The vague “improper parking” -
Not easily accessible to read or understand, but readily applied to whatever unsuspecting visitor to the general Wayne State Campus area. They love to prey on visitors & residents in one of the only thriving business districts in the city.
See my letter to this department, below:
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12/21/2009
Dear Sir/Madam,
I received the attached ticket while parked an extremely reasonable distance away from the mentioned intersection of Prentis and Cass. I frequently see cars parked much closer to the curb than I was, and as far as I know they are not a nuisance to the flow of vehicles whatsoever, nor are they obstructing traffic.
Included is a picture of how far away my car was from the curb at Prentis and Cass.
This is not the first time that I have received a questionable parking ticket from the City of Detroit. I am disappointed that the Municipal Parking Department is enforcing draconian policies to fund their operations.
Like all laws, parking laws should be enforced with prudence, and when it is in the interest of the public.
The ticket issued me on 12-09-09 is not an example of prudent law enforcement.
Given that I was a patron at the Cass Cafe while receiving the ticket – located across the street from where I parked – I might mention my strongly held belief that tickets based on “violations” like these are unnecessarily hurting the business community in the Cass Corridor. Your department’s needlessly strict issuance of these kinds of tickets drives away customers from an area that is already sorely hurting from the economic crisis.
I hope that you will reconsider your stance in my case and in other similar cases.
Sincerely,
Hannah Kelley
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Take a look at the code here.
Readers – I am open to interpretations. I understand the fire hydrant is there, but I still stand that I was far enough away from it.
Laura
12/21/2009
Well, you are definitely within 15 feet of that hydrant, but also you’re between the property lot line and the curb… and there is the crosswalk right there which you should be 20 ft. from. ???
Author
12/22/2009
I’ve never heard that you have to be 20 feet from a crosswalk.
Harold
02/05/2010
I received a citation for parking on the grassy area between the side walk and the street out in front of my home,is that on your 802 list? please reply.
Author
02/05/2010
Harold, the link is here: http://library1.municode.com/default-now/home.htm?infobase=10649&doc_action=whatsnew
search “802″ then click
4.
ARTICLE II. ADMINISTRATION AND…
I hope that you find what you’re looking for.
Tonē
03/09/2010
I also got an 802 for parking on the area between sidewalk and curb in between the grass. Have been doing it for years, just like everyone else in the neighborhood. It is almost impossible to find ANY info on this and when you do, its written in a way that you have to try to decipher.
http://library1.municode.com/default-now/home.htm?infobase=10649&doc_action=whatsnew
I looked at chapter 55 and i suppose im guilty of parking between lot line and curb? But i am not sure. They should just tell you on the ticket. The city has been giving tickets to people who are not guilty of what they are accused of. It happened to my uncle in which he was ticketed for parking a block away from where he actually was LEGALLY parked. The city knows people don’t have the time or energy to fight this, but who can afford 30-80 dollars every time the city just feels like stealing our money?
HygienePro
09/27/2010
Dear Hannah,
Read your lettered response to the violation issued, nice! Did they send you just a copy of the citation or did they also send you a letter? If they sent a letter or perhaps included one, could you type the exact verbiage (wording) of it’s contents…please!!!
Jing
05/06/2011
Hi Hannah,
I got the same ticket for parking at the same spot u parked in the picture. I was so mad because I see people parking there in and out all the time. There is no ticket for them, why me!???
Double Parking
11/29/2011
Does anyone know the Detroit parking code for double parking? Parking enforcement and cars are not emergency vehicles and last time I checked they were contractors.
Every time they issue a ticket they double park the car get out and write the ticket. It seems to me it is a simple issue of, you can’t inforce the law by breakingthe law. This my be the New Yorker in me talking where it is almost a mortal sin let alone breaking a civil code.. Are municiple vehicles exempt from any laws while enforcing parking.
I plan to sue on these grounds to get my ticket removed.
Author
11/29/2011
violation code 805.1 is for double parking. You can find the majority of the city code for parking in part III of the Detroit City Code, Chapter 55. It is available on municode.com.
I would consider challenging the ticket in court and raising a stink about it if indeed you weren’t double parked, but the city is pretty strapped for money and so I hope that you won’t try to juice the city for money because you are upset about a parking ticket. Regarding the merits of double standards for city workers, etc…these vehicles are probably legally exempted already via some type of ordinance. Also I am doubtful that whether the meter maids are contractors or civil servants will matter if they are legally authorized to park haphazardly on the street while doing their job (however much we dislike their job). Better to raise this issue with council by going there in person than through the courts – council is the front door, the courts are the back door.