Philadelphia's Malicious PARKING TICKET SCAM

PHILADELPHIA'S MALICIOUS PARKING TICKET SCAM

Parking spaces reserved for the handicapped are desirable, but from the number of them in Philadelphia PA one would think half its population is in wheelchairs. These spaces do not exist through kindness though, but as an unscrupulously administered means of raising revenue through exhorbitant fines. And this "city of brotherly love" is not above having its cops write completely UNJUSTIFIED $300 FINE TICKETS on out-of-state residents' cars as a means of extortion!

I live in NYC and occasionally visit Philadelphia. I do not get parking tickets because I always carefully read and obey the signs. I was amazed one Sunday in January 2004 to find my car ticketed for parking in a space reserved for the handicapped at some times, but not on Sunday, when the facility I was parked in front of (801 Arch Street) was closed. A bright orange "TOW" sticker was glued to my rear window, but fortunately I got there before they came to steal my car. And to this day I have not been able to completely remove these vandals' glue from my window.

I have PHOTOS that PROVE I WAS LEGALLY PARKED and falsely ticketed!

I responded promptly with a certified letter stating my innocence. I received a reply "- suspending any further action pending the outcome of this investigation," and stating, "PLEASE DISREGARD ANY FURTHER NOTICES YOU MAY RECEIVE BEFORE A FINAL DETERMINATION IS MADE CONCERNING THIS."

That was DELIBERATE LIE NUMBER TWO, the first lie being the ticket itself. Further action was NOT suspended as I was told; HARbuttMENT AND THREATS then began. First a NOTICE OF DEFAULT, adding a $38 penalty to the $300 fine. Then an OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION AND FINAL ORDER. I continued to do as instructed - disregard further notices pending a final determination. Next came a CIVIL DEFAULT ORDER threatening to sieze my car, and then a COLLECTION AGENCY warning containing more threats. Next came a CREDIT RATING WARNING, followed soon afterwards by "YOUR ACCOUNT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO A CREDIT BUREAU," which if true would consbreastute LIBEL, as no official determination had yet been made.

At this point I replied with a strong letter insisting that the harbuttment stop and that a final determination be rendered. That came quickly - finding me LIABLE for the alleged violation! I was told I had the right to appeal, and if I did so I would be informed of the hearing date. Guilty until proven innocent!

I submitted a notarized sworn statement testifying to my innocence, and indicating that merely examining the signs at the given location would exonerate me. I received a reply setting a hearing date and stating that I may attend, but if I did not the review would proceed in my absence and I would be notified of the final determination. Two weeks before the hearing date however I received another letter CONTRADICTING THIS, stating, "IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR, YOU WILL BE FOUND LIABLE FOR THE FULL AMOUNT OF ALL APPLICABLE FINES AND PENALTIES."

Philadelphia is over 90 MILES from my New York City home. They demand that I take a day off and travel there and back to prove my innocence, though they are incapable of proving me guilty - and should I fail to appear, that alone proves my guilt! This confirmed the suspicion that my out-of-state license plates were why I was chosen for a false violation ticket - easy prey. Or so these extortionists thought!

I found a means of having the signs photographed to prove my innocence, postponed the hearing, and sent in the photos. This brought my total expenses caused by Philadelphia's deceitful extortion attempt to roughly $70 - plus about a thousand dollars worth of inconvenience and aggravation.

The hearing was rescheduled for April 19th. Two weeks prior to this I get another letter, again stating "IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR, YOU WILL BE FOUND LIABLE FOR THE FULL AMOUNT OF ALL APPLICABLE FINES AND PENALTIES." A few days before the hearing however I get yet another letter saying if I do not attend the review will proceed in my absence and I will be notified in writing of the final determination.

I did not attend the hearing. I received no notification of the outcome, but one month after the hearing date I received another threatening letter demanding payment of the $338, and only two days later another such letter. I responded with a certified mail request for the hearing outcome notification due me, and that the harbuttment for payment cease.

My request was received but ignored. One month later I receive another threatening letter on a letterhead from the "CITY OF PHILADELPHIA LAW DEPARTMENT" - but the envelope it came in was from the Parking Violations Branch, as were all the other letters I received. It now became clear that the "Bureau of Administrative Adjudication" I had been dealing with does not adjudicate at all - IT IS MERELY AN UNSCRUPULOUS COLLECTION AGENCY!

Seeing I could get no justice from these local-level thieves, I then wrote to Pennsylvania Governor Rendell regarding the matter. My letter contained all of the above information. I received a buck-pbutting reply from the Department of Community and Economic Development, from which I quote: " - resolving disputes regarding parking ordinances are matters of local jurisdiction and must be resolved at that level - you may wish to consult an attorney to provide further advice on this matter."

One hundred dollars or more for a lawyer? No thanks! Let the bastards come to New York and try to make me pay. I'll deal with them like the lowlife criminals that they are!

"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny." - Thomas Jefferson