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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
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    4

    Default Parking Ticket for Obstructing a Mail Box with No Signs Posted

    My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Washington

    I walked back out to my car today to find a parking ticket for $350 for "parking in front of a mailbox." I found quite a few issues which make me think this is a wrongful ticket.

    1. I wasn't parked in front of a mailbox. I was a foot or two away from the mail drop off, but not blocking it in any way.

    2. There were no signs claiming that this was a no-parking zone: no yellow paint, no "No Parking" signs, no sign saying what times parking is prohibited.

    Here is the exact ordinance under which my parking ticket was cited:
    10.20.030 Parking next to mail boxes. No person shall park directly adjacent to a curbside, next to any clearly visible residential mail box between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on any day of scheduled mail delivery by the United States Postal Service. [Ord. 98-0040 § 3.]

    According to this, I was wrong for parking near a mailbox between the prohibited hours (the ticket was for 12:50pm). However, I had absolutely no idea this was illegal and no way to know considering there were NO signs. I understand you can't plead ignorance to the law, but I feel like there should be some type of sign considering the special circumstances this parking area is under.

    I have taken photos of my car in the parking spot, showing that I am following all of the things I have highlighted above. Can I fight this parking ticket in a contested hearing and have a chance to win, or should I just bite the $350 bullet?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    38,867

    Default Re: Parking Violation: $350 Parking Ticket with No Parking Signs Posted

    I'm not clear on where you were parked. Was the mailbox anywhere alongside of your car or not. If the mailbox was in front of or behind your vehicle it appears you were not in violation of the ordinance.

    Generally speaking you are liable to comply with the laws/ordinances of where you are. If you are a resident of that community you have no defense of ignorance as you are expected to be aware of the Ordinances n

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
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    4

    Default Re: Parking Violation: $350 Parking Ticket with No Parking Signs Posted

    Quote Quoting jk
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    I'm not clear on where you were parked. Was the mailbox anywhere alongside of your car or not. If the mailbox was in front of or behind your vehicle it appears you were not in violation of the ordinance.

    Generally speaking you are liable to comply with the laws/ordinances of where you are. If you are a resident of that community you have no defense of ignorance as you are expected to be aware of the Ordinances n
    I was parked about two feet away from the mailboxes. I just moved here but am not an official resident (no lease/no ID change) so I had no clue that the laws were different here than where I moved from, which was also in WA state.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Snohomish, WA
    Posts
    1,588

    Default Re: Parking Violation: $350 Parking Ticket with No Parking Signs Posted

    Pay up. You blocked a mailbox. I wish my town would enact a local ordinance so I didn't have to pay for a couple giant signs to post on the sides of the mailbox to keep people from blocking it. If it's blocked, the post office will not deliver the mail. Yeah, I'm THAT guy.

  5. #5
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    Jun 2016
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    4

    Default Re: Parking Violation: $350 Parking Ticket with No Parking Signs Posted

    Quote Quoting Speedy Gonzalez
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    Pay up. You blocked a mailbox. I wish my town would enact a local ordinance so I didn't have to pay for a couple giant signs to post on the sides of the mailbox to keep people from blocking it. If it's blocked, the post office will not deliver the mail. Yeah, I'm THAT guy.
    I'm sorry that people block your mailbox, but from where I was parked the mailbox was still easily accessible, and I have photo evidence from multiple angles to show the court that.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
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    Snohomish, WA
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    1,588

    Default Re: Parking Violation: $350 Parking Ticket with No Parking Signs Posted

    Quote Quoting wsusarah
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    I'm sorry that people block your mailbox, but from where I was parked the mailbox was still easily accessible, and I have photo evidence from multiple angles to show the court that.
    If you blocked access by a mail truck then you are guilty. They don't get out to deliver mail. Your pictures are meaningless since you could have moved your vehicle prior to taking the pictures.

  7. #7
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    Jan 2006
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    38,867

    Default Re: Parking Violation: $350 Parking Ticket with No Parking Signs Posted

    Quote Quoting Speedy Gonzalez
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    If you blocked access by a mail truck then you are guilty. They don't get out to deliver mail. Your pictures are meaningless since you could have moved your vehicle prior to taking the pictures.
    That is not what the ordinance states. If the mailbox was in front of or behind op's car he was not in violation. Of course proving it can be problematic but regardless, it does not appear the ticket is justified.



    No person shall park directly adjacent to a curbside, next to any clearly visible residential mail box


    if it included a distance from the mailbox such that it would allow for a mail truck to pull in it would have to state such. It doesn't

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
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    4

    Default Re: Parking Violation: $350 Parking Ticket with No Parking Signs Posted

    Quote Quoting jk
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    That is not what the ordinance states. If the mailbox was in front of or behind op's car he was not in violation. Of course proving it can be problematic but regardless, it does not appear the ticket is justified.



    No person shall park directly adjacent to a curbside, next to any clearly visible residential mail box


    if it included a distance from the mailbox such that it would allow for a mail truck to pull in it would have to state such. It doesn't
    I've been researching to try to find distances, special circumstances, etc. but I can't seem to find anything. I've taken pictures of the street, the curb, my car in relation to the mailboxes from all angles, etc. Also, this was a mailbox in which the driver must get out to deliver the mail, and there was plenty of parking space for the mail carrier to do so...

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Snohomish, WA
    Posts
    1,588

    Default Re: Parking Violation: $350 Parking Ticket with No Parking Signs Posted

    You state that the carrier must get out to deliver. Is this mailbox not right by the curb where the driver could deliver it by pulling up to the curb?

    How about posting the pictures?

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