First of all I wanted to say that I just found this forum and it looks like a great place to share information and help each other out. I received a parking ticket last month saying that my car was "parked across blue lines. Partially blocking access to HNC parking." Below is the letter I sent to them which will explain what happened. My only evidence so far is my written statement because I didn't notice the ticket until I was driving away.
This letter is to explain the parking situation I encountered on Tuesday June 13th.
Upon parking my vehicle at 5500 Grossmont there were vehicles in both parking spaces to the left and right of the parking place I choose. The large SUV on my left side was parked to the extreme right of his parking place. This forced me to move my vehicle to the extreme right of my parking place so I could open my door wide enough for myself (I am pregnant) and to get my son out of the Driver’s passenger side door. I corrected my vehicle’s parking and although it was very close, my vehicle was within the limits. However I do understand why the officer left a ticket because it was very close. I completely understand that you all have an important job to do. But I did not block any access to the disabled parking space. There was even a different vehicle parked there when I returned, proving that I did not block the handicapped parking area.
I honestly apologize for any inconveniences this experience has caused for you and your staff. This has truly been a very stressful event in my family’s life as well because we are a low-income military family with a new baby on the way. Before this unfortunate incident I had never received any type of ticket or reprimand for a violation.
I have driven a handicapped van before when working with the disabled elderly and handicapped persons in a SAIL (Senior Assisted Independent Living) home. From those experiences I do understand the importance and value of access to the handicapped parking system. I appreciate your personnel for taking the time to read this letter. In the future I will be sure to leave more than enough room to the handicapped parking side so this unfortunate incident will never happen again.
I got a response back today. "Evidence shows that your vehicle was partially parked on the blue hash marks. Which are part of the disabled parking stall. The state mandates the size of disabled parking stall to accommodate all sizes of disabled vehicles."
I called over there and spoke to the Sergeant who said that unfortunately he was on leave last week and couldn't overturn the decision. It will have to go to the next level. I am unable to physically go to the hearing on OCT 20th because we are moving in AUG to Illinois. I am due to have the baby in NOV and the doctor does not want me to be traveling after 35 weeks pregnant.
I feel like I'm at a major disadvantage of not being able to defend myself. One of the reasons why I love the US and served in the military was because of the court systems that are supposed to serve the people. I want to see their "evidence" myself because I feel like this ticket is unjust. The sergeant I talked to even admitted that they rarely take pictures and the "evidence" they spoke of was most likely just the ticket and SOMETIMES they will call the officer in to talk to them. So basically it seems to come down to my word against theirs.
So my questions are
#1. How do I put together more evidence if everything has to be done through the mail?
#2 Is there a way I can ask for a different hearing date because of my "medical" issue of not being able to travel do to the pregnancy?
#3 The ticket was on Wal-mart's private property. How can I find out if their handicapped stalls are correctly marked and measured?
#4 Are there any ideas on how I can fight this? It seems like it's just one person's written word against another. I have heard that they tend to take the cop's side, but I feel like I have good standing too being prior military and a CLEAN background, I have never even got a ticket before
#5 Is there a way I can improve my letter?
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Thank you all for taking the time to read this letter. Some people might say to just pay it. But I honestly don't feel like I deserved this ticket. I can't really afford it either. I hate the fact that it's the same price as someone who blatantly parked IN the handicapped spot, which I did not.
I reside in California
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