[SuperFarStucker]

My girlfriend was ticketed 38 USD for "obstructing an unmarked (i.e. invisible)" sidewalk. The citation even states it is unmarked. Not unmarked as in 'the paint has partially worn off', but unmarked as in there was never any paint (not even the ramps). It is an extremely low foot traffic area and there is a sidewalk on the other side of the street which is typical for this part of seattle.

I think some photographs I took for her to show the magistrate will illustrate just how ridiculous this citation is.


Where is the crosswalk?


Not even a ramp!


from the other side


The crosswalk is actually across the street


not a joke...


My sentiments are reflected in the following quote from 2 smoking barrels

Originally Posted by lock stock and 2 smoking barrels

Bacon: We've hit the jackpot, lads! We've got God-knows-how-much of this stinking weed, a ****load of cash... and a traffic warden.
Tom: What?
[Bacon holds up an unconscious man]
Tom: Jesus, Ed, we've got a traffic warden!
Bacon: I think he's still alive - he's got claret coming out of him somewhere. What did they want with a traffic warden?
Eddie: I don't know, but I don't think we need him! Knock him out and dump him at the lights!
Bacon: Knock him out? What'd ya mean, knock him out? Knock him out with what?
Eddie: I don't know! Use your imagination!
[Bacon punches the Traffic Warden, who moans in pain]
Tom: Don't touch him up! Knock him out!
Bacon: I'll knock you out in a minute! Look, you want to knock him out? *You* knock him out.
Eddie: I ****ing hate traffic wardens.
[after a pause, Tom and Eddie jump into the back of the van with Bacon; all three proceed to batter the Traffic Warden senseless]

[techun]

argue it, with those pictures

[benbaked]

i don't know the law but in your third picture it looks like the car is obstructing the sidewalk if you imagine it continuing into an invisible crosswalk. seems like a silly ticket, a small amount almost not worth taking time off work to go to the court magistrate.

[Enablingwolf]

You have images to show the sitting magistrate and the right to contest the summons.

I am in agreement with benbaked. Though if you feel your wrongly summoned. Utilize your right to do so.

[SuperFarStucker]

It won't be my time 'wasted' anyway (it is my girlfriends ticket). I've contested parking tickets where I was clearly at fault (meter/time violations mostly) and they usually reduce them to some paltry sum which probably doesn't even cover the wages that the magistrate & traffic warden earned sitting there writing up the citation and making a 'decision'. What is the point of writing citations which are not even in the spirit of the 'laws' ?

I am certain that if I were to look in the seattle city code under 11.72.080 I would find that there is some restriction on parking in front of 'invisible' sidewalks which are not marked. The 'unwritten' rule is pretty much park anywhere there isn't grey/yellow/red paint or a fire hydrant in my experience. This parking spot is occupied every day and I've never seen a citation on a car parked there.

[FlakMonkey]

The third pic clearly shows it obstructed. And like Ben said its so small, no reason to waste time. (no matter whos time it is)

[-maddog-]

Originally Posted by FlakMonkey

The third pic clearly shows it obstructed. And like Ben said its so small, no reason to waste time. (no matter whos time it is)

[Gnufsh]

I have to say, that does look obstructed to me. It quite obvious that it is a crossing (even without lines painted, you can cross at corners and the sidewalk obviously is meant to continue on either side of the street). The car blocks off nearly half of the sidewalk.

[WejRepus]

i agree with them... if you are going to contest it, just dont show that 3rd pic

[Fr3@k3r]

Originally Posted by FlakMonkey

The third pic clearly shows it obstructed. And like Ben said its so small, no reason to waste time. (no matter whos time it is)

[SuperFarStucker]

Well this was less well recieved than I expected.

I guess you just have to live around here to understand why it is ridiculous, the car was parked in that exact spot for nearly two weeks (my girlfriend commutes to work via public transit), and all the sudden johnny decides that he is going to write her a ticket. If her car wasn't parked there, somebody elses would have been. I've parked there several times myself and never recieved a parking citation. I guess they needed to meet their monthly quota. Pick a street corner of seattle at random and if there isn't a crosswalk ramp or paint somebody will be parked there. Obviously they aren't very concerned that the crosswalk is 'accessible' or they would at least put paint there.

[Silversinksam]

Just bring your photos to court. Your situation is almost as bad as the 82-year-old ticketed for jaywalking. Poor handicapped lady couldn't cross the street before the Do Not Walk light lit up, the LAPD cop should have helped her across the street if you ask me.

[Captain Newbie]

Originally Posted by benbaked

i don't know the law but in your third picture it looks like the car is obstructing the sidewalk if you imagine it continuing into an invisible crosswalk. seems like a silly ticket, a small amount almost not worth taking time off work to go to the court magistrate.

Pay the $38, as it would cost (in terms of time) more than $38 to fight it. You're not supposed to park within a certain amount of feet of an intersection anyway. (Remember: your parking violations pay for King County Metro, so at the end of the day...it's all good. )

[Silversinksam]

Originally Posted by Captain Newbie

Pay the $38, as it would cost (in terms of time) more than $38 to fight it. You're not supposed to park within a certain amount of feet of an intersection anyway. (Remember: your parking violations pay for King County Metro, so at the end of the day...it's all good. )

The ticket is clearly not for parking close to an intersection, it's solely for blocking an unmarked pedestrian crossing only, you should go to court as this may result in a insurance increase. This ticket due to the unmarked crosswalk is worth taking a chance in court.

Not only that, but in this picture, you did not obstruct the unmarked crosswalk, just by looking at the picture there is room for even a wheelchair to go in front of your car. You could also probably sue the city for not having a ramp in this unmarked crosswalk for handicapped people. That crosswalk is in violation of the Disabled Persons Act


EDIT:


Call this ADA number and lodge a complaint against the City.

[RoadWarrior]

IMO the fact that it was "parked in that exact spot for nearly two weeks" is what got you the ticket. Traffic dude probably gave you a break every time he saw it, since it was only partially obstructing a badly marked sidewalk, hey anyone can park a little clumsy at times. Until he realised some dumbass was parking there ALL the time, so it got a ticket. I mean, really you only have to get out of the car to realise you parked bad, so once is a mistake, twice is an oversight, every day is sheer blind ignorance, so you got schooled.

Road Warrior

[Fr3@k3r]

Originally Posted by SuperFarStucker

Well this was less well recieved than I expected.

I guess you just have to live around here to understand why it is ridiculous, the car was parked in that exact spot for nearly two weeks (my girlfriend commutes to work via public transit), and all the sudden johnny decides that he is going to write her a ticket. If her car wasn't parked there, somebody elses would have been. I've parked there several times myself and never recieved a parking citation. I guess they needed to meet their monthly quota. Pick a street corner of seattle at random and if there isn't a crosswalk ramp or paint somebody will be parked there. Obviously they aren't very concerned that the crosswalk is 'accessible' or they would at least put paint there.

Get over it.. the picture cleary shows that they car is blocking the sidewalk. Maybe another cop decided to let you off.. next time dont part there and you wont get a ticket.

[Captain Newbie]

...

It's $38.

You will spend much more than that in terms of lost time trying to fight this. That's the real point here. Diminishing returns.

[Silversinksam]

Originally Posted by Captain Newbie

...

It's $38.

You will spend much more than that in terms of lost time trying to fight this. That's the real point here. Diminishing returns.

It's $38, but add in a possible insurance premium and it could be a $200+ per year increase for this one ticket. If you have the time I would fight this as the curb is not marked, if there is a no parking sign in that area pay the fine, if no sign fight it. I would bet anyone here that if this was my ticket, not only would I beat this ticket, I could get them to lower the curb to ADA standards and possibly have them painted.

[ninthebin]

I know here in England it would have to be marked for it to be a valid ticket, it's your local governments responsibility to make sure any crossings or whatever are clearly marked, that way you know if you should or shouldn't be there.

That being said, a little common sense on your part - the pictures don't show whats beind the car, but rolling it back a few feet wouldnt hurt the people who do have to cross there marked or not.

[techun]

file an ADA complaint, do what SSS is saying