Municipal thievery

[06pirate]

OK, so this sort of involves myself and one of my motorcycles, but it could just as easily have been my truck or YOUR truck:

 

Two weeks ago I received by mail a "photo-enforcement" ticket for going 27 MPH in a school zone, where the limit is 20 MPH.

The problem? IT ISN'T ME, AND IT ISN'T MY MOTORCYCLE.

At the time of the infraction, I was at work, about 40 miles away as the crow flies, about 80 miles away as the motorcycle sings. The infraction occurred in Seattle, I live on the Olympic Peninsula.

They ID'd the motorcycle as my Suzuki DL-650 Wee-Strom.

The plate number they used to ID me is the OLD plate which was removed three weeks BEFORE the infraction, as I had to renew my license tabs and since the old plate was 7 years old, they issued a new one.

The old plate was sitting on my workbench in the basement at the time of the infraction.

The plate in the photo doesn't even match the OLD plate, as the last number of my old plate is a 5, while the number in the photo is clearly a 9.

The motorcycle in the photo is NOT a Suzuki DL650 Wee-Strom, it is a right-side shaft drive Japanese cruiser.

There is absolutely nothing connecting me to this infraction except that the fool reviewing the photo can't tell a 9 from a 5.

So...I returned THEIR form after checking the box that says "I wish to contest this ticket." I mailed that on May 27. The due date was June 10, so I was well within the time limit. I enclosed a letter explaining all the above, along with photos of my Suzuki and the old and new license plate.

Their response was to send me a "NOTICE OF FAILURE TO RESPOND" and tack on another $25 to the original $189 ticket.

I spent 32 minutes this morning being on "hold" and talking to a public servant, who set me a court date and will mail some MORE forms I can send (that they can lose). If I have to go to Seattle in person to fight this it will cost me over $300 in lost pay, gasoline, bridge tolls, parking, etc.

All for something I was not involved with in ANY WAY WHATSOEVER!!

Meanwhile, the actual violator is getting away Scot-free.

My tax dollars at work.

[SnakeEyeSS]

Welcome to the New Amerika. "Next time" send it back using a service that they have to sign for so you have proof they got it.

[06pirate]

Welcome to the New Amerika. "Next time" send it back using a service that they have to sign for so you have proof they got it.

 

You're absolutely correct, That's my fault for not sending it certified or registered mail. But then, I trusted yet another gov't agency to get it there. I won't make that mistake again.

 

Maybe I'll learn someday.

[j-ten-ner]

That sucks. I feel with you.

Happened to me once too because of a parking ticked.

 

I send back the mail with a letter saying: "wrong recipient".

 

Never heard of them again.

 

so long

j-ten-ner

[KARNUT]

I had a similar problem once on the hardy toll road in Houston, the tag was on a 65 GMC I had. The photo was a 2001 Chevy off by one number. I got 5 tickets in the mail, when I called them it was not hard to see the numbers. The funny part of the whole thing was I have a toll tag and an account with money in it. OH yea sorry was the reply. You all ways get those kind of things in the mail on Friday so you can stew all weekend over it.

[&CDFiXER%]

Last speeding ticket. 45 in a 25. I was stopped at a stop sign when the officer came around the corner and lit me up with the radar gun. The street I was on is so short my little commuter car can't even get up to 45, had actually been going @ 17 before I stopped.

 

Explained that and questioned how he got 45 when I was stopped. He very politely offered to let me see the gun, lol and that he 'calibrated' it after each stop, lmao. I will give him points for politeness. Minus several hundred for honesty though. Guess I found out how that suburb pays for the officers to all have SUV's (in the city?).

[j-ten-ner]

One more reason for a dash cam.

 

so long

j-ten-ner

[&CDFiXER%]

Bought one soon after

[MikeNH]

Those cameras should be illegal. If they come here it'll be good target practice.

[j-ten-ner]

Those cameras should be illegal. If they come here it'll be good target practice.

 

They're already there...

 

so long

j-ten-ner

[MikeNH]

Not in Michigan or New Hampshire.

[j-ten-ner]

uh-huh

 

lol

so long

j-ten-ner

[mawint]

We had the red light cameras in Minneapolis at one point, they got voted out though and can't be used anymore.

[SarahsGMC]

My friend (who happens to be black) was pulled over because his air freshener on his rear view mirror was an obstruction of vision... he was then cuffed thrown in a car and his entire car searched. Now this kid is a drug free college student that would never do anything to warrant a search. We told him he was being too black lmao

 

sent from my truck in a field

[j-ten-ner]

I can't remember a bad experience with a LEO. They all were polite and respectful.

And I pay them my respect too.

 

But they're all humans like me and have a bad day or make a mistake.

Sometimes it isn't even their fault.

A malfunction of the radar or dirt on a license plate what makes a 5 look like a 9.

All I want is to be able to take actions against wrong accusations.

And a recording device can be helpful.

 

so long

j-ten-ner