Has a parking cop ever SNUCK up on you?

[m4gician]

I'm curious, has a parking cop ever "snuck up" on you and written you a ticket instead of warning you?

I saw a bike parking cop write and serve a ticket while the guy was in the car, anyone have some of that or similar happen?

[AudiDude]

I snuck up on the cop, got in, started the vehicle and drove away before he finished. The look on his face in the rear view mirror was priceless.

[Flyer]

"What's this box doing here?"

[Jucius Maximus]

Never happened to me. If there's more than one person in the car, we typically have a designated lookout who watches for the meter guy.

[DaVibe]

Yes, they quite often around Yonge & Eglinton. I often work in the area and we have to watch out ... we'll bite the bullet on one ticket, but we'll quickly move illegally parked cars after that.

I've seen them write tickets on opposite sides of the street. Harder to do with the electronic ticket system now but ... it still takes place.

[Emancipated]

I snuck up on the cop, got in, started the vehicle and drove away before he finished. The look on his face in the rear view mirror was priceless.

Is this legal? He already has your information, couldn't he just mail you the ticket?

[bigshotceo]

Is this legal? He already has your information, couldn't he just mail you the ticket?

As long as he/she has your licence plate number (which is typically the first thing they record) then the ticket will be valid and will be entered into the system. They're expected to put the ticket on the vehicle if possible, but if they're unable to (because, for example, you drove away) it'll still go through and you'll likely receive it in the mail (and possibly with an extra fee to cover the costs involved in mailing it to you).

[Allan edwards]

i once saw a guy get into car the meter guy came over told him he was parked illegally, and as they were talking about legal places to park, the meter guy kept writing and before the guy drove away the meter guy slapped a ticket on his windshield, ouch. this happened next to the courts building eaton centr side.

[AudiDude]

Is this legal? He already has your information, couldn't he just mail you the ticket?

I received no ticket whatsoever. He was definitely writing long enough to complete half a ticket at least.

[gman]

As long as he/she has your licence plate number (which is typically the first thing they record) then the ticket will be valid and will be entered into the system. They're expected to put the ticket on the vehicle if possible, but if they're unable to (because, for example, you drove away) it'll still go through and you'll likely receive it in the mail (and possibly with an extra fee to cover the costs involved in mailing it to you).

To be legal, they have to 'give' the initial ticket to you to complete the process. If the cop put that to the system, it means he pretends he gave the ticket to you already and that act is not legal.

[m4gician]

To be legal, they have to 'give' the initial ticket to you to complete the process. If the cop put that to the system, it means he pretends he gave the ticket to you already and that act is not legal.

Wow, that's good to hear. So the "haha, you didn't serve it to me" argument will work when I see them I just hop in and drive away?

[chickenbones]

I thought they can't give u a ticket if you are in the car? Technically you are not parked unless you leave your car?

[Emancipated]

Watch we get an influx of cheap RFD people running people over trying to escape a petty fine.

Sad.

[Whitedart]

I thought they can't give u a ticket if you are in the car? Technically you are not parked unless you leave your car?

That is not true.

Parking offences in Ontario use the HTA definition of parking, which is:

“park” or “parking”, when prohibited, means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when standing temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers;

[boredstudent3]

one meter maid almost snuck up on me...my friend parked on the side nad went into the restaurant to grab some food, i was on look out in the passnenger seat...i didn't look back for a few secs and when i look to the right side i see 2 guys walking by on the sidewalk and one of them motions with his head for me to look back, i turn around and i see the freaking leetch parked behind me in his car...

i jump from passenger seat into the driver seat and start the car (key was left in ignition) and then drive off...no ticket...thanks to that guy. :lol:

[ES_Revenge]

As long as he/she has your licence plate number (which is typically the first thing they record) then the ticket will be valid and will be entered into the system. They're expected to put the ticket on the vehicle if possible, but if they're unable to (because, for example, you drove away) it'll still go through and you'll likely receive it in the mail (and possibly with an extra fee to cover the costs involved in mailing it to you).

Not true, not in Toronto anyway. They have to place the ticket on the vehicle for it to be valid. Hence why some of them are smart enough to stand directly in front of the vehicle when writing one up, so it makes it harder for you to get in and drive away. As long as you can get away before the ticket is on the car, it's not valid.

[spf1971]

Not true, not in Toronto anyway. They have to place the ticket on the vehicle for it to be valid. Hence why some of them are smart enough to stand directly in front of the vehicle when writing one up, so it makes it harder for you to get in and drive away. As long as you can get away before the ticket is on the car, it's not valid.

If that was true, then all you would have to do is ignore your tickets. If you ever get a letter about it, all you have to say is "It wasn't on my windshield so therefore it's invalid". How could the officer prove it was placed on the windshield?

If you think about it, you'll realize how silly your belief is.

[bionicbadger]

Not true, not in Toronto anyway. They have to place the ticket on the vehicle for it to be valid. Hence why some of them are smart enough to stand directly in front of the vehicle when writing one up, so it makes it harder for you to get in and drive away. As long as you can get away before the ticket is on the car, it's not valid.

So if your car has no windshield you can park anywhere you want and never get a ticket?

[ES_Revenge]

So if your car has no windshield you can park anywhere you want and never get a ticket?
Doesn't have to go on your windshield could even go on your door. Also if you have no windshield you are going to have bigger problems than parking tickets, LOL.

This reminds me of that thread where the guy asked if his windshield wipers were stolen if that made him invincible to parking tickets :lol:

Of course the thing is with the tickets, it's your word against the officer's. They could write up the ticket and you drive away, they just throw your copy in the garbage and just pretend like they did put it on your car.

I remember once I had a roommate and he used to park on campus in this place he wasn't supposed to and never got a ticket on his vehicle, at least he never found one on there. When he went to get his plate sticker later in the year he had like $300 in unpaid fines (and late fees) and he was like "WTF!?!?" when they told him he couldn't get his plate sticker until he paid. I was like "dude, that's not right you gotta complain about that, there was never even a ticket on your car once!". But, he just paid it anyway.

[YLSF]

I am guessing this is happening to people parked in "do not park/stop" areas. I imagine if you are parked and sitting in your car in a metered spot they won't come up and write you a ticket...

As for parking in do not park/stop areas, it is really frustrating as a driver when a whole lane is blocked during rush hour because some guy decides to park and wait for someone or some courier decides to make a delivery. I am glad they give tickets to people. I wish they were out in full force along Bay, etc during rush hour. Taxi drivers are particularly bad. I will see them often raise their hood and pretend like they are fixing something with their car while blocking a whole lane in rush hour (happens much to often for it to actually be a broken down car)

[spf1971]

Of course the thing is with the tickets, it's your word against the officer's. They could write up the ticket and you drive away, they just throw your copy in the garbage and just pretend like they did put it on your car.



But you said that if it wasn't given to you, it was invalid. If it's invalid, it's your word against nothing because the ticket is invalid. If you have to argue against it, then the ticket is still valid you are just trying to fight it.

[ricoboxing]

Happened to me once. I went out to grab a bag of milk, wife and kids were in the car.

Parking cop in an unmarked car writes the ticket, walks up to the car, slaps the ticket on the windshield, RUNS to his car, and speeds off before my wife could even figure out what the hell was going on.

This happened in pickering in the loblaws parking lot. I just sucked it up and paid the fine and now I park in a real spot.

[mkerian]

Not true, not in Toronto anyway. They have to place the ticket on the vehicle for it to be valid. Hence why some of them are smart enough to stand directly in front of the vehicle when writing one up, so it makes it harder for you to get in and drive away. As long as you can get away before the ticket is on the car, it's not valid.

Eh, its sort of true. The reason why you might be able to get away is if the parking cops are unable to get your license info. Otherwise, once the parking cop gets your license info, it's immediately transmitted to a new central server, so they still mail out a "Notice of impending Conviction" even if you didn't receive the physical ticket. If someone didn't get this letter, the information can be held until it's time to renew your license.

Still, it's just not worth driving away just to escape a minor parking ticket. It's much easier just to file a court date and let the ticket disappear.

I was sitting in an outdoor cafe just a few weeks ago, and this Cayenne was getting a ticket. Some people in the cafe starting shouting for the owner that he was getting a ticket....he jumps the cafe fence, climbs through the passenger door and jumps in the driver's seat to zoom away...but he forgot to close the passenger door. He ended up damaging the door and another parked car, ironically one of the people that warned him of his ticket...he still got the ticket though.

[ullyeus]

I thought they can't give u a ticket if you are in the car? Technically you are not parked unless you leave your car?

what are you then if not parked?

[Evil Baby]

I got one in T.O. The meter maid was in a booth just sitting there. I parked in a spot that was staff only. Sadly I didn't see the sign as there was 1 sign for 40 or so parking spots in middle with two arrows. I was out of the car for 2 minutes, putting a letter in the mail and got a $35 ticket. I was not impressed at all and it reminded me of how F'd up Toronto can be. All they care about is money, no wonder tourism is failing in the city. I have never gone back to that plaza, even when I lived in the area.

Although I was parked illegally I feel the plaza could have done a much better job and signage, you know putting more than 1 sign for 40 spots. Also the meter maid could have warned me. Also she was wearing normal clothing which I found odd, but it was an offical T.O. parking ticket.

[jimmy-j]

I was sitting in an outdoor cafe just a few weeks ago, and this Cayenne was getting a ticket. Some people in the cafe starting shouting for the owner that he was getting a ticket....he jumps the cafe fence, climbs through the passenger door and jumps in the driver's seat to zoom away...but he forgot to close the passenger door. He ended up damaging the door and another parked car, ironically one of the people that warned him of his ticket...he still got the ticket though.

that's priceless! i wish i could've seen it happen! haha

[jimmy-j]

Also she was wearing normal clothing which I found odd, but it was an offical T.O. parking ticket.


i think this may be OK still. i parked in a 2 hour temp spot in mississauga and i was just a bit over 2 hours and got a ticket. the ticket came from the private lot monitor but was for the city of mississauga. crazy :rolleyes:

[chickenbones]

what are you then if not parked?

Well there are no stopping signs and no parking signs. So I thought there would be a difference. If the driver is in the car it would be stopping, not parking...

[Tacoma]

If that was true, then all you would have to do is ignore your tickets. If you ever get a letter about it, all you have to say is "It wasn't on my windshield so therefore it's invalid". How could the officer prove it was placed on the windshield?

If you think about it, you'll realize how silly your belief is.

Not to speak on ES_Revenge's behalf but I think he's right (note: I'm not a lawyer or enforcement officer) in that a written parking ticket has to be served in order for it to be valid and a ticket handed to you is served or if it's on the windshield is deemed to be served. In any other case, the written ticket is not served and therefore not valid.

The instance described by spf1971 where he says he can claim that it wasn't on his windshield would be lying and thus committing fraud if it was untrue. So the officer won't be able to prove it and that's the power of a lie, but you'll have to live with it.

If he didn't lie (e.g., it really did blew off the windshield), then the owner of the car will get a "Notice of Impending Conviction" after 15 days, so the honest parking offender will then realize he did get a ticket and will have to trust that the officer did not lie that he in fact did placed it on your windshield.

So, in other words, in order for this all to work, there's an assumption that everyone is honest. If this assumption is untrue, such as in spf1971's case, then anything goes.

However, in the case of a computerized ticket, it may be murky because the infraction could've been sent wireless to the centralized system and thus recorded before the enforcement office can put it on you windshield. And in this unlikely scenario where you drive away before he gives it to you, you still should get off because you haven't been served with the ticket. But it's more murky because it's now in the system as if it was and you'll have to go through the process.

[Emancipated]

what are you then if not parked?

Isn't it technically standing?

I see signs that say No parking/standing.

[mkerian]

Not to speak on ES_Revenge's behalf but I think he's right (note: I'm not a lawyer or enforcement officer) in that a written parking ticket has to be served in order for it to be valid and a ticket handed to you is served or if it's on the windshield is deemed to be served. In any other case, the written ticket is not served and therefore not valid.

The instance described by spf1971 where he says he can claim that it wasn't on his windshield would be lying and thus committing fraud if it was untrue. So the officer won't be able to prove it and that's the power of a lie, but you'll have to live with it.

If he didn't lie (e.g., it really did blew off the windshield), then the owner of the car will get a "Notice of Impending Conviction" after 15 days, so the honest parking offender will then realize he did get a ticket and will have to trust that the officer did not lie that he in fact did placed it on your windshield.

So, in other words, in order for this all to work, there's an assumption that everyone is honest. If this assumption is untrue, such as in spf1971's case, then anything goes.

However, in the case of a computerized ticket, it may be murky because the infraction could've been sent wireless to the centralized system and thus recorded before the enforcement office can put it on you windshield. And in this unlikely scenario where you drive away before he gives it to you, you still should get off because you haven't been served with the ticket. But it's more murky because it's now in the system as if it was and you'll have to go through the process.

So if he lies than he gets away, but if he decides to be honest a Notice of Impending Conviction suddenly appears? Your explanation is a little confusing...

The reality is, Toronto Parking cops use a centralized server to record the info required for the ticket, so even if you drive off you won't receive the physical ticket but you will receive the "Notice of Impending Conviction". It's not the ticket that matters, its the Notice. City council decided (2004) that mailing all the tickets is too expensive, so they just rely on the Notice instead. The only way you can drive away and not get a ticket is if the cop can't record and send the info to the central server in time.

[slowtyper]

The reality is, Toronto Parking cops use a centralized server to record the info required for the ticket, so even if you drive off you won't receive the physical ticket but you will receive the "Notice of Impending Conviction". It's not the ticket that matters, its the Notice. City council decided (2004) that mailing all the tickets is too expensive, so they just rely on the Notice instead. The only way you can drive away and not get a ticket is if the cop can't record and send the info to the central server in time.

Do you really know if this is true or is this simply your opinion of what logically should happen? What I mean is....I know it gets sent to a database that processes the info, however I would not be surprised if there was a need for the ticket to be "served" before the process is completed. It could be set up in a way that one of the "steps" on the ticket machine is to "serve ticket" before pressing submit or complete. In this way, even if the data was already recorded (really, its not much info to be taking down), the parking officer would be lying if he were to hit submit.

Your post seems to say that once your info is entered its automatically sent to some server and is processed right away. I would also guess that the completed "tickets" are saved and then uploaded at the end of the shift.

[mkerian]

Do you really know if this is true or is this simply your opinion of what logically should happen?

It's what happens. As I explained, City Council thought it was too expensive to mail parking tickets to people who drove off, but the information was still entered into the central server. Since the "Notice of Impending Conviction" is sent anyways, that became the more important document. If they run away before they get their ticket, it's not printed but it remains in the system. That's how it was explained to me.

Edit: Sorry I know, the lack of sources is frustrating too, but I got a ticket a year ago for being in a loading zone...I was actually unloading equipment but whatever.

I never received the ticket, but I did get a "Notice of Imp. Conviction". I went to go fight it and I was lucky enough to actually corner a Transportation Services manager. He was a nice guy, dismissed my ticket since I actually was working. It was then he explained to me about the importance of the Notice versus the ticket. Why the lack of sources, I don't know but maybe perhaps because it's an informal decision?

[slowtyper]

It's what happens. As I explained, City Council thought it was too expensive to mail parking tickets to people who drove off, but the information was still entered into the central server. Since the "Notice of Impending Conviction" is sent anyways, that became the more important document.

No, I know about how the notice of impending conviction is sent. But do you know if parking officials are actually allowed or not to submit their ticket without having served it?

According to one ticket website, it says that in Toronto the tickets must be served onto the vehicle in order to be valid, but again, no source to back it up. So if you have some source to back up your argument that they do not have to be actualyl placed on the car, I would appreciate that.

[slowtyper]

There are multiple people in this thread: http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=129780 who also claim that dutifully the officer has to serve the ticket to you or place it on the vehicle before they are allowed to submit it. Again though...no sources...

from that thread

Yeah.There were some big news stories on this topic in the news just a couple months ago. Once the person was not handed the ticket or it was not placed on the windshield they had not been served and so the ticket was invalid.

Parking enforcement and the police too were fighting to have the right to be able to mail the tickets to drivers who had learned that they could drive off thus avoiding the tickets.

Parking enforcement oficers said it wa a matter of safety for them as they could be run over and many have had their feet crushed etc.

You really have to be adamant to step in front of a car to try to stop someone from evading a ticket before being served.

I don't think they have won the right to mail the tickets to you and you can still avoid it by driving off before being served(they finish writing the tickets properly and handing it or putting on your winshield).

As the poster above said just be careful not to run over the parking enforcement officer in the process as some may try to block you, and keep your car tuned for easy get aways.

[spf1971]

Do you really know if this is true or is this simply your opinion of what logically should happen? What I mean is....I know it gets sent to a database that processes the info, however I would not be surprised if there was a need for the ticket to be "served" before the process is completed. It could be set up in a way that one of the "steps" on the ticket machine is to "serve ticket" before pressing submit or complete. In this way, even if the data was already recorded (really, its not much info to be taking down), the parking officer would be lying if he were to hit submit.

Your post seems to say that once your info is entered its automatically sent to some server and is processed right away. I would also guess that the completed "tickets" are saved and then uploaded at the end of the shift.

What about hand written tickets? There is no "served" button to press so how would they be certified as having been placed on the car?

In the interest of full disclosure, there was a case in the UK http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-444842/Avoid-parking-ticket--just-driving-away.html where they ruled that the ticket had to be given to the driver or placed on the vehicle. I didn't find any article dealing with Canada during my search.

[at1212b]

There was a long thread on this previously. From what I remember, and what I read in the law, it basically said the officer has to 'Certify', so whatever that means. So if he hits 'confirm' or basically puts his signature on it (like the old days), then it is valid/certified.

So the brain has decided, but it doesn't matter as long as the body made a reasonable attempt/motion to serve the person.

From my interpretation, I guess the courts are to determine where exactly that Officer was when he certified it regardless of if he was able to place it on the windshield in time properly, and that is where the Judge is supposed to make the decision on whether it was certified properly or not.

[G-Yo]

It's not the ticket that matters, its the Notice.

Alot of disinformation here.

How come no one has referred to the POA (Provincial Offences Act) ?

Part II of the POA http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90p33_e.htm clearly reads:

Certificate and notice of parking infraction

15. (1) A provincial offences officer who believes from his or her personal knowledge that one or more persons have committed a parking infraction may issue,

(a) a certificate of parking infraction certifying that a parking infraction has been committed; and

(b) a parking infraction notice indicating the set fine for the infraction.

Idem

(2) The provincial offences officer shall complete and sign the certificate and notice in the form prescribed under section 20.

Municipal by-laws

(3) If the alleged infraction is under a by-law of a municipality, it is not necessary to include a reference to the number of the by-law on the certificate or notice.

Service on owner

(4) The issuing provincial offences officer may serve the parking infraction notice on the owner of the vehicle identified in the notice,

(a) by affixing it to the vehicle in a conspicuous place at the time of the alleged infraction; or

(b) by delivering it personally to the person having care and control of the vehicle at the time of the alleged infraction.

Service on operator

(5) The issuing provincial offences officer may serve the parking infraction notice on the operator of a vehicle by delivering it to the operator personally at the time of the alleged infraction.

Certificate of service

(6) The issuing provincial offences officer shall certify on the certificate of parking infraction that he or she served the parking infraction notice on the person charged and the date and method of service.

Certificate as evidence

(7) If it appears that the provincial offences officer who issued a certificate of parking infraction has certified service of the parking infraction notice and signed the certificate, the certificate shall be received in evidence and is proof of service unless there is evidence to the contrary. 1992, c. 20, s. 1 (1).

[ES_Revenge]

I was sitting in an outdoor cafe just a few weeks ago, and this Cayenne was getting a ticket. Some people in the cafe starting shouting for the owner that he was getting a ticket....he jumps the cafe fence, climbs through the passenger door and jumps in the driver's seat to zoom away...but he forgot to close the passenger door. He ended up damaging the door and another parked car, ironically one of the people that warned him of his ticket...he still got the ticket though.
LMFAO, man I would have paid money to see that :lol: What idiots!

what are you then if not parked?
Yeah standing, though I think standing your engine has to be running and then they can probably get you on the vehicle idling law if we're talking about Toronto, lol.

[slowtyper]

G-yo, thank you very much for that source, I tried scanning through the highway traffic act with no luck and did not know where to look!

As I said, its so often that people on this forum claim things as fact when really its just their opinion of what should logically happen, unless MKERIAN has some other sources similar to "it's what happens".