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Parking Enforcement Center City of Walnut Creek Parking Enforcement Center Abuse of municipal authority, Extortion Walnut creek, California
We received a Notice of Outstanding Parking Violation from the City of Walnut Creek on September 14, 2011. Weve never been to the City of Walnut Creek.
On September 15 we contacted Ms. Sandy Mulligan with Parking Enforcement, City of Walnut Creek. She said the City had a photo of our license plate - 4HBW555 - on a gray Honda Accord that was parked illegally. She further told us that the plate frame contained the word Marin (something like Marine Auto). Our rear plate frame has the following on the bottom: Autowest Honda Roseville. Since we have both front and rear plates, we told her that the only possible explanation was that someone counterfeited our vehicle license plate . Also, the Parking Violation Notice indicated the vehicle was gray. Our vehicle is black and always has been. The notice did not include a VIN number. We have no copy of the actual ticket since, of course, we were never there.
I noted all this in a letter dated September 15, 2011, and sent a copy to Tom Edwards from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Investigation Unit. I also spoke to Mr. Edwards, and he assured me the complaint would be kept on record and he advised me to get new plates..
After hearing nothing from the City of Walnut Creek, I wrote to Ms. Mulligan on October 21, and sent her photos of our black (not gray) vehicle with a close-up of our license plate frame ( different from the one she described to me and from the dealer where we bought the car in 1999.)
Additionally, we went to the DMV an changed our plates so this could not happen again, if in fact our plate had been counterfeited. It is also possible that the photo that Ms. Mulligan represented was fabricated.
Ms. Mulligan responded today that my appeal had been sent to the Parking Enforcement Center. Late today I received a form letter from the City of Walnut Creek stating that my appeal was denied because I had no evidence that I was not in Walnut Creek. I would have to pay $40 (later $140 to continue with a hearing).
Further the form letter states: hearing requests received after 21 calendar days from level I Review, or without full payment of fine(s) will NOT be processed.
My wife and I contend that we provided ample evidence that the vehicle in the photos cited by Ms. Mulligan was not ours. On the other hand, the notice sent to me by the Parking Center failed to note VIN, noted the wrong color, and was based (according to Ms. Mulligan) on a photo of another Vehicle. To me it is evident that the City of Walnut Creek hopes we will just pay the fine and forget about the matter. At this point forcing us to pay a fine and travel to Walnut Creek is in our opinion an abuse of municipal power and extortion. We have a complaint in to the Attorney General. Until this is resolved, we advise people to stay away from the City of Walnut Creek.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
voiceofreason
North Carolina,United States of America
Walnut Creek, huh?
#4Consumer Comment
Mon, November 21, 2011
Good to see good ole Walnut Creek back in the cross hairs. That was the locale of what must go down as one of the most infamous Ripoff Reports ever, Report: #753654.
I hope that modest meal wasn't at the KFC.
Lorenzen
Naples,Florida,
U.S.A.
I'm REALLY confused
#4Consumer Comment
Mon, November 21, 2011
How on Earth does a Parking Enforcement Department make over 600 MISTAKES in issuing parking violations ?????? That's IMPOSSIBLE !!!! In fact, it's CRIMINAL !!!
I agree with the author on this one. No ticket, no VIN, incorrect description of the vehicle..... Methinks something is very fishy in the City of Walnut Creek, California.
In my humble opinion, the State of California should investigate this matter........you know - California......The State that prosecuted OJ Simpson, Robert Blake, Rodney King - and is now going after that master criminal Robert Wagner, for a "crime" that he supposedly committed only 30 years ago. He surely must have found a good place to "hide" since it took the State of California 30 years to find him....... !!!
Sure. The State of California will take care of this town's thievery !!!! Just as when I win the LOTTERY this weekend, I'll share it with all who read here.........ROFLMAO !!!!!!!
seatrades
Sacramento,California,
USA
THE GREAT PARKING WAR
#4Author of original report
Mon, November 21, 2011
Results: the Walnut Creek PD apologized for their multiple errors and removed the citation
from our record. According to the Department, the Parking Enforcement Corporation got some 1731 appeals in 2010, and they upheld ( granted ) 684, a 39.5% rate. If true, and I believe the W.C. Police Lieutenant I spoke to, then it appears The Parking Enforcement Center, I believe part of Tier Technologies, Inc. is not running a scam, although they did make a huge mistake in my case. The W.C. City Attorney is sending a claims form. We're asking for $20 for having to change our license plates and $40 for having to wait in line at the DMV. (A modest dinner out) We fully expect to receive these amounts since we have overwhelming evidence should we have to go to small claims ( and I think we'd all like to put this behind us).
Ricardo Villanueva