Parking in the City of Detroit

**Bill07073** · February-24-13, 09:53 AM

I understand that paying for parking in Detroit is probably necessary. What I don't understand is why I received a parking ticket in Detroit on Saturday night 2/23/2013 at 8:12PM while parked on Fort Street and attending a Detroit Red Wings game. Come on!

I am most probably way out of date but I thought you could park for free after 6:00PM on city streets and on the weekends except for very limited areas. Anybody have information on that topic.

**Eric_c** · February-24-13, 10:02 AM

Enforcement until 10pm.

**Zacha341** · February-24-13, 10:32 AM

^^^^ Especially in the downtown and WSU areas.

**Gannon** · February-24-13, 10:48 AM

Thank you for contributing to the revitalization of the city.

Your only hope at reducing the total amount of this tax is to pay it within the ten-day deadline as detailed in the tiniest printing on the ticket, on the back.

Do not pay the full amount, unless you want to donate more help.

I think it is absolute bullshit that they enforce after six. It is only a cash-grab...and does NOTHING but create ill-will in all of the Bill07073s of the area who still come into the city for events.

I say we need to introduce a ballot referendum that any time a parking spot is paid for, the one who 'owns' the spot becomes totally and completely liable for the vehicle's and occupant's safety. That would shake things up.

No cheers on this. Sorry you got caught in this bs.

**Hamtragedy** · February-24-13, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by Gannon

Thank you for contributing to the revitalization of the city.

Your only hope at reducing the total amount of this tax is to pay it within the ten-day deadline as detailed in the tiniest printing on the ticket, on the back.

Correct. If you pay your $20 parking ticket within ten days, it only costs $10. I just paid mine from Winter Blast on-line, and it was the most pleasurable, easiest time I've had with the City of Detroit in years.

**Gannon** · February-24-13, 10:53 AM

I mean, anytime anyone pays for a parking spot...there is trade-in-kind for the assumption of various levels of protection, right?! Lots are safer than streets...structures safer than dirtlots...

...but if they charge for a spot at night, after business hours and the whole curbrushtime with the buses and commuters, what is anyone paying for? They don't NEED to circulate the spots for retail that is closed, this is ONLY a hassle for restaurant/bars and events and residents. Now I'm getting pissed.

**DetroitPlanner** · February-24-13, 10:54 AM

You may have parked in a no parking area. They do enforce those long after the meter maids go home for the day. Many of these are needed so that building entrances, pedestrian walks, and fire hydrants are not blocked or other reasons.

**Bill07073** · February-24-13, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

You may have parked in a no parking area. They do enforce those long after the meter maids go home for the day. Many of these are needed so that building entrances, pedestrian walks, and fire hydrants are not blocked or other reasons.

Tks for the response. No I did not park in a restricted or no parking area. There were two cars in front of me and one in back of me. The nearest building entrance was at least 1/8 of a mile away and the only thing near me were open concrete steips leading toward the campus.

**DetroitPlanner** · February-24-13, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by Bill07073

Tks for the response. No I did not park in a restricted or no parking area. There were two cars in front of me and one in back of me. The nearest building entrance was at least 1/8 of a mile away and the only thing near me were open concrete steips leading toward the campus.

Sounds like you were here:
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=wayne...bp=12,225,,0,0 I'd do what Hamtragetty suggested, pay the $10 and try to learn from it. No sense getting all stressed out. Chances are that in a world of $50 hockey tickets and $11 beers it will be your cheapest expense for the night.

**Bill07073** · February-24-13, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Sounds like you were here:
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=wayne...bp=12,225,,0,0 I'd do what Hamtragetty suggested, pay the $10 and try to learn from it. No sense getting all stressed out. Chances are that in a world of $50 hockey tickets and $11 beers it will be your cheapest expense for the night.

Actually the cost is 20.00 and the point is not so much the cost but rather the disincentive and penalty I got for entering into Detroit. Yes I should have looked at the meter posting time. In my defense it was Saturday night at 7:00PM and I really didn't think they enforced the parking laws that late on a Saturday.

**MidTownMs** · February-24-13, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

You may have parked in a no parking area. They do enforce those long after the meter maids go home for the day. Many of these are needed so that building entrances, pedestrian walks, and fire hydrants are not blocked or other reasons.

Parking Enforcement Officers...TYVM

**Lowell** · February-24-13, 11:01 AM

Once again -- Gov. Snyder, Mayor Bing, Council, School Supt., and potential EFM's TAKE NOTE.

Make all city departments as efficient as parking enforcement and, voila, end of problems.

You blink and they gotcha. You 'think' and you're wrong. Imagine all the fine collections and blight abatement if building code violations were enforced with the same vigor and promptness. Imagine the same with the serving of warrants and delinquent tax collections.

**Zacha341** · February-24-13, 11:11 AM

Not to mention the ghost employees probably on the COD payrolls - tucked away in some obscure crannies and corners getting checks.

Originally Posted by Lowell

Once again -- Gov. Snyder, Mayor Bing, Council, School Supt., and potential EFM's TAKE NOTE.

Make all city departments as efficient as parking enforcement and, voila, end of problems....

**ScienceFair** · February-25-13, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

Not to mention the ghost employees probably on the COD payrolls - tucked away in some obscure crannies and corners getting checks.

This is no joke. An aquaintance of mine was surveying the DPD HQ on Beaubien to prepare for the move to the new building. Said there were several unidentified people holed up in offices on mostly vacant floors that had no discernable position or job. WTF?

**Gannon** · February-25-13, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by ScienceFair

This is no joke. An aquaintance of mine was surveying the DPD HQ on Beaubien to prepare for the move to the new building. Said there were several unidentified people holed up in offices on mostly vacant floors that had no discernable position or job. WTF?

I wonder what discernable connections any of them might have to previous administrations and leadership?! I wouldn't be surprised if some of 'em go back to Chief "Two Large Ceiling Tile" Hart...heh.

**Honky Tonk** · February-25-13, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by ScienceFair

This is no joke. An aquaintance of mine was surveying the DPD HQ on Beaubien to prepare for the move to the new building. Said there were several unidentified people holed up in offices on mostly vacant floors that had no discernable position or job. WTF?

And people get on my case because they think I make this shit up! Glad to hear someone else has experienced the Detroit Triangle.

**eno** · February-24-13, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Lowell

Once again -- Gov. Snyder, Mayor Bing, Council, School Supt., and potential EFM's TAKE NOTE.

Make all city departments as efficient as parking enforcement and, voila, end of problems.

You blink and they gotcha. You 'think' and you're wrong. Imagine all the fine collections and blight abatement if building code violations were enforced with the same vigor and promptness. Imagine the same with the serving of warrants and delinquent tax collections.

Be careful. It's talk like that that will get you tossed off the threads.

**canuck** · February-24-13, 11:18 AM

I dunno how your parking meters are in Detroit but in Montreal the limit is two hours on a charge, so if you are going to catch a movie or an event, chances are you need to exit the theatre and pay more or else get a ticket. Why not make them at least a three hour turnaround for folks to get their money's worth...

Also, as Gannon says, this whole post 6 pm charge is utter crapola.

**401don** · February-24-13, 11:31 AM

Based on the story last week the city only collects about 9% of fines and you won't get booted until you run up a couple of hundred dollars, so what's the incentive to pay?

**Gannon** · February-24-13, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by 401don

Based on the story last week the city only collects about 9% of fines and you won't get booted until you run up a couple of hundred dollars, so what's the incentive to pay?

After a certain threshold, six perhaps, they are able to restrict your ability to renew your license plate. It seems they don't often DO this, but it is in the mechanism if they choose to use it.

Trying to stay ahead of the bootman is incentive enough.

**Zacha341** · February-24-13, 02:36 PM

For sure! It's now been reduced to three or more and the state starts making noises about not renewing your license.

Three or more unpaid tickets evokes a flag for the meter folks to dispatch the boot/ tow joy - especially in certain areas like WSU, medical center and downtown. I worked at WSU and saw this go on all the time.

To pay off or check for outstanding parking tickets go to this site:

https://step1.caledoncard.com/cgi-bin/detroit.cgi

Originally Posted by Gannon

After a certain threshold, six perhaps, they are able to restrict your ability to renew your license plate. It seems they don't often DO this, but it is in the mechanism if they choose to use it.

Trying to stay ahead of the bootman is incentive enough.

**Bill07073** · February-25-13, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

For sure! It's now been reduced to three or more and the state starts making noises about not renewing your license.

Three or more unpaid tickets evokes a flag for the meter folks to dispatch the boot/ tow joy - especially in certain areas like WSU, medical center and downtown. I worked at WSU and saw this go on all the time.

To pay off or check for outstanding parking tickets go to this site:

https://step1.caledoncard.com/cgi-bin/detroit.cgi

Tks for the link

**Kathleen** · February-24-13, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Bill07073

... I thought you could park for free after 6:00PM on city streets and on the weekends except for very limited areas. ...

Doesn't anyone look at parking meters to see when they are enforced? Because of revenue streams dwindling everywhere, many communities have changed the hours of enforcement that you have to read them. Detroit is no different. It only takes a few seconds to determine what is required where, especially after 6pm. Better to do that than risk the parking ticket!!!

**GPCharles** · February-24-13, 11:43 AM

FYI - Even where there are no meters DO NOT park within 20' of a corner or within 30' of a stop sign. You can and will be ticketed.

**Gannon** · February-24-13, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by GPCharles

FYI - Even where there are no meters DO NOT park within 20' of a corner or within 30' of a stop sign. You can and will be ticketed.

Great reminder.

From hearing a morning-full of testimony before the magistrate in parking court a few years back, they assume each sidewalk square is five feet and count 'em.

They also go after residents parking across the sidewalk in front of their home, and even blocking the apron of their OWN driveway.