How to Fight a Fire Hydrant Parking Ticket
by Andrew Smith
It is illegal to park a vehicle too close to a fire hydrant. If the car is parked within a certain distance or inside the yellow lines that appear in front and behind the hydrant, you can expect to find a ticket on the windshield of your car. Simply paying the fine and moving on is not your only option when dealing with such a ticket. Winning a battle against an unjust fire hydrant parking ticket saves you money and possibly points against your license.
Step 1
Take plenty of pictures of your unmoved car near the fire hydrant. Use either a cell phone that has a camera or a digital camera with an accurate date and time function to confirm when you took the pictures. What you focus on while taking the pictures depends on how you are fighting the ticket; for example, take adequate pictures of the hydrant if you are claiming the hydrant was blocked or hidden from your view.
Step 2
Examine the ticket thoroughly. Any inaccuracies, such as the wrong plate number or car model, make it easier to get that particular parking ticket thrown out. Scan a copy of the ticket if you find any inaccuracies.
Step 3
Find the court date or "pay by" date found on the ticket. Proceed to Step 5 if you plan on contesting the ticket in person.
Step 4
Produce a letter explaining why you think the parking ticket is invalid. Include a copy of the ticket, the pictures you took in Step 1 and a thorough explanation of your complaint. Mail the letter to the court address located on either the bottom or back of the ticket.
Step 5
Bring your pictures and the parking ticket to the courthouse or parking utility address found on the citation. Explain why you think the ticket is invalid. Remember to be respectful and calm during your explanation.
Step 6
Wait to learn the outcome either in person or via mail. Contact the courthouse or parking utility if you haven't heard anything by the "pay by" date or court date posted on the parking ticket.
References
Things You'll Need
- Digital camera or cell phone with camera
- Scanner or copy machine
Warnings
- You must pay any parking tickets that are ruled to be valid by a court or parking utility.
Writer Bio
Andrew Smith has been a freelance writer since 2006, specializing in sports and technology. His work has appeared on various online sites. Smith has a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Pennsylvania State University.
