City of Los Angeles/Parking Violation Los Angles solve Some Recession Problems by "Senior Citizen Rip Off" Van Nuys, California
On May 30, 2012, my son used my car to go to Target to get something for dinner. He used my handicap plague and when He came out of Target two traffic patrol officers approached him and asked him for his Placard ID. He explained that the placard was mine, his mother; (I) was at home. They give him two citations for $353.00 each. He came home and told me what had happened. I called the number on the parking violation and they told me that I was responsible for paying these tickets and that they was cracking down on kids and grand kids using their parents and grandparents handicap plague. The problem with this is;
I did not lend him my handicap plague, nor did I have any knowledge of him using it, I always get it in my own car, or I will forget to get it when I go somewhere. I was told that I am the one that is supposed to pay these outrageous fines. I am on SSI/Social Security Disability, where do I get this kind of money to pay this? I am barely making it and paying my bills. If I do not pay this money they can take my car and prevent me for renewing my auto registration this December. My son is unemployed, so I feel that something is really wrong with this law. The driver should have gotten the ticket instead of me! I do not feel responsible for someone elses actions.
In addition to this, the officer filed an initial review for me on June 14, 2012 and then denied it on June 20, 2012, after I called their number to get information on how to file an initial review for myself! When I called to get information on June 20, 2012, I was told on the phone that I needed to go and get a new placard and Id, and then I could pay $25.00 on one of the tickets, I was at DMV for two hours to get replacements. When I arrived at their Van Nuys Office, I found that was not the case. I was not offered any advice. I called the 1-866-561-9742 number that was on back of the citation and spoke with an agent who advised me to file for a hearing and a file for a payment waver. I needed to go home and get proof of income some I had to drive back across town and then back to return the information. The clerk filled out the form and had me sign it. Afterward, I read the form and seem that I was supposed to have filled out two forms, one for each ticket? That was yesterday, today I am just plain tired.
I have returned to school and that is plague with problems
too!
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Ashley
springfield,Missouri,
U.S.A.
WHy are you blaming the city?
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, June 22, 2012
Its illegal practically everywhere for someone to use a handicap placard that does not belong to them. Your son should never have used it without you in the vehicle with him. He broke the law and he needs to pay the price for it. What if an actual handicapped person had needed to use that space your son was selfishly using? The only problem I see in this situation is your son should be responsible for these fines, not you. He's the one that broke the law.
You should also make sure no one besides you has access to your handicapped tags in the future.
MochaG
Springfield,Virginia,
United States of America
Partially
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, June 22, 2012
my son used my car to go to Target to get something for dinner. He used my handicap plague and when He came out of Target two traffic patrol officers approached him and asked him for his Placard ID. He explained that the placard was mine, his mother; (I) was at home. They give him two citations for $353.00 each. He came home and told me what had happened. I called the number on the parking violation and they told me that I was responsible for paying these tickets and that they was cracking down on kids and grand kids using their parents and grandparents handicap plague. The problem with this is; I did not lend him my handicap plague, nor did I have any knowledge of him using it, I always get it in my own car, or I will forget to get it when I go somewhere.
I am sorry to hear what happened to you. Regardless your acknowledgement about your son using your car, the rule is the rule -- you are legally respond for what happened [http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr07.htm down almost at the bottom]. Let me put it in a different point of view, if instead the card was stolen from someone else (a stranger) and your son used it, then your son could be arrested for thief of the card. Either way, you need to talk to your son. He is the one who need to be responsible for this mess. I don't believe that Target parking lot is always full. One thing I don't understand is that many Americans do not want to walk even a foot farther from the parking spot to the entrance but willing to take a risk or driving around and around to find a closer parking spot.
an agent who advised me to file for a hearing and a file for a payment waver.
That's nice of the agent and you should follow it through. I agree that often times people who work at government or agency do not give the whole information. As a result, you have to find it the hard way and keep going back to ask them. Anyway, I wish you good luck on getting it waive. Whether or not you get the waiver, you should talk to your son who created the problem for you.