backwoods07 Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 AHH! I woke up to go to work this morning, got dressed, made a cup of coffee, and walked out my front door to get to my car. There was a parking ticket on my windshield in my own driveway!!!!! My rear bumper was covering the sidewalk and the cop had nothing else to do at 3am in suburbia other than give me a $55 parking ticket!!!! Seriously?? Is Cook county really hurting that bad financially? In 20 years that I've lived in this house, this has never happened to anyone in my family!! Should I fight this in court? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowtechTurkeyHunter Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 First of all was your bumper over the sidewalk like he said? Secondly is it against the law for your bumper to block the sidewalk. All it takes is for one person to complain and the officer has to do his job I would bet its not the officers fault. If its illegal and you were doing it you dont have a chance to fight it. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach1 Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Is Cook county really hurting that bad financially? Nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJL Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Welcome to Northern Illinois............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 i hope you took pictures before you moved the car. i'd go fight it, and be very nice about it. if the cop fails to show up for court, the ticket will automatically be dismissed. if he does show up, just tell your side truthfully, and ask that very question about the county hurting for money. finally, apologize to the court for taking up it's valuable time. that way, you get the judge on your side telling him you hate wasting his valuable time and are there to point out the cops indiscretions. if you were blocking just a little of the sidewalk you have a good shot. if you blocked the entire sidewalk, we'll see what the judge says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckNrut Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 In my town, people cover the entire sidewalk with their cars in the winter on school days (no busses) and don't get tickets. I agree, someone must have had a chip on their shoulder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pendog Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 $55 dollars WOW glad i have never gotten a parking ticket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 That is crazy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rookieee Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 wow:eek: dont they have anything better to DO:confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 I would fight it. I bet the officer doesnt even show. It will cost Court Cost but would probably be worth fighting anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoods07 Posted October 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Ooh boy...I hope all the law enforcement officers in here don't treat their citizens like I'm being treated now!! I called the Sheriff's office and politely asked them where this law is printed and he said "You should've read the Illinois rule book when you got your license." I asked him to show me or direct me to where I can find this book and he laughed out loud and hung up!! I made some phone calls on my own to find this rule and no one could point me in the right direction. I called the Sheriff's office back and the same guy answered and said, "You again? Listen, I don't have the book memorized and I'm not going to look it up for you. Good luck." and then hung up again! Serve and protect my butt!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Ooh boy...I hope all the law enforcement officers in here don't treat their citizens like I'm being treated now!! I called the Sheriff's office and politely asked them where this law is printed and he said "You should've read the Illinois rule book when you got your license." I asked him to show me or direct me to where I can find this book and he laughed out loud and hung up!! I made some phone calls on my own to find this rule and no one could point me in the right direction. I called the Sheriff's office back and the same guy answered and said, "You again? Listen, I don't have the book memorized and I'm not going to look it up for you. Good luck." and then hung up again! Serve and protect my butt!! Think in the situation you describe I would take it a step higher. Sheriff's have to answer to someone. Last time I had a question the sheriff's dept here could not answer, they directed me to the county mayor and the mayor was able to answer my question. May also be a good idea to contact the dept of motor vehicles and ask about the laws pertaining to your citation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texastrophies Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Ooh boy...I hope all the law enforcement officers in here don't treat their citizens like I'm being treated now!! I called the Sheriff's office and politely asked them where this law is printed and he said "You should've read the Illinois rule book when you got your license." I asked him to show me or direct me to where I can find this book and he laughed out loud and hung up!! I made some phone calls on my own to find this rule and no one could point me in the right direction. I called the Sheriff's office back and the same guy answered and said, "You again? Listen, I don't have the book memorized and I'm not going to look it up for you. Good luck." and then hung up again! Serve and protect my butt!! I don't think doing research on laws falls under either category of serve or protect. If you can't do it on your own, I would suggest a lawyer for doing the research. It does seem kind of petty, but ignorance of the law is no excuse. Are you the only one on the street who got this ticket? If so, sounds to me like someone has it out for you and not necessarily the S.O., if you were indeed breaking the law, they were just doing their job, if someone else complained about it. Now if everyone in the neighborhood got a ticket, then it sounds like a revenue issue. Either way it will probably be tough to fight and win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slugshooter Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 From the State of Illinois driver handbook: Prohibited Stopping, Standing and Parking Stopping, standing or parking is prohibited in specified places. Local stopping, standing and parking regulations may be posted on signs. There are, however, statewide regulations that are not always indicated by signs. Stopping, standing or parking is prohibited: on the roadway side of any parked vehicle (double parking). on a sidewalk, crosswalk or within an intersection. between a safety zone and the adjacent curb. beside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction if your vehicle would block traffic. on any bridge, overpass, railroad track or within a highway tunnel. on any controlled access highway. A controlled access highway is one you may enter or exit only at certain points. in the area between roadways of a divided highway, including crossovers. on a paved roadway or highway outside business or residential districts when it is practical to stop or park off the roadway. In an emergency, you may stop and park only if there is a clear view for 200 feet in each direction. Turn on your emergency flashers and make sure there is enough space for other vehicles to pass. at any place where official signs prohibit stopping, standing or parking. It could be that the officer may have considered you being parked on the sidewalk. You may be able to fight it, you may not, depends on how much of the sidewalk you were blocking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HUNTINGMAN Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 I thought cops were at the donut shop that time of morning so they will get them fresh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowtechTurkeyHunter Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 I don't think doing research on laws falls under either category of serve or protect. If you can't do it on your own, I would suggest a lawyer for doing the research. It does seem kind of petty, but ignorance of the law is no excuse. Are you the only one on the street who got this ticket? If so, sounds to me like someone has it out for you and not necessarily the S.O., if you were indeed breaking the law, they were just doing their job, if someone else complained about it. Now if everyone in the neighborhood got a ticket, then it sounds like a revenue issue. Either way it will probably be tough to fight and win. exactly right its never the police officers job to teach you the law .... its there job to enforce it ... thus law enforcement. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoods07 Posted October 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 exactly right its never the police officers job to teach you the law .... its there job to enforce it ... thus law enforcement. Steve I don't know if I wasn't clear on what I said, but the point of the updated post wasn't to portray that the police weren't teaching me law. They simply could've told me to call Secretary of State, DMV, or whoever I needed to find the rule. The point of the post was to show that they were completely unprofessional and out of line in handling my situation by hanging up on me mid phone call. I understand you're not allowed to park on sidewalks (obviously), but it's a part of my driveway. You're not allowed to drive on sidewalks either, but I drive over it every single day?! There was one other person ticketed out of 5 or 6 on my block that were parked on the sidewalk over night. In 20 years, it's never been an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowtechTurkeyHunter Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 sounds like theres a new sherriff in town and hes got a pet pieve .... I am sure you got a ticket for blocking the sidewalk not for driving on it. There is no excuse for the way he treated you that is for sure there are much better ways to handle something like that no doubt ... chalk it up to a learning experience. Since others got the ticket I would say your not singled out and that makes your case for fighting it even tougher. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 I would fight it. Most likely there will be a plea bargain to settle the summons at a lesser fine. Thats at minimum, at best, thrown out. Take clear precise pictures and statements from witness'. I have fought many, living so close to and working in NYC, and if you take the time to fight it , you have a good chance of beating it. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 There is no excuse for the way he treated you that is for sure there are much better ways to handle something like that no doubt ... chalk it up to a learning experience. Think Steve is right here, however I do think any law enforcement person whether it be officer or sheriff or whatever should be able to answer any questions on the laws they enforce, even if it means saying "I don't know I will have to get back with you". After all, if they cannot answer a question on laws they are supposed to know how are they supposed to enforce them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Brutal Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 The problem with fighting a $55 ticket is if you work it will probably be scheduled on a workday and your out $100+ for taking the day off and still might have to pay the ticket. I was fortunate enough when I bought my house that the sidewalk is across the street =] Bumpers hanging over it has never bothered me but when they don't shovel in the winter and the kids walk it to there bus stops it gets me erk'd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Ticketed for parking in my driveway?!?! If your honest with yourself...were you completely in your driveway? If so...Go to court it's your right to fight it there. If you cant completely say your vehicle was were it's legal to park it...pay the fine. No reason to get out of shape over it either way...you were in the right or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoods07 Posted October 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 If your honest with yourself...were you completely in your driveway? If so...Go to court it's your right to fight it there. If you cant completely say your vehicle was were it's legal to park it...pay the fine. No reason to get out of shape over it either way...you were in the right or not. Well, the sidewalk runs through more or less the middle of my driveway. We have room for about 1.5 cars in front of the sidewalk, and about one car behind the sidewalk. That my friend, is where the law is hazy. You are absolutely right though, I guess getting bent out of shape isn't gonna solve a thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Illinois59 Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 "aint that America for you and me.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 ..sidewalk runs through more or less the middle of my driveway.... That is Nuts...Why so far from the road????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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