Parking enforcement question

**Hardhat** · April-25-12, 04:41 PM

What's the latest on street parking enforcement - Will I get a ticket if I go to an evening Tiger game and park at a meter?

**MidTownMs** · April-25-12, 06:30 PM

Yes you will but the ticket might be cheaper than the parking lot depending on where you park.

**nain rouge** · April-25-12, 07:08 PM

There is no way you can escape a parking ticket in Detroit if you're parked illegally. I believe Detroit's meter maids are so effective that they've actually been paid to train meter maids in other major cities. That being said, a parking ticket will only cost you $10, so it's a wash when compared to any parking garage or lot on a game day [[in fact, some garages will try to gouge you for up to $20). There are some meters that accept debit/credit cards, and those would probably be cheaper than any other option.

**firstandten** · April-25-12, 07:18 PM

Don't the meter maids go off duty at 6 pm ?

**nain rouge** · April-25-12, 07:36 PM

Nope, they pushed enforcement to 10 pm. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/07/...arking-meters/

**Meddle** · April-25-12, 07:40 PM

Just hope they don't go on a Tow Jam and yank everything in sight to an impound lot.

Then of course, there's the acquisition specialists who can get any thing they want from any car they see in 10 seconds or less.

**nain rouge** · April-25-12, 07:58 PM

Just hope they don't go on a Tow Jam and yank everything in sight to an impound lot.

That happened to my friend when he had the misfortune of being at a place that was selling alcoholic drunks illegally at the wrong time. He didn't even know the place didn't have a liquor license - it seemed like a legit place and had been open for months.

Long story short, they towed every car parked outside. To make matters worse, the cops refused to say where the cars were towed to, saying that everyone whose car was towed would have to go down to the local police precinct and pay for the information. Of course, when my friend went down to the precinct later - after calling around for a ride - the precinct claimed it didn't have the information.

He and the others that were at the evidently illegal establishment never saw their cars again. He's now involved in a lawsuit against the city.

The place in question was known for holding raves sometimes, and had already been busted a few times for other infractions. The DPD had it out for that place from the beginning. There is crime all over the city, but if some people from the suburbs want to dance to electronic music, you'd better believe that the DPD will be there puffing its chest and trying to make a quick buck.

**eno** · April-25-12, 10:47 PM

Sounds like the C.A.I.D on Rosa Parks.

**Scottathew** · April-26-12, 04:29 AM

Is parking enforcement privatized?

**Zacha341** · April-26-12, 06:34 AM

"Acquisition Specialists" ROTFL! Ain't that the truth. Yeah the meter folks are out as late at 10PM but there are less of them, so they don't hit every street but the popular touristy 'walk to the event' ones are a done deal and some favorite places like the bars and eateries around the Fox and Comerica are ticket and towing heaven along with the "Specialists". I don't see any inforcement stopping at all....

Further, as I've said before if you have three or more unpaid tickets when they run your plate upon writing a simple expired meter ticket they call the boot truck, followed by the tow truck that yanks your car on to the pound and you cannot get car until you pay all fees including the boot and tow connection and daily pound fee. And if you don't have a valid drivers license you cannot pick up your car!

Originally Posted by Meddle

Just hope they don't go on a Tow Jam and yank everything in sight to an impound lot.

Then of course, there's the acquisition specialists who can get any thing they want from any car they see in 10 seconds or less.

**Zacha341** · April-26-12, 06:40 AM

Excuse me but WTFrick!!!!!! It's one thing to have a car towed and bad enough to have confiscatory fees but to have it disappear with no recourse to get it back!

No wonder all these cars turn up at the city auction in great condition sometimes... and who knows where else. Heaven for a used car broker that has inside info.......

Originally Posted by nain rouge

He and the others that were at the evidently illegal establishment never saw their cars again. He's now involved in a lawsuit against the city.[/COLOR]

**cramerro** · April-26-12, 06:53 AM

Originally Posted by nain rouge

That happened to my friend when he had the misfortune of being at a place that was selling alcoholic drunks illegally at the wrong time. He didn't even know the place didn't have a liquor license - it seemed like a legit place and had been open for months.

Long story short, they towed every car parked outside. To make matters worse, the cops refused to say where the cars were towed to, saying that everyone whose car was towed would have to go down to the local police precinct and pay for the information. Of course, when my friend went down to the precinct later - after calling around for a ride - the precinct claimed it didn't have the information.

He and the others that were at the evidently illegal establishment never saw their cars again. He's now involved in a lawsuit against the city.

The place in question was known for holding raves sometimes, and had already been busted a few times for other infractions. The DPD had it out for that place from the beginning. There is crime all over the city, but if some people from the suburbs want to dance to electronic music, you'd better believe that the DPD will be there puffing its chest and trying to make a quick buck. [/COLOR]

NR - it it terrible that your friend's car was confiscated and cannot be recovered. There is no excuse for that.

However, I'd challenge you to take a step back and review the tone of the rest of your post. I'm not sure exactly where this 'establishment' was, but I can imagine that people who have to live in the area might take exception to people driving in from the suburbs to do something there [[on an apparently regular basis) that is illegal and wouldn't be allowed in your friends hometown.

I would hope that the DPD would have it out for a long-standing illegal establishment, I'm guessing they may have been acting on some sort of tips or complaints [[potentially a lot of them if they actually took action). That doesn't justify them stealing your friend's car, but certainly shouldn't make them the 'bad guy' for keeping those types of establishments in check.

In addition, to toe the old 'money grab' line is pretty weak... the city hasn't made dollar one on this operation. If they can't even tell you where the car is or where to pay for it, obviously cashing in on impound fees was not high on the priority list, not to mention the legal costs they are now involved with. If they really told him he had to pay for the information [[and actually took the cash), that's obviously also inexcusable, and corruption. As far as auction proceeds [[as suggested by another post), the amount of time and adminstrative cost that it takes them to run those would certainly not qualify as a 'quick money grab.'

So long as suburbanites use the streets of Detroit as thier consequence-free adult playground [[see also: using the bus to ride in to buy and use drugs), the City's neighborhoods will cotinue thier increasing rate of decline.

**JBMcB** · April-26-12, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by cramerro

I would hope that the DPD would have it out for a long-standing illegal establishment, I'm guessing they may have been acting on some sort of tips or complaints [[potentially a lot of them if they actually took action). That doesn't justify them stealing your friend's car, but certainly shouldn't make them the 'bad guy' for keeping those types of establishments in check.

Uh, if the place is operating illegally, you shut the place down, you don't steal it's patron's cars. I've seen speakeasys padlocked and their power and water shut off. I would have gone that route instead of hosing people who, according to the author, didn't even know the place was operating illegally.

In addition, to toe the old 'money grab' line is pretty weak... the city hasn't made dollar one on this operation.

I would say attempted money grab. Corruption or incomptetence short-circuted the attempt.

So long as suburbanites use the streets of Detroit as thier consequence-free adult playground

Well, it's certainly sending a message that, if you come to Detroit to have a good time, you had better research the validity of parking spaces and thouroughly check the business credentials of the place you are patronizing, becuase if any of the paperwork is out of order, or if the neighbors just don't like the place, the police might make your car disappear.

Or you could just stay in the suburbs where things like don't seem to happen.

**Kevgoblue** · April-26-12, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by JBMcB

Uh, if the place is operating illegally, you shut the place down, you don't steal it's patron's cars. I've seen speakeasys padlocked and their power and water shut off. I would have gone that route instead of hosing people who, according to the author, didn't even know the place was operating illegally.

Well, it's certainly sending a message that, if you come to Detroit to have a good time, you had better research the validity of parking spaces and thouroughly check the business credentials of the place you are patronizing, becuase if any of the paperwork is out of order, or if the neighbors just don't like the place, the police might make your car disappear.

Or you could just stay in the suburbs where things like don't seem to happen.

Well if the people who, according to the author, didn't know the place was operating illegally then they probably deserved to have their cars towed. They're lucky the place wasn't raided. Not sure how old these alleged friends were, but for as long as I can remember a legal joint can't serve drinks after 2am.

Gotta agree with Cramerro, it wasn't about going somewhere to have a "good time". They were visiting the consequence free adult playground and lady luck didn't happen to be on their side that evening.

**JBMcB** · April-26-12, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Kevgoblue

Well if the people who, according to the author, didn't know the place was operating illegally then they probably deserved to have their cars towed.

Seriously? Do you check the liquor license of every bar you go to?

Not sure how old these alleged friends were, but for as long as I can remember a legal joint can't serve drinks after 2am.

Legislation was passed last year allowing some bars to stay open until 4AM.

Gotta agree with Cramerro, it wasn't about going somewhere to have a "good time". They were visiting the consequence free adult playground and lady luck didn't happen to be on their side that evening.

Based on the OP's description of them going to a place to drink? What are you basing your inference on?

I'd be more inclined to cut the police some slack if myself, and most of my friends who work downtown, didn't have so much expereince with "creative" parking enforcement by the DPD.

**ghettopalmetto** · April-26-12, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by MidTownMs

Yes you will but the ticket might be cheaper than the parking lot depending on where you park.

So you can't park at a meter on a public street during a Tiger game, and are instead forced to spend $20 to enter the Macedonian Parkingplex?

Sounds a bit like fascism to me.

**JBMcB** · April-26-12, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by ghettopalmetto

So you can't park at a meter on a public street during a Tiger game, and are instead forced to spend $20 to enter the Macedonian Parkingplex?
Sounds a bit like fascism to me.

Crony capitalism, fascism's cousin.

**poobert** · April-26-12, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by ghettopalmetto

So you can't park at a meter on a public street during a Tiger game, and are instead forced to spend $20 to enter the Macedonian Parkingplex?

Sounds a bit like fascism to me.

I dunno about that. I guess it falls under "corporate power is protected" and "rampant cronyism and corruption" but I don't think they've gotten to the other 12 yet.
http://www.rense.com/general37/fascism.htm

I did used to like to go to Anchor Bar, park at a meter, and take the People Mover. Economical and far from the ......... hangouts closer to the park. No longer! The city is obsessed with finding new and creative ways to be hostile to its denizens and visitors though.

I've found some unattended lots far from the park that seem to work...just requires some creativity and walking. Luckily the Supreme Being endowed us with brains and legs, most people just don't seem to use them.

**Kevgoblue** · April-26-12, 12:59 PM

What's the latest on street parking enforcement - Will I get a ticket if I go to Royal Oak for a beer after work and park at a meter?

**ndavies** · April-26-12, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by ghettopalmetto

So you can't park at a meter on a public street during a Tiger game, and are instead forced to spend $20 to enter the Macedonian Parkingplex?

Sounds a bit like fascism to me.

The meters downtown are for short term parking. They have maximum parking time limits on them. You're only allowed to park at them for an hour. Most ballgames last more than 1 hour.

You could always cross I-75 and park on the streets in either Brush Park or Cass Park for free.

**jolla** · April-26-12, 01:02 PM

Are parking tickets really only $10?

**HazenPingree** · April-26-12, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by jolla

Are parking tickets really only $10?

Tickets for basic parking infractions are $30. However, if you read the tiny print, it says that if you pay within some short timeframe [[seven or ten days), you get a $20 fee reduction.

**jolla** · April-26-12, 05:06 PM

I'd rather pay Detroit $10 to park than some parking lot company. I'm risking it from now on!

**Scottathew** · April-26-12, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by jolla

I'd rather pay Detroit $10 to park than some parking lot company. I'm risking it from now on!

Yup. And my favorite part is that after the lot attendant takes the money from everyone and the lot is full, they take off. Your money only buys you a spot, not even a person to watch the lot for a few hours.