#ParkingTicketProblems - We're All In This Together!

Getting a parking ticket is the worst thing in the world, isn't it? It always seems to happen when you're doing something selfless or fun - volunteering, Christmas shopping, or having lunch with a friend. You lose track of time, and then you find yourself racing against the clock to get back to your car before the local parking authority realizes you are late and tickets you - or even worse, tows you! It's the ultimate downer; the worst way to end a great day.

Lies!

It's also a universal issue. Cities all over the globe have parking problems and thus, #parkingticketproblems. Atlanta, one of our GeoTraffic markets, was recently in the news because local parking authorities have failed to create an online system that effectively manages ticket payment. Residents' data is sitting untouched after they think they have paid electronically, so the ticket looks as though it's been ignored. Then, individuals are not only fined for late payment but for also missing the court date automatically scheduled for them as failure to pay is considered denying fault. What a mess!

This is the reason why shows like "Parking Wars" are so popular. Originally filmed in Philadelphia and Detroit, eventually expanding to include parts of Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey, the show highlighted the frustrations of residents with parking law enforcement like the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA). The PPA gained national notoriety in 2010 after a ticket-fixing scandal was exposed, prompting the firing of several city employees and authority managers.

Some of the most feared folks in the world. 

Here at GeoTraffic, we decided to do a little digging into the scandalous world of parking tickets. Aside from the drama in Philly and Atlanta, it seems as though many of our markets are no stranger to #parkingticketproblems!

Detroit: No wonder the city is broke! Detroit was paying $32 to process a $30 parking ticket for years, and at any given moment, at least half of the almost 3,500 parking meters are out of service which is a major frustration to residents trying to park downtown.

New York: A simple case of cop corruption involving a parking permit turned into a massive ticket-fixing investigation in 2009. The accused police officer, who had been fixing tickets in return for favors, was ultimately accused of attempted murder for trying to kill a witness for the prosecution.

Boston: In nearby Providence, a local police chief was recently under fire for ordering parking authorities to blitz city council members with parking tickets when they voted in opposition for a proposed police contract.

Los Angeles: An investigation into the spending of the Los Angeles Department of Transportion exposed a "Gold Card" line, which city officials could use to erase their parking tickets.

And it's not just parking tickets! Chicago made national news this week as it is being forced to reevaluate over 9,000 red light tickets. That's over $900,000 being called into question due to sloppy monitoring of the ticketing system, and questionable ticketing practices.

Thanks, Captain Hindsight!

#ParkingTicketProblems, and other city driving issues, are something we all face no matter where we live. And with that sense of unity, let's all make sure to be our own best advocates. Park responsibly, follow any posted signs and regulations, and be sure to check your tickets for accuracy when issued. Pay them on time, and avoid your own #ParkingTicketProblems! Like getting towed while Christmas shopping, which may or may not have happened to the author of this article.