2.5 years and now a Ticket?

[Scooter78]

I can't believe The City of Vancouver would tow my Scooter and give me a ticket...

I go to Round House Community centre for Martial Arts class and park at the same spot for two and a half years and find my scooter gone. It's a spot on 100 Drake street right in the middle of it, beside a cross walk from the nearby park to the community center.

There's a small 4 foot space from the edge of the middle crosswalk to the pole that displays the parking sign. I admit, the sign says no stopping from after that point, but I've don't see the reason for that sign to be there. 4 feet of unused space doing nothing so I make use of it for parking.

After class I head out to find my BWR50 Scooter is missing. I think Stolen, but my friend says it might be towed. So I head to Busters towing lot cause its a 10 min walk away and find my scooter in their lot.

I pay the stupid towing fee of $63 and get a ticket for an additional $45. (I dont' even use that much for Gas in a month.) I checked the ticket and find out that I was issued less than 10 min from when I parked and headed inside for class.

Then I realized that when I was parking there, a Busters Towing Truck was passing by and eying me with a Grin on his face, that would explain his expression.

BTW... the bad night didn't end there, I have a helmet trunk on the end of my scooter, and when I went to open the helmet trunk, the key broke off and I couldn't open it to get my helmet. I was stuck at Busters for 30 min waiting for my brother to come with my spare helmet.

[Maverik]

the key broke off and I couldn't open it to get my helmet.

Do you think it's the Busters who broke it? Any visible damages?

[ssb]

Do you think it's the Busters who broke it? Any visible damages?

How could Buster's break the key off in the lock exactly?

[Cop Catcher]

Don't pay the ticket. Screw em. There are no consequences to unpaid tickets except city hate mail.

[Funk]

Don't pay the ticket. Screw em. There are no consequences to unpaid tickets except city hate mail.

I think they would send it to collections

[dragnit02]

if you saw the no stopping sign, why did you leave your bike/scooter there. You're playing the odds every time you do that.
If you can find a spot on private property that is out of the way, that would be your best bet. Then they can not touch you.

[Lyzic]

if you don't pay bylaw fines they can go to warrant and you can get arrested

[racerboy88]

Actually, vehicles blocking the view of pedestrians and drivers at crosswalks have cause many accidents. I am surprise that it is only 4 feet. I don't know the area well, but maybe there is a very low speed zone there.

You know, if you have experienced from kids or pedestrians in general come shooting out in between park cars, you would understand.

Having said that, I don't know if these laws are written with scooters or other motor vehicles that don't block anybody's view in mind.

There is an elementary school on 100 drake. That might be the reason why

[klutch]

You've got a scooter, and you still park it on the street? Christ....get it up against the building, or hide it somewhere. Parking is only free for two wheeled vehicles if you're smart about it.

[jafkaf81]

Quote-- "I admit, the sign says no stopping from after that point, but I've don't see the reason for that sign to be there." -- This can only be blamed on you now , just be glad you got 2.5 yrs of free parking , I know the speed limit on hwy 5 is 110 but it was straight and there was no cars around and the sun was out , so I don't see a reason to do the speed limit ........... Just my 2 cents , I know it sucks , my bike was towed 10 yrs ago for illegal parking and the tow guy did a fair bit of damage to it , mirror broke off - tank scratched - tail fairing cracked , this was back in the day when they didn't give a shit about bikes , now that there are more bikers on the road and we have MC groups like BCCOM etc.. fighting for our rights ,it is a bit better , but shit like this still happens . Good luck

[R1_Test pilot]

There's a small 4 foot space from the edge of the middle crosswalk to the pole that displays the parking sign. I admit, the sign says no stopping from after that point, but I've don't see the reason for that sign to be there. 4 feet of unused space doing nothing so I make use of it for parking.


I pay the stupid towing fee of $63 and get a ticket for an additional $45. (I dont' even use that much for Gas in a month.) I checked the ticket and find out that I was issued less than 10 min from when I parked and headed inside for class.



Pay the ticket. After 2 1/2 years of free parking, look at the money you saved in parking fee's. It will pay for the tow/ ticket.

At least the bike was towed, NOT stolen.....

[kerunt]

Whether you get a ticket or not really depends on the meter maid currently doing the run. There might have been one with some common sense in their head for 2.5 years, but now they switched and a new one is doing the route... who is a prick. Nothing new here :/

[Whocares]

[QUOTE=Scooter78;1180193]
I go to Round House Community centre for Martial Arts class

" Why not get some of your Martial Arts Scooter Gangsters together and hunt down that busters driver and dish out some Scooter Gang Martial Arts Kick Ass "

Question....
Does a Scooter riding Martial Artist always keep his legs together when fighting ?

[Ebicat]

Don't pay the ticket. Screw em. There are no consequences to unpaid tickets except city hate mail.

You can be summoned to court.

[fish_antlers]

You can be summoned to court.


obviously he should not pay the ticket, just like the guy who shouldnt pay his ticket in the USA.

[Cop Catcher]

if you don't pay bylaw fines they can go to warrant and you can get arrested

Simply not true. This is Canada, not the case. Do some research or have some first hand knowledge before spewing BS on here.

[Cop Catcher]

You can be summoned to court.

It comes by normal mail, no proof I ever received it. Ignore it, there are no consequences.

[Cop Catcher]

I think they would send it to collections

They do, but just ignore collections, they don't post up on your credit report a debt you never signed to incur. If that were the case you owe me $100 and I'll post it on your credit board if you don't pay. Make much sense? No, collections only harass you, just tell them where to go and to never call this # again.

There are no consequences to unpaid parking tickets, as long as you have the conscience that allows you to tell the state where to go with BS laws.

Some people's moral compass is so screwed they would think it was okay for the police to do anything as long as it was a law and the police were doing it.

[kerunt]

They do, but just ignore collections, they don't post up on your credit report a debt you never signed to incur. If that were the case you owe me $100 and I'll post it on your credit board if you don't pay. Make much sense? No, collections only harass you, just tell them where to go and to never call this # again.

There are no consequences to unpaid parking tickets, as long as you have the conscience that allows you to tell the state where to go with BS laws.

Some people's moral compass is so screwed they would think it was okay for the police to do anything as long as it was a law and the police were doing it.

I know it's like that with private companies (such as the asshole at Diamond Parking - whose ticket I didn't pay and that was the end of it), but with government tickets I'm not so sure...

Can't they tow your vehicle and keep it until you pay all tickets?

[J_Scott]

They do, but just ignore collections, they don't post up on your credit report a debt you never signed to incur. If that were the case you owe me $100 and I'll post it on your credit board if you don't pay. Make much sense? No, collections only harass you, just tell them where to go and to never call this # again.

There are no consequences to unpaid parking tickets, as long as you have the conscience that allows you to tell the state where to go with BS laws.

Some people's moral compass is so screwed they would think it was okay for the police to do anything as long as it was a law and the police were doing it.

I used to agree with this until an 84 year old lady was arrested at the border, spent a night in jail and went to court over ONE un-paid parking ticket.

Now I pay my tickets.

[Cop Catcher]

I used to agree with this until an 84 year old lady was arrested at the border, spent a night in jail and went to court over ONE un-paid parking ticket.

Now I pay my tickets.

That may be a story out of the US, but not here in Canada. Don't waste you time or postage paying this waste of paper. Unless you are blocking traffic in a no stopping area I know of noone being towed (first or second hand info).

Lots of rumor mill stuff out there, nothing I have substantiated though.

[Tattoodles]

I was riding with a small group to Squamish one lovely afternoon when we all got pulled over by the RCMP at Furry Creek for speeding. One of our riders got arrested on the spot for unpaid parking tickets in Vancouver. The cop said "Turn around and put your hands behind your back, you're under arrest." Since the cop was on a motorcycle, he instructed the rider to follow him to the police station in Squamish to clear up the matter.

So yes, I've witnessed with my own eyeballs someone get arrested for unpaid parking tickets in British Columbia. This was about 3 years ago.

[Tattoodles]

...oh and in case you were wondering, I didn't get a speeding ticket. So neener.

[Thumper 8]

I was riding with a small group to Squamish one lovely afternoon when we all got pulled over by the RCMP at Furry Creek for speeding. One of our riders got arrested on the spot for unpaid parking tickets in Vancouver. The cop said "Turn around and put your hands behind your back, you're under arrest." Since the cop was on a motorcycle, he instructed the rider to follow him to the police station in Squamish to clear up the matter.

So yes, I've witnessed with my own eyeballs someone get arrested for unpaid parking tickets in British Columbia. This was about 3 years ago.

Colleague was stopped at a roadside breathalyzer check at the entrance to Granville Island - we was randomly pulled over and checked... arrested on the spot for 9 unpaid City of Vancouver parking tickets.

His wife got him out of jail a acouple of hours later when she paid the outstanding tickets and fines on the spot, and then they went to get the car and pay for the tow etc.

An expensive evening - and she still loves telling the story :laughing - but yes, he was arrested on the spot by C of V police for multiple unpaid parking tickets.

[Cop Catcher]

Interesting. What happened? How much$$$ How long was he held? Details are lackng in your post!

[outrace]

Room full of lawyers.

Ultimately, one of the reasons cities are so F'ed up is because everyone runs around saying, "But it's just me and it's just a LITTLE infraction". Then when they get caught, it's a big freaking deal and they're indignant because they've only been doing it for 2.5 years. Sorry, I don't think there's an exclusion in any part of the code that says, "If you can prove you got away with breaking the law for X months, then you get a free pass." WTF kinda mentality is that?

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. Simple.

[Starsky]

Simply not true. This is Canada, not the case. Do some research or have some first hand knowledge before spewing BS on here.

Simply true,
I've had to waste my time more than once to serve a warrant on some normally good guy that's being a lazy dick about paying his tickets and ignoring the city's warnings

( I hope first and experience is enough "research" for you)

[savagebovine]

Don't know if it applies for city tickets(can't remember who my tickets were served by), but I've had 1 parking ticket canceled and one parking ticket reduced simply by calling the number on the back and asking for an exemption/reduction.

[Tattoodles]

Don't know if it applies for city tickets(can't remember who my tickets were served by), but I've had 1 parking ticket canceled and one parking ticket reduced simply by calling the number on the back and asking for an exemption/reduction.

True. You can call the parking ticket office of Vancouver and request to have 1 ticket forgiven per license plate. So if it's your first parking ticket on that plate, their policy is to forgive the ticket if you call.

Since they go by license plate #'s, it's actually cheaper for you to go and replace your plate at $20 than it is to pay the next parking ticket.

[jafkaf81]

True. You can call the parking ticket office of Vancouver and request to have 1 ticket forgiven per license plate. So if it's your first parking ticket on that plate, their policy is to forgive the ticket if you call.

Since they go by license plate #'s, it's actually cheaper for you to go and replace your plate at $20 than it is to pay the next parking ticket.

Now we are getting somewhere , I hope all you kids are listening , this is some good sh*t right here :rockon

[kerberos]

Had to vent my parking frustration today. Parked in a metered spot near my workplace at Davie and Richards. I plugged the meter and set my cell phone timer so I wouldn't forget. Timer went off, and as soon as I was off the phone less than 5 mins, I went to re-plug it - low and behold I had a ticket. Okay, fair enough, I blew it, my fault. Its not the first time.

However... two spots ahead, there are three scooters crammed into the space between the first metered spot and the corner. Kitty corner to these, were two sport bikes similarly parked. How come none of these guys were ticketed? They were just as illegally parked as me.

It's the inconsistency that I can't stand, if its illegal, then ticket everyone, including those that are obviusly trying to avoid paying. I'm all for dedicated motorcycle parking, but until we have it, its only fair that we all follow the same rules.

[kerberos]

The scooters that crammed in did not take away a spot from drivers and did not interfere with the intent of the bylaw.

JMHO.

Even though they were parked on the wrong side of a sign that said no stopping? The motor vehicle code doest differentiate between cages and motorcycles, they are all motorized vehicles, and as such are treated the same. Why should parking be any different? I'm not complaining about getting the ticket, just the double standard. I was parked illegally, and so were they, how come only I got the ticket?

[savagebovine]

I was parked illegally, and so were they, how come only I got the ticket?


I don't know, but you need to get over it. My sister is a registered clinical counselor, maybe she can help. j/k.:flashy

[kerberos]

I don't know, but you need to get over it. My sister is a registered clinical counselor, maybe she can help. j/k.:flashy

I'm over it, already paid the ticket. Just irritating is all.

[Cop Catcher]

Simply true,
I've had to waste my time more than once to serve a warrant on some normally good guy that's being a lazy dick about paying his tickets and ignoring the city's warnings

( I hope first and experience is enough "research" for you)

Good luck serving me!

Good first hand info. Bottom line is don't get served and then you don't have to miss court and risk a bench warrant being issued.

[Cop Catcher]

Room full of lawyers.

Ultimately, one of the reasons cities are so F'ed up is because everyone runs around saying, "But it's just me and it's just a LITTLE infraction". Then when they get caught, it's a big freaking deal and they're indignant because they've only been doing it for 2.5 years. Sorry, I don't think there's an exclusion in any part of the code that says, "If you can prove you got away with breaking the law for X months, then you get a free pass." WTF kinda mentality is that?

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. Simple.

Brilliant, just roll over and take it in the hoop. Just brilliant!

[Thumper 8]

Interesting. What happened? How much$$$ How long was he held? Details are lackng in your post!

Just spoke to my buddy's wife (he is up north on a hunting trip) - evidently he was stopped 8:00-ish in December 2006 at a road check, and was pulled over for a secondary check - she thinks probably because the front licence plate on his SUV was not mounted on the bumper, but sitting on top of his dash... he had just finished mounting a new heavy duty front bumper w/winch and hadn't finished the job. He was heading home from an appointment and had not been drinking at all that evening.

Complete police check showed the unpaid tickets - took about an hour at the scene to do some paperwork, and he was transported to 312 Main St. For whatever reason, this was one of the few times he didn't have his credit cards with him. He called his wife (who was with her book club friends at the time) and she slooooooooooooooooowly made her way down the the cop shop. Paid the bill and went to get the car with hubby. It ended up costing approx. $1,000 - she cannot remember how much was for the tickets and how much was to get the car release from Busters, but she thinks it was roughly $850 to the City, and maybe $150 to Busters, but this is a rough guestimate?

He was home by midnight.... and pays all his tickets now.

[Cop Catcher]

Just spoke to my buddy's wife (he is up north on a hunting trip) - evidently he was stopped 8:00-ish in December 2006 at a road check, and was pulled over for a secondary check - she thinks probably because the front licence plate on his SUV was not mounted on the bumper, but sitting on top of his dash... he had just finished mounting a new heavy duty front bumper w/winch and hadn't finished the job. He was heading home from an appointment and had not been drinking at all that evening.

Complete police check showed the unpaid tickets - took about an hour at the scene to do some paperwork, and he was transported to 312 Main St. For whatever reason, this was one of the few times he didn't have his credit cards with him. He called his wife (who was with her book club friends at the time) and she slooooooooooooooooowly made her way down the the cop shop. Paid the bill and went to get the car with hubby. It ended up costing approx. $1,000 - she cannot remember how much was for the tickets and how much was to get the car release from Busters, but she thinks it was roughly $850 to the City, and maybe $150 to Busters, but this is a rough guestimate?

He was home by midnight.... and pays all his tickets now.

But was he ever actually served any papers prior to this? Did he ever appear/ or was scheduled to appear and did not show in court?

[Thumper 8]

But was he ever actually served any papers prior to this? Did he ever appear/ or was scheduled to appear and did not show in court?

My colleague is out of town until October 6th, and I am not going to keep bugging his wife re: this, but I do remember him saying he got letters from the City re: the unpaid tickets and he ignored them and never responded to them. I do not know if he was ever "served papers", but he did get letters from the City in the mail.