Caughtya™
A "Hall of Shame" to expose cars parked illegally
in disability or mobility parking spaces.
A "Hall of Shame" to expose cars parked illegally
in disability or mobility parking spaces.
We have just been made aware of something that seems to happen regularly. People get away with parking in disability parking spaces, get fined, don't pay their fines, and get away with it!
The pattern goes like this:
By now, the initial wee fine for parking in a disability space has grown, multiplied and gone out of proportion. The particular incident we heard of had the amount grown to the area of tens of thousands (not just one parking fine, several traffic offenses).
Eventually, the courts realise that they are fighting a losing battle, and wipe the fine off. Particularly that the offender is a "kid", what is often refered to as a "boy racer". They can't put them in jail, the kids are nearly intouchable.
And they keep parking there, laughing at the traffic wardens
Their cars should be impounded. But they aren't
So, it doesn't matter if the fine is $40, $400, or $4,000, it's pointless
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This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007 and is filed under Drive-by.
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Comment by: Webmaster
The taxi company was contacted and their general manager is going to look into it. He said:
"If you have any additional information on the date and time of this incident I would welcome the receipt of that so we can identify the driver concerned at the time and address the matter with them directly.
Comment by: Webmaster
I may not buy more in one go, but I guarantee you I spend as much, if not more, than the average punter does in a week.
Comment by: Dirk
By that i mean they have few issues pushing around large food carts.
@CaughtYa_SLIPPN *, Ain stayed dere yet but my stuff got moved n Friday & Lastnite.! iiMite stay dere 2nite.!!
Lolll at the woman checking up her nose in the train window, then giving me evils because I saw her! #caughtya
Good Morning @carlyjberry @cash_b4_them @cashdiamondgang @catalina25r @caughtulkn @caughtya_slippn @cbreeze612 @cdkopenmic @changinmagz
@THEPHRESHPRINC3 It's okay. I think most of us have gathered that"HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS"is really Quintone Blackeywell.#underdisguise #caughtya
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How about impounding the vehicle so that the space can be used by the people it is intended for?
I think that education is the answer. I know that some places have a system where drivers are sent to school to see the possible results of their bad driving or ordered to re-hab for DUI perhaps something like this could be introduced for thoes people who park in disabled bays. How about making them spend a day in a wheelchair with their ankles and knees tied together to give them some idea of what life can be like for people who actually need these bays! (yes I know not everyone who uses these bays is wheelchair bound but it would be an easy example to make)
In the UK unless the you park in a bay on the public road, which has a special by-law and sign posts showing the parking restrictions too you aren't doing anything against the law so I would be grateful for any action!
Education is fine, but awareness campaigns aren't effective, or not effective enough.
Forcing people to use a wheelchair for a day is also not very good. Studies have shown that in terms of disability awareness, blindfolding people, putting them in chairs, etc, actually creates a sense of pity, rather than an actual understanding of the situation.
The situation certainly isn't easy, and isn't showing any sign of getting easier :(
Boot 'em. Like they do in major metro areas. Try a nice sign that says, in essence; if you park here - you had better qualify...Or you will be booted and towed.
Hello Roger,
The problems with Boots or Clamps is that if someone abuses mobility parking for 5 minutes, and they get clamped, the car might be there for hours, rendering the space thoroughly unusable...
The original post is so far fetched!!! Here in Ga. if you get a ticket for anything and don't pay, a bench warrant is assigned. If you keep getting tix and not paying, you will do jail time, not dismissed. The problem is that there are not near enough officers patroling these spaces. As webmaster said, awareness is non-effective. These abusers are well aware of what they are doing. All too many times I have politely asked abusers about their choice in parking incorrectly and it quickly turns into a shouting match. They know that they are guilty and until you ''get into their wallet'', it will continue.
I must agree with jazzyjeff here. I used to be a deputy with a Sheriff's Department in Arizona, and can definitely tell you a couple of things. The OP said someting a a "wee fine," but here in Arizona, the fine for handicap parking violation can run from $100 to $1,000, and if not paid, a warrant is issued for the registered owner. It is a bench warrant, so the person has to see the judge, they cannot be released by just posting a bond. There are only three violations police can enforce on private property: 1. DUI Driving Under the Influence, 2. Reckless Driving, and 3. Handicap Parking Violation. Enforcement however, nac be spotty. In Casa Grande, the police are so gung ho they will write citations for HPV when no violation has in fact taken place. Coolidge will not enforce any parking violations, because, as one officer told us, "We were told not to, because we don't have the proper citation forms." Nonsense, I wrote hundreds of HPV citations, and used exactly the same form as any other citation. In some places, the wording on the signs is wrong, and if you have an air freshener made in the wheelchair design, the police cannot cite you, because the sign says displaying handicap insignia, and not plate or permit. Places like Coolidge are going to be hit with a Writ of Mandamus, which is basically suing the police department for not doing their job.
My wife is disabled and here in the UK we have a "Blue Bade" scheme which allows free parking in disabled bays on the street and in certain car park allocated bays. The more usul problem is getting a disabled parking bay at the supermarket or mall.....some of our smaller local shops only have three or four spaces and they are often taken by Non disbale people and drivers who do not have the "blue Badge" to display. I have found my own solution, apart from reporting the parker to the store security and giving him the registration number I have printed up some A5 size "flyers of my own Which read as follows.......
ARE YOU DISABLED ???
If Not then why are you parked in a space allocated for people who are ?
This makes you very inconsiderate and ignorant of the fact that there really ARE people who NEED (Not just WANT) to be able to park as close as possible to the shop because it is difficult for them to walk too far.
I have made a note of your registration number and if this vehicle is seen ILLEGALLY PARKED in a bay reserved ONLY for people who are disabled it will be reported.
STUPIDITY is NOT a disability.
=========================================
It may not have any legal effect but it certainly makes me feel better.
Happy motoring.
Regards
Ted
Ted, I'm glad your flyers make you feel better :) I'm not sure they'd have much of an effect, unfortunately. I think people will often just read and throw them, if they read them at all.
This is where a site like caughtya has more of an impact: people don't want to see their car appear on a public website associated with a wrong-doing.
If you can, I invite you to take photos of the illegally parked cars you come across, and send them in to us :)
The people that pull these illegal stunts are most likely women related to or friend of someone of the Police or Court. Investigate the relations then give me report, honestly.
HAH! Where I live you go to jail if you don't pay fines for a prolonged period of time. (Ohio)
My mother is a police officer here in California. So is her boyfriend.. My Grandfather was also a cop in San Francisco.
We are the LAST people you will ever catch parking in a disabled parking space. I LOVE it when people get busted for it. When I see anyone who has parked in a handicapped space I make it a point to say something. If I parked in a handicapped space I would get a ticket. Plane and simple. The officer would probably know me. Know my name. I would get into deeper shit then someone who wasn't related to an officer because I would also be receiving the wrath of my relatives/friends.
Thats never going to happen. Because, unlike those people who park in handicapped spots, I am not lazy. I don't mind parking further away. Walking is good for you!
Also... "The people that pull these illegal stunts are most likely women related to.." Women? Most likely women? Good job. Congratulations! You are an idiot.. People who do stupid and selfish things like parking in a handicapped space are both male and female. They are equally stupid and equally selfish.
I know here in Illinois, the problem isn't so much that people can get away with ignoring their fines - they can't; I've had a parking violation ticket before that was only $5 because of confusion as to where a one-hour-parking sign was posted, and boy, did they stay on me for that one! - but that there aren't enough officers to go around at any time to check all the parking lots in my city of only 50,000. I think that ideally someone would be out checking every parking lot every couple of hours, but in the 21 years I've lived here I've only seen it being done ONCE, at a Wal-Mart. My mother just had total knee replacement surgery, and because it was very difficult for her to get around afterwards, she applied for a temporary six-month disabled parking permit. As much as it hurts her to walk sometimes, she STILL doesn't always use it and parks in a normal spot instead so that others can use the disabled spots.
What is almost worse are the people that park in the no-parking zones in between the disabled parking spots so that people who need that extra space can't get into or out of their cars. I've seen it happen, and even after the person who was rightfully parked in the disabled space complained, nothing was done.
I notice sometimes that these people are parents with small children or babies. A local store here (sadly, the only store that does it) also has parking spaces that are for new or expectant parents. Granted, there's no way to really prove you are such, but I think it's a great idea, and might prevent some of those same parents from parking in the disabled spots or their adjacent no-parking zones instead.
I really don't understand the point of this site and most of all, I don't understand the intial statement of this thread. Where in the developed Western world do you get a speeding ticket and just wait for it to disappear??? Sure isn't anywhere in the state of Florida, USA. I can't vouch for a fine like a parking ticket, but I sure know for sure that speeding tickets do not just disappear by simply becoming oblivious to them. As a matter of fact, they tend to follow you through life it seems.
Do you really think anyone is ashamed by having their car plates put onto the Net??? Like anyone would make a connection to the person pointed at. The better question is why is a site like this allowed to just put someones private information up on a site without validating whether the person was truly breaking the law? Honestly, are you a cop or law officer who has investigated these people and found them transgressing a law? Are you the government? You don't have the right to just advertise someones plate numbers in such a manner.
I fully understand being upset by people parking in a disable spot who do not deserve it or need it. However, I cannot endorse or condone borderline libel. You guys who are enthusiasts for this site should beware. You're getting publicity now on sites like Yahoo and ABC News and don't expect it all to be good attention towards you. People can sue you too for what you might do wrong. The proverbial blade cuts both ways and no, I not one of the scumbags who does such things as parking in disabled parking. I'm also not someone who thinks they can broadcast information left and right because they have access to a website.
GJE says..."why is a site like this allowed to just put someones private information up on a site without validating whether the person was truly breaking the law?"
Private information ?? nothing about a vehicle is private. Laws state specifically, NO PARKING WITHOUT A DISABLED LICENSE TAG or PERMIT. You really need to go to law school before you spout off about things you have no idea of. I consider ALL thet park in disabled spaces, DISABLED...they just dont give permits to the mentally affected ones...
and yes, I carry my cell around..pics WILL be coming
GJE, thank you for your comments and concerns. As JJ says, it is not illegal to take a photo of a vehicle illegally parked in a public parking space. It is also not illegal to post such photos. You may be interested in reading our Privacy FAQ
http://caughtya.org/about/privacy-faq/
your hubris in this cause will eventually lead to your downfall. you are not causing anything positive to happen by throwing people's personal info on the Net. the more attention you get, the more trouble and irritation you will cause from people who do not deserve to be on here or find your acts of vigillante libel reprehensible. then again, probably some of you get off on trying to screw over and besmirch another person's reputation.
instead of wasting your energy on this, why don't you do something positive. sublimate that indignation perhpas. go help someone who needs it rather than bringing upon this holier-than-crusade of I Caught You Parking In The Disabled Spot So Now I'm Gonna Mock You And Destroy Your Name As Much As I Can On The Net!
Better yet, why not just call the local police and ask them to send an available officer to see the person committing the minor wrongful act? That might actually do something to the person. He or she might actually feel ashamed by that situation of being caught by an officer of the law.
Michael, we are actually not putting "people's personal info on the net". A license plate is not private information. It is something that can be, and is, seen by thousands of people the moment you drive your car on the roads.
The fact is, we have had people tell us that the abuse of disability parking slowed in some areas after it became known that photos of offending vehicles appeared on the web. Public shame is an effective tool. There have been countless public education campaigns, fines, etc and these haven't seemed to really make a difference. Caughtya does make a difference.
As for calling the local police, many of us have done that. In some rare cases, police officers are dispatched. And often by the time they show up, 30 minutes later, the offender has long gone. Generally though, the response is "we're too busy, we have 'real criminals' to catch". Then there are places where the police is actually not entitled to issue parking infractions on private property (such as in the UK or New Zealand).