Am I going to court?

October 12, 2006 12:09 PM

I might have to go to court for a parking violation, and, for several reasons, I'm not sure what to do.

I go to a school in NYC, in a wholly different state than my hometown. In late August, while in my hometown for the summer, I didn't realize that a parking space's 3-hour-coin-machine limit meant you couldn't be in that space for more than 3 hours even if you repaid the machine, and got a ticket. I could've sworn I had inserted the money into the notice/envelope and mailed it. End of story.

Until this week, when I was going through my suitcase for a separate reason, and saw it there, money and all. It's not past 20 days, which means that "the Parking Authority shall issue and file with the Muncipal Court a parking complaint and summons. A copy of the complaint and summons will be mailed to the address of the registered owner of the vehicle." (That's me, but it's registered to my home address, where my parents live. I've heard nothing from them yet.) I called the PA, explaining it was an honest mistake, an upstanding member of my community, no criminal record, and I'd be happy to pay additional penalties, and sure enough, it's moved up to the Municipal Court. They gave me their phone number and the new case # if I choose to call.

I know nothing about parking law. I barely ever drive. Does the threat of a parking complaint and summons mean I'm going to court, or what? Do I call the Municipal Court? What now? I realize this might all sound super-ridiculous to someone outside of it, but I know SO little about this, and I'm freaking out a little.

posted by Ash3000 to law & government (8 comments total)

I think you mean "it's NOW past 20 days".

Since you didn't pay, the legal system is assuming you want to dispute the ticket in court, and will provide you a brief opportunity to do so, sometime in the relatively near future, in your hometown.

Since you don't actually want to dispute it, just mail them the money (if there's a larger amount on the ticket -- "$x within ten days, $2x after ten days" -- send the larger amount).

Other than that, don't worry about it. The odds are extremely high that when your payment is received, the court case will be automatically dismissed.
posted by jellicle at 12:22 PM on October 12, 2006

just send it in now. if you want to be thorugh, call the court and tell them you are sending it in. it's not a big deal.
posted by lester's sock puppet at 12:23 PM on October 12, 2006

Yes, I did mean "NOW past 20 days," sorry about that.
posted by Ash3000 at 12:26 PM on October 12, 2006

I'd just send the money in and not worry about it. Maybe check on it when you're home next. Here in the Boston area, late tickets always say you have to show up in court, etc., but you can just send the money and be done with it. I've done it may times for a variety of different towns. They may tack on a fine, but I doubt you'd have to go to court.
posted by jdl at 1:13 PM on October 12, 2006

I would call the Municipal Court and explain and ask where you should send the money - it could be a different address from the first place you were supposed to send it (I speak from experience). I doubt you'll have to show up in court.

(I am a lawyer, but I know nothing about parking law, this is just my personal experience.)
posted by KAS at 1:31 PM on October 12, 2006

This may sound silly -- but make sure you send a check. (It sounds like you stuck a 20-dollar-bill in the envelope previously.) The cancelled check will come in handy if anything screws up on the DMV's end. (Say, if the court doesn't get the message and suspends your license.)
posted by turducken at 2:14 PM on October 12, 2006

Yeah, calling the court and explaining you want to pay is the best thing.
posted by Opposite George at 2:42 PM on October 12, 2006

Definitely call the court - in my town, they would prefer to just have their money (which will likely include penalties) than have you show up for the court date. When you call them, be sure to ask what forms of payment are accepted. When I had a few unpaid parking tickets, I believe you could only pay with cash, money order, or cashier's check. They would not accept a personal check once it was overdue.
posted by xsquared-1 at 5:53 AM on October 13, 2006