help me run from the long arm of meter maid
November 18, 2010 10:33 AM   Subscribe

parking ticket question! Got a parking ticket while visting CA from NY (on the USC campus). Can I get away without paying? Doubt i'll ever be back there again.

-it was a rental car. How does it work if you get a ticket on a rental car? Does the rental car company pass it on to you?
-it was paid for by work. Does that mean they'll pass it on to my company or boss? Who will eventually pass it on to me?

-since i dont expect to ever be back on the USC campus, and probably not be back in CA for at least 7 years (I have no reason to go there, usually), can I get away without paying it even if it eventually arrives on my desk?

Anyone have experience with a situation like this? Thanks!
posted by jak68 to Travel & Transportation (20 answers total)
 
Who issued the ticket? Was it USC Parking Enforcement, or the city?
posted by brainmouse at 10:34 AM on November 18, 2010


Who issued the ticket?

If it's not issued by California state or municipal police, but instead by USC private security then you *MAY* be able to ignore it.

I once received a parking ticket by campus security while visiting at a small private university in NJ. Since I wasn't a student, they had no way to enforce it.

Things may be different in California.
posted by de void at 10:37 AM on November 18, 2010


-it was a rental car. How does it work if you get a ticket on a rental car? Does the rental car company pass it on to you?

Around Denver they closed all the tollbooths and switched to an automated only system. Didn't know this when I rented my car! The fees were sent to National who helpfully sent them on to me (after charging a $8.50 processing fee).

They first sent bills to my address, but they would have charged them to my credit card if I hadn't paid the bills in time.

So yes, your rental car company will eventually get the tickets and they will bill you/your company for them.
posted by sbutler at 10:42 AM on November 18, 2010


From common rental car Terms and Agreements: "The entity handing out the citation will contact the owner of the vehicle (the rental car company) and send them the violation. The rental car company will determine who rented the vehicle on the date and time listed on the violation and forward the violation to the renter."

I ignored a parking ticket on a rental car and got my license suspended. Of course, it was a handicapped spot, which is a class of ticket carrying more significant fines and penalties than a expired meter.

I'd prolly pay it, what with the innertubes connecting things again. Especially if your company paid for the car, because they'll get the ticket forwarded to them, and you'll look shady for trying to duck the issue.
posted by Debaser626 at 10:43 AM on November 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


How expensive is this ticket that you're willing to worry about it, get bothered by your rental company and/or your boss.

You also might want to read your rental agreement and find out what it says about tickets incurred with their car.

And.. you might want to consider the Karma factor... is this who you want to be?
posted by HuronBob at 10:43 AM on November 18, 2010


Pay it, these things come back to haunt you.
posted by fifilaru at 10:48 AM on November 18, 2010


I got a parking ticket in CA while driving a rental car. Eventually (several months later) I was tracked down and sent a bill in my home state or it was going to go to collections. And according to USC:

"What happens if I don't pay my citation?
Transportation Services contracts with the California DMV and collections agencies to pursue collection on unpaid citations. Information gathered by other means may be used to collect."

I believe this will find your company eventually and it's probably best just to pay it.
posted by sharkfu at 10:50 AM on November 18, 2010


Yes, this happened to me in CA in a rental car. They mailed the ticket to the address listed on my driver license.
posted by unknowncommand at 11:17 AM on November 18, 2010


Pay it, these things come back to haunt you.

Again, who issued it? - If the ticket was issued by USC, they *MAY* not have any way to enforce it if you're not a student/faculty/employee/contractor.
posted by de void at 11:20 AM on November 18, 2010


A little research yields:

http://transnet.usc.edu/faq.aspx?Department=Citations&Section=Appeals

Transportation Services contracts with the California DMV and collections agencies to pursue collection on unpaid citations. Information gathered by other means may be used to collect. Your student fee bill or payroll could be charged. Also, your vehicle may be subject to immobilization.

Is the rental car registered in California?
posted by de void at 11:27 AM on November 18, 2010


It used to be that you could ignore shit. These days, everyone is connected to everyone else, and everyone has their hands out. Pay it.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:33 AM on November 18, 2010 [3 favorites]


The rental car company will notify you and bill your credit card for the cost of the ticket.
posted by jasper411 at 11:46 AM on November 18, 2010


If you're guilty of the infraction, wouldn't paying it just be the 'right' thing to do?

Everything is connected. Your ticket will EVENTUALLY come knocking on your door - in one form or another.
posted by matty at 11:56 AM on November 18, 2010


Parking tickets are now shared in a largely national database. If you have outstanding tickets in one area, you may not be able to renew your license in your home.

But otherwise, sure, go ahead with that.
posted by Rendus at 12:44 PM on November 18, 2010


I do love me some "I broke the law, got caught, but don't wanna pay" questions. If for no other reason than they make me feel better about myself on those off moments when I say to myself "I wonder if I could get away with...."

But I digress.

Pay it. Even if they don't track you down today, tomorrow or next month. There is a non-zero chance that this will wind up charged to the rental company and passed on to you with a fee. Even if that doesn't happen at some point down the road there is certainly a chance when it could be problematic in ways you can't even imagine today.
posted by FlamingBore at 12:56 PM on November 18, 2010


Response by poster: k, guess i'll just pay it.
(p.s., it was issued by the university not by the state.)
posted by jak68 at 1:05 PM on November 18, 2010


Response by poster: thanks everyone.
posted by jak68 at 1:05 PM on November 18, 2010


I would not pay it. I got a ticket in 2002 from Fresno State when I went to take the GMAT - they did not have any pay spaces, my test was in 5 minutes, and I did not have a permit. I wrote them, explained the situation and told them I did not intend to pay. They said I had to pay it anyway, sent it to collections, I ignored it, nothing happened. I renewed my license multiple times since then in TN and CA with no problem.
posted by charlesv at 1:08 PM on November 18, 2010


I neglected to pay the parking ticket I got for not displaying my parking pass properly in a University owned parking garage and was sent to collections. Yes, collections, which affected my credit. They also assessed collection fees so my $35 ticket turned into a $200+ lesson.

Unless paying would create an undue financial hardship for you, pay the thing and move on with your life. You can get through this! You must.
posted by loquat at 1:09 PM on November 18, 2010


Man I have a half a dozen parking tickets going back a decade in DC and nothing has ever happened to me. Though I guess one day my car will get booted, I don't know.
posted by empath at 7:02 AM on November 19, 2010


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