‘We’d already paid’ drivers cry after receiving $88 fines despite paying $45 for parking – at least 800 people affected
NUMEROUS American drivers were hit with parking tickets months after they’d already paid to park at an arena for an event.
A Pittsburgh driver went to a concert at the PPG Paints Arena earlier this month and said she paid $45 for parking before later receiving another fine in the mail.
Each of the three cars had paid $45 to park at a lot outside the arenaGETTY
“Me and my family had tickets to Tom Segura back in May and I drove separately,” Rachele Mongiovi told local NBC affiliate WPXI.
“My brother drove separately, and my other brother drove separately.”
Each of the three cars had paid $45 to park at a lot outside the arena.
Mongiovi explained that she didn’t even think much of it afterward – until she got a ticket in the mail from a third-party company a month later.
“It was saying that we owe $88 after we’d already paid the forty-some dollars,” Mongiovi said.
“Which is absolutely ridiculous as we already paid.”
The company that sent out the tickets is named Parking Revenue Recovery Services (PPRS).
The company has had legal issues before with an Attorney General’s Office investigation in Colorado.
Officials said the company was required to refund over $30,000 to drivers who were sent tickets after they’d paid for parking.
Over the course of five events held at PPG Paints Arena, 822 violations were accidentally sent out by PPRS, Executive Vice President John Conway told WPXI.
PPRS runs the lots for the arena district.
He said the lot was not put on an “event hold” for the dates triggering the tickets.
“It just sounds like it’s 2024 how do you not have a software system that tells you when there is an event vs. daily parking,” Mongiovi said.
How to fight a parking ticket
You can avoid being ticketed by following all posted laws and ordinances, but sometimes mistakes are made
Like any form of citation, parking tickets are preventable by reading and obeying posted signage. However, when visiting a new city, or state, or in a hurry, things can be missed and mistakes are made.
Suddenly there’s a ticket you weren’t prepared to pay for. If the ticket is a surprise to you, there are a few things you can do to help your case when appealing a parking ticket.
Carefully read the ticket. Look for errors like incorrect street names, license plate numbers, vehicle make and model, time and date, etc. Errors would then make the ticket invalid.
Take photos. Of the vehicle in the parking space, lack of signage, or other vehicles that weren’t cited for performing the same parking job. If the ticket involves parking too close to something like a fire hydrant, a photo showing a reasonable distance would help your case. Make sure metadata with the time and date are accessible. Signs that are obstructed by trees, or are on bent posts, or aren’t “obvious” are great things to photograph, too.
Make sure the statute that was violated is listed on the ticket. If not listed, the ticket is not valid.
Promptly follow the appeal instructions on the ticket. All legitimate tickets will have directions for appeal. Waiting until the very last moment weakens your argument and can result in late fees.
When in court, avoid these phrases as they reduce your credibility and weaken your argument:
“I didn’t know the law.”
“I was on my way to move my car.”
“I can’t afford this ticket.”
“I’ve been doing this for years.”
“I checked with the parking officer, who said it was OK.”
Contact a lawyer. If you’re running into roadblocks and feel stuck, it may be best to reach out to a traffic lawyer in your area. Many have free case consultations.
Source: Reader’s Digest
“I just think if it weren’t for the news contacting them, they would just keep going and charging people double for events after events.”
All the tickets sent out by PPRS were voided, Conway said.
Refunds are in place for the dozen people who already paid the fine.
“I would hate to see them continue doing this and not rectify the situation for future events,” Mongiovi said.
Additionally, hundreds of apology letters were mailed out.
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