George and Nora Lee Alexander were ticketed because their car faced the wrong way on their street. Nora's weak ankle makes it hard to get out of the car when it's parked the right way.
Posted on 07/14/2009 10:47:50 AM PDT by SmithL
Oakland has raised the price of parking tickets, extended meter times to 8 p.m. in most parts of the city and is more aggressively enforcing parking violations, including in residential neighborhoods.
The decision is driven by the city's budget woes, which deep cuts to city services alone did not solve. Falling sales and property, property transfer and hotel taxes have contributed to a $51 million decline in revenues.
But the move to wring more money out of parking violations, one of the few legal tools the city has, is inspiring a revolt.
A newly established parking enforcement crew that works evenings has been going into neighborhoods and ticketing entire blocks - places where parking habits were defined more by common understanding and history than the law.
Shopkeepers and restaurants are up in arms over what they see as a death knell in a flagging economy: $2-an-hour meters that are monitored until 8 p.m.
"I'm pissed," said Alan Michaan, owner of the Grand Lake Theatre, who has changed his trademark marquee to say that, with the parking rules, "the City Council will finish destroying our shopping districts!"
In Crocker Highlands, Nora Lee Alexander got a $50 ticket for parking facing the wrong direction in front of her home.
The retired Oakland schoolteacher has done so off and on for 40 years, but particularly in the last 10 after she broke her left ankle. On the steep incline of Balfour Avenue, parking the wrong direction meant she didn't have to push open the door against gravity using her weak ankle.
"The car ain't botherin' anyone out there," Alexander said in her Texan drawl as she pointed out the nine pins and metal plate embedded in her ankle. "I consider it a form of harassment."
"It seems like they are scavenging for money,"
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
George and Nora Lee Alexander were ticketed because their car faced the wrong way on their street. Nora's weak ankle makes it hard to get out of the car when it's parked the right way.
(Previous fine or limit in parentheses)
Meter parking in most areas: until 8 p.m. (6 p.m.)
Expired meter: $55 ($45)
Parking on a sidewalk: $100 ($30)
Double parking: $75 ($30)
No parking in a driveway: $85 ($30)
Parking within 3 feet of a sidewalk access ramp: $330 (none)
Source: City of Oakland
Our nanny state just put into effect fines for not wearing a seat belt even in parking lots. They can now stop you without cause to issue you a ticket.Before they had to have some other excuse to stop you and ticket you now they dont.Of course it for the children.
municipalities need to increase revenue.
i expect to see much more “law” presence generating more and more revenue.
Simple solution. Throw the bums out. What is a bum?
Democrat = bum.
Progressive = bum.
More than two terms = bum.
Of course, virtually all CA politicians appear to match all three criteria.
Which is why that state is in the state it’s in.
She might want to give that weak ankle a rest by dropping a few pounds.
Typical government reaction. Don’t cut spending, rip the citizens.
“Double parking: $75 ($30)”
Yeah right! Will never happen in China Town - never has - never will.
Well, the citizens work for the Government after all.
There is a growing trend to use the penal code as a “revenue enhancer.” This is most dangerous as the state moves from being a neutral perty to being a vitally interested party. Couple this new interest with the espressed interest in promoting minorities at the expense of whites the courts will lose the respect they once enjoyed.
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