I got $50 fine from another state – it’s not even same car model but now I have to jump through hoops & cops can’t help

A DRIVER is speaking out after receiving a fine in the mail when her car was in a different state.

In a Facebook post, a GMC owner said she received a citation for a Dodge SUV’s alleged driving infraction.

Getty

Getty

A Pennsylvania driver said she was enraged after a road law violation turned into a bureaucratic nightmare.

The driver posted on Facebook that she had received a ticket in New York City .

She said the citation included a picture of the vehicle, but it was the wrong car .

“They sent pictures of a Dodge SUV. I have a GMC, with my license plate on it,” the driver wrote.

The driver said she wasn’t even in New York City at the time of the offense.

Initially suspecting a scam, the driver contacted local police.

But the incorrect citation is likely a technological issue from the street-recording devices, the driver said.

Officials confirmed the ticket was not a scam and told the driver she must appeal the fine.

Now, the driver is left with the frustrating task of proving they weren’t in New York City at all on the day of the ticket and that their plate wasn’t involved.

The driver claimed she zoomed-in on the provided image, and revealed the plate on the Dodge SUV was from New York.

“It’s a for real ticket and now I have to jump through hoops to show that this is not me,” she said.

Despite the zoom-in detail, the driver claimed the situation remains unresolved.

She is preparing to appeal the citation.

The driver said her story serves as a cautionary tale to other drivers.

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

She urged other vehicle owners to take any unexpected citations seriously and to appeal whenever they find it necessary.

The driver said she initially considered simply paying the $50 fine but became concerned about potential implications.

She didn’t want to be involved in any potential criminal issues that could possibly be attributed to the Dodge.

Drivers have 30 days to appeal their road law violations.

The driver did not immediately respond to a request for comment.