticket at a State Park
Was there a sign at the entrance that said all overnight guest cars must be registered?
Re: Got a Ticket at a State Park
it was dark so i couldn't really see, it in like a forets near the beach and they don't have much lights there.
Re: Got a Ticket at a State Park
Well, if that is a rule for the campsite, then they would have to post a sign saying so... If they didn't have a sign posted, then you would have a good argument to have the ticket dismissed; but to say "I didn't see it, couldn't read it or it was too dark" will probably not work.