Parking enforcement question

**cramerro** · April-27-12, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by HazenPingree

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.

Actually, this isn't totally true. All parking tickets in the City have a 10-day window for a $10 reduction. Meter violations are $20, so after the $10 discount you get $10. Most other violations are $30 [[fire hydrant, corner clearance, no stopping). The only violation i know of that is higher is handicap space violation [[I think $100?). These rates are super low compared to many other big cities that have much higher penalties for things like no standing, hydrants, etc.

A few other things based on other posts...

What this does mean is that it's pretty cheap to park and let your meter expire for $10. I have been working and parking downtown for over a year and everything is on the up-and-up. They only tow if you get a boot, and you only get a boot if you're on the list. The whole thing with this establishment that started this thread is new to me, and certainly wasn't justified.

Also, I have a number of people who have gone the Brush Park neighborhood free parking route and got their window smashed and stuff stolen. I parked there when COPa first opened, but its not worth saving $10, IMO.

**sturge** · April-27-12, 09:09 AM

Just park at MGM.

**drjeff** · April-27-12, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by cramerro

Actually, this isn't totally true. All parking tickets in the City have a 10-day window for a $10 reduction. Meter violations are $20, so after the $10 discount you get $10. Most other violations are $30 [[fire hydrant, corner clearance, no stopping). The only violation i know of that is higher is handicap space violation [[I think $100?). These rates are super low compared to many other big cities that have much higher penalties for things like no standing, hydrants, etc.

A few other things based on other posts...

What this does mean is that it's pretty cheap to park and let your meter expire for $10. I have been working and parking downtown for over a year and everything is on the up-and-up. They only tow if you get a boot, and you only get a boot if you're on the list. The whole thing with this establishment that started this thread is new to me, and certainly wasn't justified.

Also, I have a number of people who have gone the Brush Park neighborhood free parking route and got their window smashed and stuff stolen. I parked there when COPa first opened, but its not worth saving $10, IMO.

I go to a lot of Tigers games. For many years I parked on John R and never had an issue. Then in 2010 the bums started extorting money to "watch your car," or, in other words, "pay me or I'll break your window." I drive a very recognizable car and they also started to know it. Now I pay for parking, usually in the Opera House garage or the Hudson's underground garage.

**softailrider** · April-29-12, 01:26 AM

Originally Posted by jolla

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

Not an approach I would recommend. Possibility of an unhappy ending to your evening is too high.

**Al Publican** · April-29-12, 03:12 AM

Pay to park at a lot, rather than let some jakey bum mess with you car. If you run up something like six tickets, they could tow your car. For those that come from afar to see a game now and then, pop for paying in a lot even if it is 10 to 20 dollars.

SteveJ · April-29-12, 09:18 AM

I always just park my car at the church in Greektown. Don't really have an issue with giving some money to a church.

**Zacha341** · April-29-12, 10:18 AM

It's worse. Just three or more 'unpaid' parking tickets will get you the boot, the tow, the daily impound fee and you will not be able to renew your drivers license. I was talking to a young man by WSU who was standing by his car waiting for the tow truck as his vehicle had the big yellow BOOT. He told me he did not know he had the tickets as he'd moved alot. Good times!

I just pay to park, or find one of my favorite no pay spots [[very rare, but they are there).

http://www.freep.com/article/20120418/NEWS01/204180367/Pay-parking-tickets-now-Detroit-warns?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news...se-20120215-ms

Originally Posted by Al Publican

Pay to park at a lot, rather than let some jakey bum mess with you car. If you run up something like six tickets, they could tow your car. For those that come from afar to see a game now and then, pop for paying in a lot even if it is 10 to 20 dollars.

**noggin** · April-29-12, 10:56 AM

You can look up your C of D parking tickets at this link: https://step1.caledoncard.com/cgi-bin/detroit.cgi

**Zacha341** · April-29-12, 11:07 AM

YEP! Thanks for posting the link. IF you think you have more than one ticket best check it here to avoid the drama of loosing your car and driving privileges.

**softailrider** · April-29-12, 06:00 PM

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.

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

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.

You mean the suburbs where they don't allow a racket to go on where rogue towing companies can just steal your vehicle.

**softailrider** · April-29-12, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by cramerro

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.

You seem to be insinuating that partying suburbanites are somehow responsible for the decline in Detroit's neighborhoods. As someone who has been a first hand witness to the decline for the last 30 years, I would say that those suburbanites you referred to have very little or nothing to do with that decline. I would place most of the blame on the residents themselves who seem to have very little regard for their surroundings.

**Zacha341** · April-30-12, 06:25 AM

Point well stated. Further, who's saying that only suburbanites get jacked with the parking enforcement measures? A friend of mine had her car booted and towed from not paying her tickets. Further, the parking enforcement crew are more present in the surrounding areas than before.

Not just downtown!

I've seen booted cars on residential streets. The only place you cannot be booted and towed is if you are in your own private property driveway!

Originally Posted by softailrider

You seem to be insinuating that partying suburbanites are somehow responsible for the decline in Detroit's neighborhoods. As someone who has been a first hand witness to the decline for the last 30 years, I would say that those suburbanites you referred to have very little or nothing to do with that decline. I would place most of the blame on the residents themselves who seem to have very little regard for their surroundings.

**laphoque** · April-30-12, 10:35 PM

Anyone know if that amnesty that was in that agreement with the city's unions is still happening?

**CLAUDE G** · May-01-12, 01:02 AM

I hate the parking situation at Comerica Park, the only lots I feel safe parking in are the lots around Comerica Park that are owned by Illitch.

I have an SUV with a navagation system and had it stolen 3 times, so I refuse to park on the street. You go to the independant owned lots, as someone pointed out your not that much safer since the attendants leave once they sold out the lot.

If anyone goes to the Tiger Games, I always have an extra parking pass that Im willing to sell for $20. You either park in the Tiger Garage, or in the front lots.

I had to buy a whole season of parking passes, but $20 in an illitch owned lot is better than $20 and having to walk 6 blocks.

I hate paying Illitch for parking, but its the lesser of the 2 evils

**Zacha341** · May-01-12, 06:06 AM

I don't go to sport events much but I hear you best park in the Illich lots or there are problems. And a 'visible' GPS is just a invite for a smashed window along with your personal info on the system accessed.

I have a small GPS system I rarely use that I keep in the glove box and I don't use a mounter [[it's the kind you can just lay on the seat next to you and it will speak directions).

**Meddle** · May-01-12, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by CLAUDE G

I have an SUV with a navagation system and had it stolen 3 times,

Well, nothing like painting a giant target on it saying "Over Here!! Steal ME!!!"

When you drive downtown at night, you drive a $500 beater.

**webband1** · May-01-12, 11:49 AM

I've parked in Brush Park with no problems, but I don't leave anything on the seats or visible - aka I'm not an idiot.

I also like to park in the Grand Circus garage - rather the city get my money for legal, attended parking then risk it on the street at a 1 or 2 hour meter.

I've even parked on Antietam for Lions games... no problems there either.

**cramerro** · May-01-12, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by softailrider

You seem to be insinuating that partying suburbanites are somehow responsible for the decline in Detroit's neighborhoods. As someone who has been a first hand witness to the decline for the last 30 years, I would say that those suburbanites you referred to have very little or nothing to do with that decline. I would place most of the blame on the residents themselves who seem to have very little regard for their surroundings.

I was a bit strong in my wording, but I feel that this type of thing has been a contributor to the INCREASED rate of decline. One example of the connection is the steady departure of owners and the replacement with renters. The more you have operations like this doing whatever they want the lower the property values will go. Once you pass a certain point, renting is the only option you have left aside from giving your property away. More and more people who have very little invested in their property and thier neighborhood, which in turn makes it worse.

Again, the lawlessness that is perpetuated by these types of establishments contributes to increasing the rate of decline, in my opinion.

I'll say again that there is no right there to have the cars towed away, and/or any of the other things that were supposedly requested/said regarding retrieving the vehicles.

I'll also say again that the legitimate ticketing, booting, and towing by the city is no a racket. You have to have enforcement of the rules or nobody will follow them [[see above re: illegal clubs). The rules and penalties are clear and consistent... don't park illegally and pay your tickets if you don't want to pay the consequences!

**stromberg2** · May-01-12, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by CLAUDE G

I hate the parking situation at Comerica Park, the only lots I feel safe parking in are the lots around Comerica Park that are owned by Illitch.

I have an SUV with a navagation system and had it stolen 3 times, so I refuse to park on the street. You go to the independant owned lots, as someone pointed out your not that much safer since the attendants leave once they sold out the lot.

If anyone goes to the Tiger Games, I always have an extra parking pass that Im willing to sell for $20. You either park in the Tiger Garage, or in the front lots.

I had to buy a whole season of parking passes, but $20 in an illitch owned lot is better than $20 and having to walk 6 blocks.

I hate paying Illitch for parking, but its the lesser of the 2 evils

I'll have to take you up on that ClaudeG!

Stromberg2