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DRIVERS might be saved from pesky parking tickets with a new system.
The new 15-minute law offers a head-up before issuing a parking violation — but drivers should keep their phones handy.
Miami Beach drivers will now be given a heads-up before their vehicle is towed[/caption]
Drivers will receive a text message 15 minutes before they get towed[/caption]
City officials are implementing a text message system that will warn Miami Beach drivers before their car gets towed, according to the Miami Herald.
The warning system will notify residents, who will then have 15 minutes to relocate before their vehicle is towed.
The system is only designed for those who reside in Miami Beach — not tourists.
Towing fines can be as high as $150 for Miami residents and $400 for non-residents.
City Commissioner Alex Fernandez is the one pushing for the new system, according to the Miami Herald.
Fernandez said he doesn’t want to penalize Miami Beach residents for a fixable offense.
“It’s just a common sense procedure,” Fernandez said.
“The goal shouldn’t be to have to tow the resident. You just want to make sure that the car is moved.”
The city council is set to learn more about the proposal on February 26.
Once the program is implemented, drivers parked in an unpermitted zone or a residential area will be alerted.
However, there are certain instances when drivers won’t be notified.
For example, drivers who have parked in a fire lane, a disabled parking space, or a freight loading zone won’t be alerted before being towed.
Similarly, if the vehicle is blocking lanes of traffic they may not receive the 15-minute heads-up, according to City Manager Eric Carpenter.
To enroll in the new system, you must be a Miami Beach resident who has signed up for the city’s resident parking discount program.
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
This program allows drivers to pay $1 per hour when parked at on-street and off-street meters, according to the Miami Herald.
So far, the city estimates that 20,000 residents have enrolled in the program.
Of the 20,000 residents, about 16,000 have listed a phone number which will be used to send the text message alerts, city officials said.
Before the program is implemented, a lot more Miami residents need to be enrolled, according to Miami Beach Transportation Director Jose Gonzalez.
He told the Miami Herald that the city must initiate “extensive community outreach” to get more residents interested in the program.
There is some concern from city officials who think residents would use the new system to their advantage by parking illegally until they receive a warning message.
However, Fernandez said those drivers would still get hit with parking violations, which could total $36 or higher.
Other West Coast cities, like San Francisco, have tried similar text message systems with many drivers who avoided getting towed.
