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Use Your iPhone To Get Out of a Ticket

An anonymous reader writes to tell us that Parkingticket.com just announced new compatibility with the Safari web browser on Apple's iPhone, giving you new tools to immediately contest a parking ticket. The site is so confident in their service that if all steps are followed and the ticket is still not dismissed they will pay $10 towards your ticket. "The process begins by navigating the iPhone's Safari browser to the Parkingticket.com website where you'll find a straightforward means to fight a parking ticket; whether the ticket was issued in New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia or Washington, D.C. Simply register for a free account and choose the city in which the ticket was issued. Enter your ticket and vehicle details then answer a few quick questions. The detailed process takes about ten minutes, from A-Z. To allow easy entry of your ticket, a look-a-like parking ticket is displayed — for your specific city — with interactive functionality."

291 comments

  1. nice by SkankinMonkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think the iPhone just became a positive ROI for many people in these areas.

    1. Re:nice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      this website number looks like a slashvertisement for me. Maybe next they'll tell us how to use an iphone to read slashdot!

    2. Re:nice by Galois2 · · Score: 5, Informative

      I think the iPhone just became a positive ROI for many people in these areas.

      Not really. From the article, in order to even start the process you have to pay parkingticket.com a deposit equal to 50% of the ticket fine. Here is what can happen:

      • If the ticket is dismissed, parkingticket.com keeps the 50% you paid them
      • If the ticket is reduced, parkingticket.com retains 50% of what you saved
      • If the ticket is dismissed, parkingticket.com will refund the deposit and pay 10% of the ticket

      I guess if you're into paying a 50% fee for having someone fill out the paperwork, it's a good deal.

    3. Re:nice by WhatAmIDoingHere · · Score: 4, Informative

      "If the ticket is not dismissed, parkingticket.com will refund the deposit and pay 10% of the ticket"

      FTFY

      --
      Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
    4. Re:nice by eln · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think the iPhone just became a positive ROI for many people in these areas.

      Or any other phone that has a half-decent web browser. All this thing does is launch Safari to take you to their website. The only reason the press release mentions the iPhone is because that's a virtual guarantee that it will be spread all over creation via the news wires and sites that don't actually read the articles beyond a few keywords such as, say, Slashdot.

    5. Re:nice by eleuthero · · Score: 1

      That, at least, is easy--given the sourceforge app--what they need is to develop it a bit more in order to have it allow for comment reading / posting without having to load safari

    6. Re:nice by tcolberg · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Under cursory review of the above terms, it still sounds like an excellent hedge when one gets a ticket. Sure, it's not a great deal if you're experienced with combating tickets, but for someone who otherwise would have just paid the ticket or thrown their arms up in the air when trying to figure out the dispute process, it sounds like a bargain.

    7. Re:nice by mini+me · · Score: 4, Interesting

      You're right. The website isn't even iPhone-optimized.

    8. Re:nice by FredFredrickson · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Not only any phone browser, but No phone neccessary. You could just log on with your computer.

      --
      Belief? Hope? Preference?The Existential Vortex
    9. Re:nice by fataugie · · Score: 4, Interesting

      At what point in the story do we find out the Cities in question are all joint members of this site as a way to make some extra $$$?

      Excuse me while I re-adjust my tinfoil hat.

      --

      WTF? Over?

    10. Re:nice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "If the ticket is not dismissed, parkingticket.com will refund the deposit and pay $10 towards the ticket"

      FTFY

    11. Re:nice by keytoe · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The website isn't even iPhone-optimized.

      Please, please, please pretty please stop trying to 'optimize' sites for the iPhone. It has a perfectly functional browser that deals with normal web pages just fine. Just build a normal standards compliant page that scales gracefully - which you should be doing anyway.

    12. Re:nice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You don't need an iPhone, a camera, a cell phone, a computer, or this website.

      I was forced to fight my first speeding ticket. What I ended up doing was negotiating it down to a lesser offense. Since then, I've negotiated every speeding ticket (save one). I always get a better deal at the negotiating table than I would have gotten by sending in my payment.

      Just try it next time. But, be prepared to be considered guilty by the Judge and Prosecutor and to be harassed for your effort. On the flip side, I actually enjoy the challenge and learn something each time.

      You may also want to Google "plea in abeyance".

      Have fun!

    13. Re:nice by MatchbooksAndSarcasm · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Seems like this could be abused pretty easily...

      I live in downtown Denver, and get tickets all the freakin' time. They're not BS-parking-nazi-on-crack tickets, I just forget to pay my meter, and bam- $25 ticket.

      So, if I read this correctly, if I use them to contest every ticket (even though I full-on deserved it):

      1) Pay 50% deposit, so give them $12.50
      2) Ticket gets upheld, because they look in the computer and see that I get tickets all the time (been booted several times). So, they refund my $12.50 + 10% ($2.50) = $15.00
      3) I pay my $25 to the city, -$15.00 refunded, and bam I've reduced a $25.00 ticket to a $10.00 jusy by going online.

      I guess the easier solution would just be to keep a roll of quarters in my car, but at that kind of discount, I can't afford NOT to get tickets!

    14. Re:nice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Math.

      You fail at it.

    15. Re:nice by Carbonite · · Score: 3, Informative

      If the ticket is upheld, you pay: $12.50 (deposit) + $25.00 (ticket) = $37.50

      You receive: $12.50 (refund) + $2.50 (10% of ticket) = $15.00

      Net paid: $37.50 - $15.00 = $22.50

      Savings = $2.50

      --
      ich muß mehr Kuhglocke haben
    16. Re:nice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      they probably are. They made this as a way to get at least some money from the people who never pay/skip town/state

      props to them if they are

    17. Re:nice by Ksevio · · Score: 1

      You don't always want the same webpage when you visit a site on the iPhone as on a normal browser. For one, it's often nice to have pages wider than 320 px - if you limit yourself to that as a webdesigner then you're really going to be pressed.

      Also, most mobile users don't really want all the same information as someone with a full browser. For example, http://caltrain.com/ has quite an informative site with image of the route maps and everything, but they also have a site http://icaltrain.com/ for mobile browsers that works just like an iPhone app and lets you find routes between stops.

    18. Re:nice by larry+bagina · · Score: 2, Informative

      1. They don't do denver. 2. The cities they do cover have a policy that if you contest the ticket, they'll offer to settle at 25-50% discount.

      --
      Do you even lift?

      These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

    19. Re:nice by cayenne8 · · Score: 1
      It is so much easier than that in Lousiana.

      You get a ticket, you get your (or a friends) Uncle Boudreaux on the police force to just pull the ticket for you, and throw it out.

      Of course, this sucks for the few people that don't know someone with access to the courthouse.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    20. Re:nice by andy.ruddock · · Score: 1

      If the ticket is upheld, you pay: $12.50 (deposit) + $25.00 (ticket) = $37.50

      You receive: $12.50 (refund) + $2.50 (10% of ticket) = $15.00

      Net paid: $37.50 - $15.00 = $22.50

      Savings = $2.50

      If the ticket is upheld, you pay: $12.50 (deposit) + $25.00 (ticket) = $37.50

      You receive: $12.50 (refund) + $10.00 = $22.50

      Net paid: $37.50 - $22.50 = $15.00

      Savings = $10.00

      Which, strangely enough, is the same amount as ... if all steps are followed and the ticket is still not dismissed they will pay $10 towards your ticket

      --
      God: An invisible friend for grown-ups.
    21. Re:nice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, your way is so much easier than just deducting 10% off of the initial $25!

    22. Re:nice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      oh absolutely, if website owners coded their pages as they should be, the text would fit any screen, any mobile, laptop, wide screen, portrait, landscape, portrait.

      I remember back in 1995, every web site did it properly. Then they wanted to add advertising, and screwed the whole thing.

      But bottom line is the html protocol is still good, just use it as it was designed and you don't need to create 20 different pages for 20 devices.

    23. Re:nice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's $10, not 10%.

    24. Re:nice by mdwh2 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You don't always want the same webpage when you visit a site on the iPhone as on a normal browser. For one, it's often nice to have pages wider than 320 px - if you limit yourself to that as a webdesigner then you're really going to be pressed.

      You do realise that the Iphone isn't the only hand-held browsing device out there - and never was, by several years?

      Sure, there is perhaps an argument for optimising for small browsers, but there's still no justification for optimising for the Iphone's browser.

    25. Re:nice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, that is right. You get a 10% discount on the ticket, if it is upheld.

      Care to write out the calculations for the other cases?

      Be sure to add this:

      Priceless -- getting a ticket dismissed you would have otherwise had to pay in full. I would rather spend half the money with a private professional then give the any money to a lying police officer who falsified another parking ticket to meet quota.

  2. What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    How exactly will you fight a legit ticket?

    1. Re:What? by sexconker · · Score: 5, Funny

      With Steve Jobs' magic, of course!

      With a caramel Frappucino in one hand, and an iPhone in the other, the elite of the major metropolitan areas can not be stopped!

    2. Re:What? by darkmeridian · · Score: 4, Informative

      In New York City, the government offers to settle a ticket for 50% if you just challenge the ticket. The company takes half of the value you save, so they probably make a killing telling everyone to challenge and pay the settlement.

      --
      A NYC lawyer blogs. http://www.chuangblog.com/
    3. Re:What? by sexconker · · Score: 4, Insightful

      So, in effect, they're profiting off the crimes of others?

    4. Re:What? by sunking2 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Gasp, you mean like lawyers do?

    5. Re:What? by Hordeking · · Score: 1

      In New York City, the government offers to settle a ticket for 50% if you just challenge the ticket. The company takes half of the value you save, so they probably make a killing telling everyone to challenge and pay the settlement.

      So, basically, in the end, you pay 75% of the ticket price? Doesn't sound like that good a deal to me. Most tickets are in the $5 to $20 range. Maybe you'd be better off determining how to challenge local tickets for yourself.

      --
      Disclaimer: The opinions and actions of the US Gov't are in no way representative of those held by this author or its ci
    6. Re:What? by Captain+Splendid · · Score: 1

      So, in effect, they're profiting off the crimes of others?

      Reading comprehension fail. It's not a crime if the officer is willing to barter the price down due to SOP.

      --
      Linux, you magnificent bastard, I read the fucking manual!
    7. Re:What? by DaCurryman · · Score: 3, Informative

      So, basically, in the end, you pay 75% of the ticket price? Doesn't sound like that good a deal to me. Most tickets are in the $5 to $20 range. Maybe you'd be better off determining how to challenge local tickets for yourself.

      I don't know where in NYC you've been driving but I've never seen a $5 ticket, or even $20 for that matter. Forget to renew your registration, around $65. Illegal parking below 96th Street: $105!

    8. Re:What? by dcollins · · Score: 3, Informative

      Most tickets are in the $5 to $20 range.

      No, parking fines in Manhattan range from $65 to $115. See http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/nyregion/02parking.html (multimedia sidebar popup).

      --
      We know where leadership by an anti-intellectual "strongman" who scapegoats minorities and likes boisterous rallies goes
    9. Re:What? by Hordeking · · Score: 1

      I don't know where in NYC you've been driving but I've never seen a $5 ticket, or even $20 for that matter. Forget to renew your registration, around $65. Illegal parking below 96th Street: $105!

      I've never been to New York, so I wouldn't know. I was thinking of parking fines more in line with just about everywhere else I've been. Those fines are outrageous.

      --
      Disclaimer: The opinions and actions of the US Gov't are in no way representative of those held by this author or its ci
    10. Re:What? by MousePotato · · Score: 1, Informative

      Isn't that how its supposed to work? Its just a big racket. They managed to find a way to automate getting a piece of it. In this economy props to them.

      It's only fair, afterall; many large municipalities use tickets and violations as income streams. dnot forget the recent traffic signals scandal...

    11. Re:What? by AuMatar · · Score: 1

      I've lived in San Diego, Chicago, and Seattle. Those look like fairly regular prices to me. Perhaps a bit high on the parking, but not by much. I don't think I've ever seen a ticket for less than $50.

      --
      I still have more fans than freaks. WTF is wrong with you people?
    12. Re:What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting
    13. Re:What? by Moridineas · · Score: 1

      I lived in Chicago for several years (only big city where I've gotten parking tickets) and not a one of them was under $50...

    14. Re:What? by IndustrialComplex · · Score: 4, Informative

      I've never been to New York, so I wouldn't know. I was thinking of parking fines more in line with just about everywhere else I've been. Those fines are outrageous.

      He is actually understating the fines. Or I should say, the total cost. I just had a car returned to me, with an expired inspection. I was literally driving it to the shop to have it inspected when I was pulled over for that.

      I looked it up, saw it was a $25 fine (since it had just expired) and pleaded guilty. Big mistake.

      2 week later I received a bill. $25 fine, as expected, and an $85 SURCHARGE. The total, for what was originally a $25 fine, became a $110 fine for an out of date inspection.

      Thank god that I'm also literally moving out of this state today. 6 hr drive ahead of me, but good riddance.

      --
      Out of modpoints but really liked a post? 1BDkF6TtmmeZ3yqXbz9yhdYVqRYnwFoXDj
    15. Re:What? by jackbird · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I've contested a parking ticket in NYC (came back from walking 25 feet to the muni-meter to get my receipt to find the car being written up, at which point the ticket-writer said there wouldn't be any problem). Despite providing the receipt and an affadavit from my passenger, no fine reduction for me. Luckily it was in Queens so it was "only" $75.

    16. Re:What? by Chih · · Score: 1

      I live in St. Louis and even in the county ticket fines are $50+.

      --
      For best results, avoid doing stupid things.
    17. Re:What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When parking in lots that leave less than 6 inches between cars is $18 or more per day (2002 in NYC) illegal parking fines less than $90 or so are probably cheaper on average than parking legally would be (I'm guessing that the probability of getting caught is probably 20-25%, I'm assuming it is near legal parking not in the middle of Times Square)

    18. Re:What? by catmistake · · Score: 1

      I think legal settlements are tax free, somehow not taxable income. I've always wondered if it were possible for an artist/craftsperson/inventor to plan & achieve financial success by carefully arrainging a future legal settlement where their wares were simply stolen and promoted/sold by a major distributor and years later, say 8 years, after millions of reproductions in various formats have been sold netting the last drop of value from its novelty, the artist/craftsperson/inventor files suit against the major distributor for copyright/patent infringement... and the distributor immediately settles, paying the artist/craftsperson/inventor their properly calculated due... perhaps a fortune in a lump sum... tax free.

    19. Re:What? by xaxa · · Score: 1

      I don't know where in NYC you've been driving but I've never seen a $5 ticket, or even $20 for that matter. Forget to renew your registration, around $65. Illegal parking below 96th Street: $105!

      I've never been to New York, so I wouldn't know. I was thinking of parking fines more in line with just about everywhere else I've been. Those fines are outrageous.

      I don't live in New York, but an illegally parked car on many roads in such a busy city can cause a lot of disruption. The deterrent needs to reflect the extra inconvenience it causes everyone else.

    20. Re:What? by geekoid · · Score: 1

      They should make ti 20 bucks, and put machine where you can just drop the ticket with twenty bucks in it on the spot. I would wager they could quadruple the number of tickets and see fewer people contesting them.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    21. Re:What? by ryanov · · Score: 1

      Newark's are $35 if I'm not mistaken. Not sure why -- they could be making a killing. Maybe they realized that if the prices go higher, no one pays them.

    22. Re:What? by Aazzkkimm · · Score: 1

      Fail, yourself, buddy.

      I think he was referring to the fact that people are breaking the law by parking somewhere they shouldn't or for longer then they should. Hence the parking ticket in the first place.

      --
      Desire is not an occupation.
    23. Re:What? by OpiumSniper · · Score: 1

      I'm from NYC, I was once parked in a bus stop (didn't realize, it was snowing heavily and the sign was missing). Lo-and-behold, when I got to my car, I had a ticked in one of my wheelwells. Luckily the cop realized I couldn't tell it was a stop and purposefully filled it out incorrectly (amusingly he left out what traffic rule I violated.) Anyway, the ticket would have cost like $300 (some absurd amount). On another note, if there is even one error on your ticket, they will throw it out, so it's good to thoroughly check the ticket.

    24. Re:What? by Jaysyn · · Score: 1

      Yes, just like every other company in the prison business.

      --
      There is a war going on for your mind.
    25. Re:What? by el_gordo101 · · Score: 1

      In MA, that $85 surcharge would add points to your driving record and stay on your record for a number of years (six years, I believe). So, total cost would be more like:
      $25 + (6 x $85) = $535

      MA treats an expired sticker the same as a speeding ticket, it is considered a moving violation and is a surcharge-able event.

      --
      TODO: Insert witty sig
    26. Re:What? by Itninja · · Score: 1

      Nope. Traffic tickets are not reflective of crimes, just infractions. That's how cities avoid that whole 'jury trial' thing.

      --
      I judt got a nre Kinesis keybiartf so please excusr ant egregiou typos.
    27. Re:What? by princessproton · · Score: 1

      I have the San Diego pricing right in front of me as I am currently (manually) contesting a ticket I received recently. The range is from $25 (expired meter, current registration not displayed) to $65-67 (red zone, fire hydrant, unauthorized airport parking). There is also the $440 disabled parking outlier. The mean for these citations in SD (outlier excluded) is $44.94, with the median and mode at $40.

      --
      I'm always positive; it's my nature.
    28. Re:What? by Sparr0 · · Score: 1

      Are you including administrative fees, filing fees, court fees, fee fees, etc? A $25 fine sounds completely reasonable when you just read the table of fines, until you see it on a real ticket and there are $172 in fees added onto it.

    29. Re:What? by princessproton · · Score: 1

      I have a real ticket right in front of me. The procedure to pay is to mail the amount listed next to your checked ticket type, so yes this includes all fees. The only fees listed anywhere on the ticket paperwork are for violations that require proof for dismissal, so the fee is in lieu of full payment (10$ + valid registration copy, etc.).

      --
      I'm always positive; it's my nature.
    30. Re:What? by Sparr0 · · Score: 1

      I once got a ticket on approx June 10. The court date appeared to be "Jul 12", which seems like a reasonable amount of time in the future, to me. I show up a month late for my June 12 appointment, show the ticket to the Judge. End up spending 10 days in jail for missing court.

    31. Re:What? by Sparr0 · · Score: 1

      What would make you think that legal settlements are not taxed like any other income?

    32. Re:What? by geekoid · · Score: 1

      The portion of the settlement that you are getting to replace loss(damages) is not taxable, the part that is reward is.

      Just went through this.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    33. Re:What? by geekoid · · Score: 1

      You were violating the law.
      Just sayin'

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    34. Re:What? by Hordeking · · Score: 1

      I once got a ticket on approx June 10. The court date appeared to be "Jul 12", which seems like a reasonable amount of time in the future, to me. I show up a month late for my June 12 appointment, show the ticket to the Judge. End up spending 10 days in jail for missing court.

      Sounds like grounds for a lawsuit to me.

      --
      Disclaimer: The opinions and actions of the US Gov't are in no way representative of those held by this author or its ci
    35. Re:What? by tompaulco · · Score: 2, Informative

      Are you including administrative fees, filing fees, court fees, fee fees, etc?
      Yes, by all means be careful. Where I live, my stepson got a ticket for a noise violation. His car is not really all that loud, but he is 16, which is almost as bad as a DWB. Anyway, I went with decibel meters and reports in hand to wrangle with the authorities, and the court clerk told me I had to pay $50 non-refundable if I wanted to go before the judge to plead my case, and the judge could decide to even raise the fine if he so chose. So I very grumpily and with mutterances about railroading and shady legal authorities paid the fine, as it was cheaper than stating my case.

      --
      If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
    36. Re:What? by OpiumSniper · · Score: 1

      That's very weird. If it's true, then I'm sorry, but I was talking about a legitimate error, like in no court date or missing a summons, not misinterpreting what was written. However, a June 12 court date after a June 10 ticket seems extremely unlikely considering, between friends and myself, we've accumulated quite a few tickets and the court date tends to be about a month and a half in the future. I agree with Hordeking, if you get a decent lawyer and still have the ticket, you could argue that in court.

    37. Re:What? by tompaulco · · Score: 1

      You were violating the law.
      GP was violating the law either way. At least GP was trying to the right thing by having it inspected, for which he was soundly punished. He could have just let it sit at his house, which would have been just as illegal, and certainly much more against the spirit of the law, and probably wouldn't have been punished.
      In the airplane world, if you have an airplane with a problem that can not be fixed at a local field, you can obtain a ferry permit. However, there is no such thing in the automotive world. My stepson's car has been down for 6 months. We don't have inspections in our state, but if we did, we would be in violation because even if we towed it to the inspection station, it wouldn't start to prove it's emissions and roadworthiness.

      --
      If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
    38. Re:What? by tompaulco · · Score: 1

      I don't know where you live, but where I live, (Oklahoma City, famed birthplace of the parking meter), your chances of getting busted are very nearly 100% if you are there longer than an hour.
      Incidentally, the initial reason for the parking meter was to collect money to help in keeping the downtown roads in good shape. However, it soon became apparent that most people were electing to not pay the meter, because for one, they already paid taxes which went to pave the roads, and for another they had never had to pay a meter before. So parking enforcement was invented shortly after the parking meter. Currently 100% of the revenues collected from parking meters in Oklahoma City goes toward paying the costs of parking enforcement, essentially making it another tax to pay someone to do something that would be unnecessary without the tax.

      --
      If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
    39. Re:What? by jamesh · · Score: 1

      In Australia (or Victoria at least - other states may vary) you can get a 30 day (i think) 'registration' that allows you to drive an otherwise unregistered vehicle for the purposes of getting inspected, repaired, and registered, and covers you for the compulsory insurance.

      The vehicle has to be safe for the conditions you are driving it in (eg driving at night with non-working headlights or driving in the rain with non-working wipers would be illegal) and if a cop pulled you over and deemed it unsafe you'd be fined, but otherwise it sounds just the same as your 'ferry permit'.

      When I was young and foolish I didn't bother and just drove my unregistered car to the inspection yard and then to the registration site. The inspection is done by private agents so they didn't care, but the registration is done by a government authority, and they didn't care either. If I'd had an accident it could have cost me big time, hence the 'young and foolish' disclaimer.

      Maybe it's different in your country, but over here the authorities tend to be pretty reasonable and tend not to be pricks just for the sake of it. There are always exceptions of course...

    40. Re:What? by kobaz · · Score: 1

      The iPhone should also come with a beat-the-hell-out-of-the-inept-with-a-cluebat option too.

      I parked in downtown LA to check out the tar pits while I was in town. I put in a quarter, the timer said 30:00, I figured that was plenty of time. I hit my stopwatch to make sure.

      I walk back to my car, I have 5 minutes almost exactly on my watch. And there's some schmuck at my car writing up a parking ticket. He was trying to drive away so I stood in front of his car while attempting to talk. He said "not my problem" and hit the gas.

      Contesting the ticket proved pointless. "Upon inspection of the meter, it is performing within the standards".

      Tickets are a TAX.

      --

      The goal of computer science is to build something that will last at least until we've finished building it.
    41. Re:What? by Sparr0 · · Score: 1

      This was years ago. Almost long enough that when I got out of those 10 days in jail and they gave me probation, forbidding me to move out of the state which I had been planning to do for almost a year, and then I moved, the warrant for my probation violation is almost expired :)

    42. Re:What? by pete6677 · · Score: 1

      The cost of legal parking in Chicago can be almost $50 in some cases. In New York, probably quite a bit higher. At the very least, it would be $25. A $20 parking ticket in a big city would be no deterrence whatsoever.

    43. Re:What? by OpiumSniper · · Score: 1

      I don't blame you, it's not like you skipped probation on a serious crime like homicide or robbery. The system sucks anyway, we all know it.

  3. The iPhone by Jonah+Bomber · · Score: 3, Funny

    Will its wonders never cease!

    1. Re:The iPhone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      as long as /. keeps on reporting such lame stories.

    2. Re:The iPhone by SplinterOfChaos · · Score: 1

      Without lame stories, it just wouldn't be /.! Now, when people who don't care stop commenting on them, that's around when pigs will fly and its wonders will cease.

    3. Re:The iPhone by HexaByte · · Score: 1

      Will its wonders never cease!

      Will its iWonders never cease!

      There, fixed it for you.

      --
      HexaByte - he's a square and a half!
    4. Re:The iPhone by mdwh2 · · Score: 1

      Indeed - next they'll be telling us how their phone number has been "optimised" for the Iphone's dialing system, and advertising that you can now use your Iphone to talk to someone, to get you out of a ticket.

      Just think, I can type numbers on my Iphone, and speak to someone without even being in the same room as them. Isn't that amazing? It's a good thing Apple invented this feature. Sure, there might have been one or two obscure devices that did this before, but with Apple, it Just Works(TM)!

  4. Will we see this on A&E parking wars? by Joe+The+Dragon · · Score: 2, Funny

    Will we see this on A&E parking wars?

  5. Startup.com by davejenkins · · Score: 1

    Wait, I think I saw this movie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Startup.com

    1. Re:Startup.com by Wannabe+Code+Monkey · · Score: 3, Funny

      Wait, I think I saw this movie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Startup.com

      Yes... it is exactly like that. Parkingticket.com has been operating for 7 years, is still in business, and releasing new products. And govworks.com was in existence for only 3 years, never really got off the ground and crashed and burned before parkingticket.com even existed. So, yes, they are very eerily similar.

      --
      We always knew Comcast was corrupt, here's the proof: http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1909890&cid=34545432
    2. Re:Startup.com by Wannabe+Code+Monkey · · Score: 4, Informative

      Parkingticket.com has been operating for 7 years

      I should note that after doing a little more research, I found that the company has been in business for much longer. The founder has been in the getting-out-of-parking-tickets business since 1982, designed a system called ALARM in the early nineties that performed the service for companies with fleets of vehicles, and in 2001 (when they started parkingticket.com) he estimated the company's revenue at $3MM.

      --
      We always knew Comcast was corrupt, here's the proof: http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1909890&cid=34545432
  6. Huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Is this an ad or something?

    1. Re:Huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      I agree. This article should be slashed off the board. Junk news.

  7. Should pay the entire fine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Unless they are willing to pay the entire fine, then their service free or fee based is worth nothing.

    There are many snake-oil security systems out there that claim to be perfect without any problems and with a guarantee to refund some percentage of the cost of the system in the event of a break-in. I say they if they're not willing to stand-by their product and pay the full amount of the system + any and all costs associated with the breach, then they are not worth the trouble.

  8. Nice.. but by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Ever watched "Parking Wars" on TV and looked at how people park? Most people probably deserve the ticket anyway :(

    1. Re:Nice.. but by JWSmythe · · Score: 3, Interesting

          I've seen a lot of bad parking jobs.

          I almost got a ticket once, because the parking meter I was parked at ran out. The parking enforcement officer came up, tapped on my window, and asked "Are you going to pay that, or do I have to write you a ticket?"

          I pointed at the car that had double parked beside me. I hadn't stayed to be a scofflaw, I had stayed because there was a car blocking me in.

          The officer was much more interested in writing the ticket for parking in the road, blocking traffic, etc, etc. When the lady noticed her car was getting ticketed, she ran over, jumped in, and took off. I hope she got the ticket in the mail.

          But likewise, not all tickets are legitimate.

          I got ticketed once, for parking in my own driveway. They believed my bumper was "too close" to the sidewalk. Since the other bumper was against the garage door, and the vehicle wasn't in any way blocking the sidewalk, they were just looking for anything to ticket. I lived there over a year, and always parked there, and only was ticketed once. They should have made more of an effort to ticket the people who parked across my driveway. Sometimes I couldn't leave because they were blocking me in.

         

      --
      Serious? Seriousness is well above my pay grade.
    2. Re:Nice.. but by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Tow trucks are always happy to tow a car blocking you in.

    3. Re:Nice.. but by billcopc · · Score: 1

      Sure they're happy, if you pay for the tow yourself. Everywhere I've ever lived, the only way to get a car towed at the driver's expense is to go through the police, which is cumbersome and mostly pointless, unless you somehow live in a magic fantasy land where cops aren't lazy pricks.

      --
      -Billco, Fnarg.com
    4. Re:Nice.. but by Lumpy · · Score: 3, Interesting

      They should have made more of an effort to ticket the people who parked across my driveway. Sometimes I couldn't leave because they were blocking me in.

      A buddy of mine had that problem. He spraypainted all over the car in "chalk paint" that washes off very easy, it's used by car lots.

      HE WRITES : DONT PARK HERE ASSHOLE

      He says he has to do it only once to a person and they wont park within a block of his driveway.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    5. Re:Nice.. but by YouWantFriesWithThat · · Score: 4, Funny

      he lets them off easy. someone did that to a friend of mine, when he got home from work (construction) and there was a random Caddy parked in his driveway. he dragged their car into the middle of the street, left it in a lane of traffic, parked his truck legally in his driveway, and then called the cops. cracked a beer and watched the car get towed in 10 minutes.

    6. Re:Nice.. but by Xtravar · · Score: 2, Insightful

      When parking your car becomes a central theme in your life, you need to consider living somewhere else.

      --
      Buckle your ROFL belt, we're in for some LOLs.
    7. Re:Nice.. but by Fujisawa+Sensei · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Sure they're happy, if you pay for the tow yourself. Everywhere I've ever lived, the only way to get a car towed at the driver's expense is to go through the police, which is cumbersome and mostly pointless, unless you somehow live in a magic fantasy land where cops aren't lazy pricks.

      In Texas not only can they tow you, but even if they tow you illegally, you still have to pay.

      To actually get your money back you have to sue in small claims court.

      --
      If someone is passing you on the right, you are an asshole for driving in the wrong lane.
    8. Re:Nice.. but by maxume · · Score: 1

      Look for a place with a garage.

      --
      Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
    9. Re:Nice.. but by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I say that guy got off easily.

      A friend pooed into a container, then proceeded to smear it all over the person's windscreen.

  9. Free? Be careful... by bogaboga · · Score: 1

    Simply register for a free account and choose the city in which the ticket was issued. Enter your ticket and vehicle details then answer a few quick questions.

    I thought there is nothing free in this world especially the USA...or is there? OK tell me. What is in it for Parkingticket.com? Where is the catch?

    1. Re:Free? Be careful... by jfim · · Score: 4, Informative

      They charge a fee of half the ticket fine, which they reimburse if the ticket does not get dismissed.

    2. Re:Free? Be careful... by i.r.id10t · · Score: 1

      Well, they are getting your email contact info, etc. and then they know you have an iPhone. So you can start getting some targeted spam...

      --
      Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
    3. Re:Free? Be careful... by mcgrew · · Score: 5, Funny

      I thought there is nothing free in this world especially the USA

      There's plenty free. Air is free, and it's a lot cleaner air than when I was growing up (although cleaning up the mess industry made cost us taxpayers a bundle, and few corporations pay any US Federal Income Tax).

      Rainwater waters your gardens for free.

      Sunrises and sunsets are free.

      You can often get condoms for free. The free ones are generally better than ones you buy from bars' rest rooms, the last one I bought at Farley's was out of date.

      Heat is free in the summertime, and air conditioning is free in the winter.

      The corporations all get free rides from the Federal Government.

      You never heard "the best things in life are free?" It's true. You can't buy true friends.

      Whoever said money doesn't grow on trees never owned an orchard!

    4. Re:Free? Be careful... by ciderVisor · · Score: 4, Funny

      You can't buy true friends.

      My true friend is a RealDoll, you insensitive clod !

      --
      Squirrel!
    5. Re:Free? Be careful... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      MY corporation (a subset of "all") never got a free ride from the Federal Government.

    6. Re:Free? Be careful... by geekoid · · Score: 2, Funny

      You don't really want to tax corporations much.

      You need to tax the employee's.

      If the corporation leaves, then all the popel it would employee have no money, and you generate no tax revenue.

      we've seen this plenty of times.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    7. Re:Free? Be careful... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Only on slashdot is this modded insightful.

    8. Re:Free? Be careful... by fataugie · · Score: 1

      the last one I bought at Farley's was out of date.

      Wait....they expire?

      That explains alot...

      --

      WTF? Over?

    9. Re:Free? Be careful... by pj2541 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Wouldn't that mean that they are charging for legal advice, and can then be prosecuted for practicing law (in every state) without being a member of the Bar?

    10. Re:Free? Be careful... by RapmasterT · · Score: 1

      Rainwater waters your gardens for free.

      Nope. Not if you live in a municipality that charges you a stormwater runoff fee. They literally charge you for rain.

    11. Re:Free? Be careful... by SydShamino · · Score: 1

      Sure. But then if "corporations" do something bad, that costs money to fix, you need to walk right through the corporation and wring the money from the people responsible for creating the problem, namely the executives and the board.

      --
      It doesn't hurt to be nice.
    12. Re:Free? Be careful... by forkazoo · · Score: 1

      There's plenty free. Air is free, and it's a lot cleaner air than when I was growing up (although cleaning up the mess industry made cost us taxpayers a bundle, and few corporations pay any US Federal Income Tax).

      Cleaning it up cost you, and keeping it clean requires paying for regulatory and monitoring infrastructure. EPA is not free, and not staffed by volunteers. Air = Not Free.

      Rainwater waters your gardens for free.

      True, but for the clean water, see also, EPA from above. And, that garden isn't on land that you can get for free. Had to pay for that. And, most land deals require legal documentation, so while the previous owner might accept a smile as payment for the land, the real estate agent won't. Want seeds for the garden? Go buy some. Fertiliser? Can't just use animal dung as fertiliser because you can't legally keep large animals in most cities. Need to actually be out in farmland for that. Rainwater on your garden = Not Free.

      Sunrises and sunsets are free.

      But in some jurisdictions, the electric company can charge you for the electricity you aren't using if you install solar panels to take advantage of those sunrises. Not Free.

      Youknow, I'm just sayin...

    13. Re:Free? Be careful... by geekoid · · Score: 1

      You appropriately fine the corporations. Protecting your ass is the whole point of corporations.

      technically all shareholders should be punished.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    14. Re:Free? Be careful... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >Rainwater waters your gardens for free

      Actually, in many states, this is not true. There are a variety of laws covering the ownership of the rainwater hitting your roof. For instance:

      In Washington State, harvesting runoff from a roof is illegal since the collected rainfall is considered a resource of the state and is regulated as public waters.

      In a Colorado court case, a woman wanted to use the runoff from her roof for her garden. The roof was ruled a tributary of the San Miguel River, and she had no right to it.

      With water shortages looming in much of North America, expect to see a lot more legal activity in this area. Water Cops out prowling through your yard, looking for illicit rain barrels...

    15. Re:Free? Be careful... by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      If your corporation paid any Federal taxes, you're being cheated, because few US corporations pay any at all. Those roads that you move your goods on are financed by the taxes I pay that your corporations doesn't.

      If your corporation paid Federal income tax, fire your accountant. If it didn't, then you're getting a free ride.

    16. Re:Free? Be careful... by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      If I don't have a job I can't pay much in tax. If the employer can't afford to pay taxes, he's not solvent enough to take care of his employees. If the government takes $500 from me, that's a new TV or car tires or ten PC games I can't afford, money that stays out of the economy. If the corporation is taxed that same $500, that's a <$.01 loss to each shareholder' dividends.

    17. Re:Free? Be careful... by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      Cleaning it up cost you, and keeping it clean requires paying for regulatory and monitoring infrastructure.

      The air is free, the irresponsible corporate sociopaths who must be forced to act responsibly are what costs.

      True, but for the clean water, see also, EPA from above. And, that garden isn't on land that you can get for free.

      The water that comes from the sky is distilled water, and if it's a bit acidic that's from the irresponsible sociopathic greedmongers who, again, must be forced to act responsibly and who I have to pay to make them act responsibly.

      And yes, the land costs, but the rainwater than falls on it doesn't. Seed comes from last years' crops, and fertilizer is only necessary if you're a giant megafactory farm and don't rotate, or if your soil sucks. Illinois has great soil. Actually I do use fertilizer, but if I didn't I'd still get a yield. And your straw man is on fire, I didn't say the garden itself was free, only the rain.

      But in some jurisdictions, the electric company can charge you for the electricity you aren't using if you install solar panels to take advantage of those sunrises. Not Free.

      Straw man again; your solar cells barely generate at sunrise or sunset. You know good and well I was talking about beauty - people pay thousands of dollars for paintings, none of which hold a candle to a good, real sunset.

  10. Parking tickets by davidwr · · Score: 1

    Parking tickets should be backed up with photographs anyways, taken by the ticket-writer.

    If the photos should be sent with the ticket. If they aren't proof of an offense, it should be dismissed.

    Tickets for parking too long in one spot should be accompanied by proof that you did exceed the time, including photos showing the wheels in the same position at the start time and stop time.

    Unused photos should be destroyed as soon as practical, within hours of the end of the person's shift at the latest.

    Of course, no city wants to go to that kind of effort.

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
    1. Re:Parking tickets by Orange+Crush · · Score: 1

      Juries can (and do) convict on testimony alone, and the law ultimately boils down to what you can convince a jury of.

    2. Re:Parking tickets by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Parking tickets should be backed up with photographs anyways, taken by the ticket-writer.

      There's hundreds of years of jurisprudence based on the idea that an eyewitness account of an alleged act, delivered by a person bound by oath to be truthful, can be accepted by the court as evidence supporting the alleged act. Why would you want to reverse that?

      Taken to a logical end, wouldn't this also mean that rapists, murderers, and kidnappers would walk free if none of the witnesses to their crimes happened to have a cameraphone handy at the right moment?

      If you get ticketed, you're always free to take your own photographs of the scene and bring them to court with you when you contest the ticket.

    3. Re:Parking tickets by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 1

      Because no one will ever use the myspace angle. Cops / Meter Maids will get pretty good at making it look like you've done a hundred things illegal.

    4. Re:Parking tickets by taustin · · Score: 3, Interesting

      There isn't a jurisdiction in the United States that will give you a jury trial for a parking ticket.

    5. Re:Parking tickets by Orange+Crush · · Score: 1

      ^Hmmm . . . I wasn't aware of that.

    6. Re:Parking tickets by Gordonjcp · · Score: 1

      Unused photos should be destroyed as soon as practical, within hours of the end of the person's shift at the latest.

      How would that help if tickets were contested? "Oh we took a picture but deleted it the same day, so you'll have to take our word for it"?

    7. Re:Parking tickets by jgtg32a · · Score: 4, Informative

      Because the Jury would sentence the person who was trying to get out of a ticket to death for wasting their time.

    8. Re:Parking tickets by fracai · · Score: 1

      Tickets for parking too long in one spot should be accompanied by proof that you did exceed the time, including photos showing the wheels in the same position at the start time and stop time.

      I think I'd want a bit more than the spokes of my tires appearing to line up the same. Photographic evidence is useful for displaying that something happened or was located somewhere at a specific time. But useless at proving nothing happened during the time gap between 2 images.

      Then again, I also don't understand the idea of limiting the time that someone is allowed to continuously park in the same place. Prohibiting overnight parking? Sure, I can see some valid reasons for that. But, stating that you're fine with a spot being continuously occupied as long as the occupier is changing in some interval just seems odd.

      Your other provisions make quite a bit of sense.

      --
      -- i am jack's amusing sig file
    9. Re:Parking tickets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Try demanding one as per the Bill of Rights. See what happens.

    10. Re:Parking tickets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Taken to a logical end, wouldn't this also mean that rapists, murderers, and kidnappers would walk free if none of the witnesses to their crimes happened to have a cameraphone handy at the right moment?
      Aside from the case of staying in one place too long, the extra work of taking photographic evidence of a parking violation is trivial; thus the inability of the ticket writer to generate such a photograph is strong evidence that the parking violation did not actually occur.
      This is not the case for rape, murder, and kidnapping.

      If you get ticketed, you're always free to take your own photographs of the scene and bring them to court with you when you contest the ticket.
      Anyone can produce a photograph of the car parked legally whether the violation occurred or not, so such a photograph indicates nothing.

    11. Re:Parking tickets by mahohmei · · Score: 0

      The parking services at the university I attended would take photos of improperly parked vehicles to show to the offenders if they attempted to contest the tickets.

      I still live in the same city: the university and city have pretty much stopped enforcing all parking, so this parking-ticket service would be kind of useless here. I once saw an abandoned car parked illegally go 5 months without a ticket.

    12. Re:Parking tickets by Belial6 · · Score: 1

      The point was that you keep the photos that are evidence, and destroy the thousand photos that show the start time for a car but the car was moved so was never illegally parked.

    13. Re:Parking tickets by billcopc · · Score: 1

      The problem is that the parking nazi should not be allowed to be a witness as they cannot be expected to deliver an impartial testimony. The employees are coerced into delivering as many fines as possible, otherwise they wouldn't be handing out a single ticket. Their employer directly profits from parking fines, it is the first reason why there are parking fines. It's not about managing spaces or congestion, it's just about money.

      What, you think a normal human being has a desire to stick random strangers with ridiculous fines ? No, that is called a sociopath. Since I'd like to assume most parking employees aren't sociopaths, then they must be under pressure from their employer.

      --
      -Billco, Fnarg.com
    14. Re:Parking tickets by damien_kane · · Score: 2, Informative

      According to your Bill of Rights, any American Citizen can request trial by a jury of their peers when the amount in question is in excess of $20.00.

      Granted, that $20.00 was worth a lot more when the bill was passed, and any jury that got pulled from work to try your parking ticket is going to be pissed (good luck finding an unbiased group), but you do have the federally mandated right to do so.

    15. Re:Parking tickets by damien_kane · · Score: 1

      Jurys don't decide punishment. They only decide guilt. Sentencing is handled by the Judge, only once guilt has been affirmed by said jury.

    16. Re:Parking tickets by Belial6 · · Score: 1

      Every place that I have every lived has used chalk marks to indicate tire position. The meter maid comes by with a long stick with chalk at the end. They will mark the tire and road. The chances of you driving away, and coming back later with the chalk on the road not erased, the chalk on your tire not erased, parking in exactly the right spot to line up the chalk, AND your tire having turned exactly the percent of a revolution so that the mark lines up with the one on the road is so small as to be insignificant. I'm guessing you couldn't do it if you tried.

      Given that digital photos are close to free, and it would be trivial for parking officers to prove their case with photos, it is reasonable to expect them to do so.

    17. Re:Parking tickets by Hatta · · Score: 1

      There's hundreds of years of jurisprudence based on the idea that an eyewitness account of an alleged act, delivered by a person bound by oath to be truthful, can be accepted by the court as evidence supporting the alleged act. Why would you want to reverse that?

      Because science has since shown that eye witnesses are highly suggestible and unreliable. It is always reasonable to doubt eye witness testimony.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    18. Re:Parking tickets by Gordonjcp · · Score: 1

      Ah, yeah, sorry, that makes more sense.

    19. Re:Parking tickets by lancejjj · · Score: 1

      Tickets for parking too long in one spot should be accompanied by proof that you did exceed the time, including photos showing the wheels in the same position at the start time and stop time.

      It sounds like a good trick around the system, but in reality the laws have been designed to prevent this type of gaming.

      In my area, let's say you park in a metered block that's signed as "1 hour maximum, 8 AM to 5 PM".

      The law is written such that you can't park in that ENTIRE BLOCK for more than 1 hour between 8 AM and 5 PM. Your 1 hour timer starts from the very first moment your car is parked in that block within the restricted hours.

      So if you drive into a space at 10 AM, park for 10 minutes, drive off, and come back at noon and park in the same block for another 10 minutes, you've broken the law. Because your parking time in that block was from 10 AM until 11 AM. Re-feeding the meter doesn't help - it isn't about the money, it's about sharing the space with others. This is called "overtime", and it's different than no time left on the meter.

      And of course, the meter readers carry digital ticket-generating radio devices with digital cameras and tag (plate) readers in them, so there is a good possibility that you get caught. Yes, I've gotten several tickets for overtime, and although I was unhappy with the tickets, it wasn't as if I didn't breaking the law. The real bummer is getting a ticket for both Overtime and Expired Meter on the same ticket... that's TWO distinct fines. (They used to use chalk to mark tire position, but that doesn't work well if it rains, or if the parker knows enough to rub the chalk away.)

      The laws are very well defined to minimize gaming the system. They generally impact people like me who try to park for 8 hours at two hour meters.

      Plus, it's pretty hard to argue in court: here's a guy with a half-dozen parking tickets filed against him, versus a meter maid who gets the most verbal abuse in the world and who doesn't have a care in the world if you pay the fine or not. The judge is most likely believe the person who is just doing their job and who doesn't have the incredibly bad parking record. As it should be.

    20. Re:Parking tickets by mmkkbb · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Street parking time limits are meant to provide short-term parking for people to use for short visits to area businesses. The maximum time limit enforces churn.

      --
      -mkb
    21. Re:Parking tickets by Hatta · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Doesn't matter. Parking tickets are "infractions" or "violations" and technically not crimes. So the bill of rights does not apply. Obviously there's no difference in real life, but in the legal fantasy land our courts occupy there is.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    22. Re:Parking tickets by f0rtytw0 · · Score: 1

      In Boston property owners can be ticketed for not clearing their part of the sidewalk of snow. The ticket writing system is electronic that includes a digital picture that is time stamped, and a smaller version is printed out on the ticket. I think something similar should be done for parking infractions but then again that makes it more difficult to write bogus tickets.

      --
      this is the most important sig ever! In your face 446154!
    23. Re:Parking tickets by tcolberg · · Score: 1

      And yet I've still received tickets when I've been marked by chalk, got in the car, driven around the block, and purposefully chosen a different spot on the street. I think these assholes would rather write the ticket and just bet on the driver not contesting it.

    24. Re:Parking tickets by knight24k · · Score: 1

      Tickets for parking too long in one spot should be accompanied by proof that you did exceed the time, including photos showing the wheels in the same position at the start time and stop time

      When I lived up near Chicago I noticed in one suburb that the police would go through the parking areas that were limited to a 2 hour parking limit with a stick of chalk on a stick. They would tag the front or rear tire of every car parked there and come back 2 hours later. If your tire still had the chalk mark you got a ticket. Granted, they were not required to show a picture.

      I always thought you could claim you drove around the block and parked in the same spot, but try as I might I could never get the chalk mark to appear in the right spot and twice around the block usually wore off the mark since the police tried to get the mark across the tread if they could. Not a bad system - doesn't damage the vehicle, works on motorcycles as well as cars and is hard to defeat in court. Yes, you could come out and wipe off the mark but most people are lazy and few will actually do that. A time stamped picture would be proof positive, but in most cases when you come out to your car, see the chalk mark and the ticket you just send in the fee. You know you're caught.

    25. Re:Parking tickets by Martin+Blank · · Score: 1

      In most (all?) capital cases, juries do recommend whether or not to put the person to death. Judges usually accept those recommendations and use them. It's an uncommon case where judges lessen a death penalty recommendation to life in prison without parole (they cannot ignore a life sentence recommendation in favor of death).

      --
      You can never go home again... but I guess you can shop there.
    26. Re:Parking tickets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Photographic evidence is useful for displaying that something happened or was located somewhere at a specific time. But useless at proving nothing happened during the time gap between 2 images.

      You've never had a red light camera ticket. My in-laws borrowed my car for several months while I worked on the other side of the country. My father-in-law got a red light camera ticket in my car and I got ticketed. First they show you a picture of the car on the stop line and the light red, with a time stamp to the hundredth of a second. Then they show you the car in the intersection with light still red, and another time stamp a few hundredths of a second later.

      According to you, my father-in-law could have taken in a hockey game between the two frames. You're right. Still photography is useless in a court of law.

    27. Re:Parking tickets by Martin+Blank · · Score: 1

      The right to trial by jury over matters in excess of $20 applies to civil cases (Seventh Amendment). The right to trial by jury otherwise extends only to criminal cases (Sixth Amendment). As violations of the vehicle code are infractions and are not subject to imprisonment (though one can lose driving privileges), they are not under either category, and hence no jury rights exist at the level of the US Constitution. Individual state constitutions may differ on this point.

      --
      You can never go home again... but I guess you can shop there.
    28. Re:Parking tickets by Belial6 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I don't doubt you did. Criminal cops are a common breed. The question isn't usually IF the cop is dirty, the question generally is how dirty is the cop.

    29. Re:Parking tickets by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 1

      If you get ticketed, you're always free to take your own photographs of the scene and bring them to court with you when you contest the ticket.
      Anyone can produce a photograph of the car parked legally whether the violation occurred or not, so such a photograph indicates nothing.

      What if the photographs include the officer writing that ticket?

      There have also been anecdotes of judges ruling contrary to the evidence at a reduced fine rather than dismissing. What can you do about a corrupt traffic court judge? Especially when you're not a resident of the jurisdiction?

      --
      Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
    30. Re:Parking tickets by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 1

      They'll still want to hold the photos for at least two years in case they discover later a crime was committed in the area (such as the discovery of a disposed body stuck in a sewer pipe for 21 months) and want to know who had cars parked in that area at the time of the crime.

      --
      Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
    31. Re:Parking tickets by superdave80 · · Score: 1

      Then how come they put a warrant out for your arrest if you don't show up for court?

    32. Re:Parking tickets by geekoid · · Score: 1

      When they drag the guy to a dark alley and beat the crap out of them they do~

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    33. Re:Parking tickets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What if the photographs include the officer writing that ticket?
      In that case, the photograph is evidence against the assertion that there was a violation. The converse still fails (i.e. lack of such a photograph is not evidence of violation) because people cannot be expected to keep watch over their parked cars.

    34. Re:Parking tickets by rantingkitten · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Because then the crime is "failure to appear" before a court when so ordered, and they take that seriously. It seems silly when they make such a big deal out of not showing up for your court date for a seatbelt violation, but I'm okay with it -- a blanket rule saying "Show up to court when lawfully ordered" seems fair to me, and if that means treating the same the dweeb who ran a stop sign and the important witness on a felony charge, so be it. When told to show up, you'd better to do it, and nevermind whether you think it's stupid.

      That aside, the way they skirt around the jury trial in traffic violations is by calling them "violations", "infractions", or "administrative matters", and not "crimes". Personally I find that laughable for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that you can get arrested, have to post bond, and go through all the other legal BS for this thing which is allegedly not a crime, just a "violation".

      The reason they do this is twofold: First, there is no way in hell they'd ever get a panel of twelve average Joes to convict you for little bullshit non-moving violations, and the same is true for most moving violations since nobody really cares that you were doing 70 on the highway marked 55, especially since as jurors they're all locals and they all know that everyone does 70 on that highway. Second, there is rarely, if ever, any evidence in these matters -- the cop charges you and says you did something (ran a stop sign? parked too close to a hydrant? who knows?) and that's all they've got. Pointing out that the only "evidence" against you is an accusation would get most juries to let you go, and the state doesn't want that.

      Hence, you're given a "bench trial" instead, where the judge will claim to be impartial but is on the state's payroll and has a vested interest in making sure matters turn out in the state's favor.

      --
      mirrorshades radio -- darkwave, industrial, futurepop, ebm.
    35. Re:Parking tickets by taustin · · Score: 1

      Things vary by state somewhat, but generally speaking, traffic tickets are usually infractions, not misdemeanors. Infractions are "civil offenses," not "criminal offenses." In other words, the police can't arrest you - they have to find a criminal reason, though, of course, all states have various forms of "driving like a moron" laws that are misdemeanors, for when you piss the cops off - for a traffic ticket. And the judge can't sentence you to jail for an infraction. (He can, of course, sentence you to jail for contempt if you don't pay the fine, or don't show up for the hearing.)

      As to the constitutional right to a jury trial, go for it (whoever it was that was parroting that old crap). The more insistent you get, the longer the judge will throw your ass in jail for contempt. It's been to the Supreme Court, and you do not, in fact, have a right to a jury trial on an infraction.

    36. Re:Parking tickets by Garganus · · Score: 1

      ianal but I'd guess failing to pay is, itself, the crime. fun how they make it all work out, i'nt it?

    37. Re:Parking tickets by Uberbah · · Score: 1

      There's hundreds of years of jurisprudence based on the idea that an eyewitness account of an alleged act, delivered by a person bound by oath to be truthful, can be accepted by the court as evidence supporting the alleged act. Why would you want to reverse that?

      Because we didn't have cameras hundreds of years ago. Duh. Should we also stop collecting DNA evidence because that wasn't an option in 1580?

      Taken to a logical end, wouldn't this also mean that rapists, murderers, and kidnappers would walk free if none of the witnesses to their crimes happened to have a cameraphone handy at the right moment?

      Since your logic sucks, the answer to that would be "no".

    38. Re:Parking tickets by liquiddark · · Score: 1

      I think many cities go to that kind of effort, at least in Canada. I contested a ticket for parking on the sidewalk for my sister. The officer attending showed me a photograph of the car she was driving with all 4 tires on the sidewalk. Case closed, albeit with a reduced fine and extended payment period.

    39. Re:Parking tickets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If they are not crimes, then there can be no penalty. You aren't suggesting the government is just arbitrarily seizing people's property in violation of the constitution's enumerated bill of rights? That makes the guy with a gun who puts a piece of paper on your car demanding money more of a mob member than upstanding member of society.

  11. Save your money by StikyPad · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Doesn't look like anything special.. just an automated ambulance-chasing service. They get 50% of the price of the ticket by filing some forms to contest it. There must be a low conviction rate for parking tickets (or people who fight them), and they're just taking advantage of that fact. To top it all off, they get all of your personal information, including the make, model, and plate numbers of your vehicle. I'm not sure whether an attorney-client relationship would exist in this scenario, but even if it did, they could probably resell anonymized information.

    1. Re:Save your money by NeoSkandranon · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Lots of jurisdictions are so crowded that all a lawyer has to do is show up to contest the ticket and it'll get dropped to save time.

      --
      If you can't see the value in jet powered ants you should turn in your nerd card. - Dunbal (464142)
    2. Re:Save your money by mcostas · · Score: 1

      You're right. Maybe some iPhone customers are willing to pay $50 for a form letter, but not me.

    3. Re:Save your money by eltaco · · Score: 1

      they bought the iphone in the first place, didn't they.

      --
      It's not about fate, it's about character.
      there be no shelter here, the frontline is everywhere!
    4. Re:Save your money by HexaByte · · Score: 1
      Where I live you can get out of any parking ticket that you didn't receive personally because there is no "pedigree".

      They are can't give car a ticket, they have to give it to a person. (Your state/locale may vary). If they don't fill in the height, weight, hair color section of the ticket (since you aren't there) they don't know who the ticket should rightly go to.

      I watched a woman in front of me tell the judge "I was driving my friends car, she shouldn't get the ticket, I should". The judge threw it out, even though she had a willing payer. On my turn, she let me know the above info. As long I am not there to get the ticket handed to me, I only have to contest it to win.

      Now for the bad news, I have to spend several hours in night court to contest it.

      --
      HexaByte - he's a square and a half!
  12. iPhone? by camperdave · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Wouldn't any phone with a camera and internet access do? Why does it have to be an iPhone? What about a laptop and digital camera?

    --
    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    1. Re:iPhone? by athakur999 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      You're right, there is absolutely nothing about this that makes it iPhone specific. Any camera phone with a web browser (or any other combination of camera and web browser...) can do the very same thing.

      Of course, adding "iPhone" to the title of anything suddenly makes it 100x more newsworthy in the eyes of fanboys :)

      --
      "People that quote themselves in their signatures bother me" - athakur999
    2. Re:iPhone? by NonUniqueNickname · · Score: 1

      "Use Your web browser and camera To Get Out of A Ticket"
      There.
      The so-called news here is that they finally got their site to work on iPhone's Safari.

    3. Re:iPhone? by Colonel+Korn · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Use Your web browser and camera To Get Out of A Ticket"

      There.

      The so-called news here is that they finally got their site to work on iPhone's Safari.

      It's always a celebration when the slowest runner finishes the race.

      --
      "I zero-index my hamsters" - Willtor (147206)
    4. Re:iPhone? by Uberbah · · Score: 1

      Of course, adding "iPhone" to the title of anything suddenly makes it 100x more newsworthy in the eyes of fanboys :)

      Which naturally explains why you're commenting in this story.

  13. Can you say "file an appeal?" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Those sites and processes only work if you are willing to appeal the judges decision and go through the effort. Plan on the judge looking at you and saying "guilty" in court--they know it's a matter of numbers and most people will just pay the ticket and go about their business. The sites are more of a rip-off than just paying the darned things.

    Trust me on this--I've tried.

    Peace!

    1. Re:Can you say "file an appeal?" by canajin56 · · Score: 0

      My brother challenged a speeding ticket. Saying that not only was he not speeding, but that his make model and paint color do not match the police officers testimony, so clearly he pulled over the wrong car. The judge doubled his fine and took his license away for implying a police officer had lied.

      --
      ASCII stupid question, get a stupid ANSI
    2. Re:Can you say "file an appeal?" by Uberbah · · Score: 1

      So how long did it take to get the judge thrown off the bench?

  14. Feeble Announcement by mmkkbb · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So basically, this site has nothing whatsoever to do with the iPhone except actually working on the browser. The screenshot shows that's it not even an iPhone-specific page.

    --
    -mkb
  15. Reduced less than 25% by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    What about this scenario?

    $30.00 parking ticket.

    deposit $15.00.

    The ticket gets reduced to $25.00.

    They refund $7.50, but you've still paid them $7.50.

    You're out $32.50, more than the original ticket.

    This happens in every case where the ticket is reduced less than 25%. They need to address this.

    Still, I like the idea in general.

    1. Re:Reduced less than 25% by Samalie · · Score: 4, Informative

      I believe your math is incorrect.

      $30 Parking Ticket

      You deposit $15

      The ticket is reduced to $25

      From the article: If, after a hearing, the parking ticket fine is reduced rather then dismissed, parkingticket.com retains half of the amount you saved and refunds the balance.

      So you saved $5 off the parking ticket. Parking ticket retains $2.50 (1/2 the amount you saved) and refunds the rest ($12.50)

      So your ticket has cost you $27.50, not $32.50

      Granted, you're still paying $2.50 more than you have to if you went it alone. Hell, the ONLY time you can actually come out ahead is if you use their service for a ticket you KNOW will not be reduced or dismissed. Then you make $10 (but of course are out the full price of the ticket)

      --
      09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
    2. Re:Reduced less than 25% by pushing-robot · · Score: 1

      From TFA:

      To have parkingticket.com prepare a guaranteed dismissal request letter, customers post 50 percent of the fine amount at the onset of the process. If parkingticket.com is successful in assisting you in getting the ticket dismissed, then the upfront deposit is retained by parkingticket.com. If, after a hearing, the parking ticket fine is reduced rather then dismissed, parkingticket.com retains half of the amount you saved and refunds the balance. After the hearings take place, if parkingticket.com is unsuccessful in getting the ticket dismissed or reduced they will not only refund the posted payment, but also pay you an additional $10.00 just for trying!

      Using your example, they'd retain $2.50 and refund you $12.50. You'd save $2.50.

      --
      How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
    3. Re:Reduced less than 25% by billcopc · · Score: 1

      Except most municipalities offer a reduced fine if you pay it quickly. In my city, it is roughly half, so there is zero incentive to enlist Parkingticket.com for me. If they beat the fine, I still owe them as much as if I had simply paid the fine without contest. If they lose, sure they give me $10, but the "court fees" get tacked on to the fine, which are usually something like $25 or more (depending on the fine!?).

      Parkingtickets.com is useless to me. Wake me when they accept bids to hunt down and beat parking nazis with a stolen coin meter.

      --
      -Billco, Fnarg.com
    4. Re:Reduced less than 25% by geekoid · · Score: 1

      well, you also come out ahead in time.

      Is the other 2.5 bucks worth going to the court house for?

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  16. ONLY available in those 5 cities by elrous0 · · Score: 5, Informative

    The summary doesn't make this completely clear and the website only reveals this in a FAQ section, but this is ONLY available for tickets written in New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia or Washington, D.C.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    1. Re:ONLY available in those 5 cities by Buradorii · · Score: 1

      They probably know that it would be an unwise idea to try and restrict the cash flow of the political machine in Chicago... either that or they are afraid allowing Chicago would crash thier servers.

      --
      You can live your life in a thousand ways, but it call comes down to that single day...
    2. Re:ONLY available in those 5 cities by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      but this is ONLY available for tickets written in New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia or Washington, D.C.

      Ah. I was just wondering about that. AFAIK the only way to appeal a parking ticket in Indianapolis is to schedule an in-person hearing.

  17. Looks like the /. spam filter has broken by exp(pi*sqrt(163)) · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I thought /. had human editors. I guess I was mistaken.

    --
    Doesn't it make you feel good to know that our freedoms are protected by politicans, lawyers and journalists.
    1. Re:Looks like the /. spam filter has broken by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Exactly. Most worthless piece of press release ever.. They are boasting that you can use a web browser on iPhone to use their website.

      Boohoo.

    2. Re:Looks like the /. spam filter has broken by east+coast · · Score: 1

      I thought /. had human editors. I guess I was mistaken.

      No, you were correct Slashdot had human editors at one point in time. Now it's just all Firehose silliness. Oh, those were the days.

      --
      Dedicated Cthulhu Cultist since 4523 BC.
  18. Not the whole story by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1, Interesting

    An anonymous reader writes to tell us that Parkingticket.com just announced new compatibility with the Safari web browser on Apple's iPhone, giving you new tools to immediately contest a parking ticket. The site is so confident in their service that if all steps are followed and the ticket is still not dismissed they will pay $10 towards your ticket.

    I live in Washington state, where it's illegal to use a hand-held phone while driving. If I'm trying to immediately contest a ticket and get pulled over for using a phone while driving, will parkingticket.com automatically contest that one as well? Otherwise it's gonna be a vicious circle.

    --
    #DeleteChrome
    1. Re:Not the whole story by oGMo · · Score: 3, Funny

      I live in Washington state, where it's illegal to use a hand-held phone while driving. If I'm trying to immediately contest a ticket and get pulled over for using a phone while driving, will parkingticket.com automatically contest that one as well? Otherwise it's gonna be a vicious circle.

      So exactly how often do you get pulled over and issued a parking ticket?

      --

      Don't think of it as a flame---it's more like an argument that does 3d6 fire damage

    2. Re:Not the whole story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I live in Washington state, where it's illegal to use a hand-held phone while driving. If I'm trying to immediately contest a ticket and get pulled over for using a phone while driving, will parkingticket.com automatically contest that one as well? Otherwise it's gonna be a vicious circle.

      I don't know about you, but i'm not usually driving while my car is parked.

    3. Re:Not the whole story by slash.duncan · · Score: 1

      If you're immediately contesting a ticket while driving, it's not a parking ticket, but a driving ticket... aka a "moving violation". It's parkingticket.com and they say parking ticket in the summary, so something tells me your moving violation isn't covered.

      --
      Duncan
      "Every nonfree program has a lord, a master,
      and if you use the program, he is your master."
      R Stallman
    4. Re:Not the whole story by ApproachingLinux · · Score: 1

      you won't be driving - why would you wait until you were driving to contest it -- why wouldn't you contest the ticket while you're still parked ?

    5. Re:Not the whole story by ubercam · · Score: 1

      Why would you be contesting it whilst driving? Why not from the sidewalk or while sitting in the car when it's parked?

      You can't tell me that it's illegal to use a cell phone in a parked car. The meter maid can't sit there and issue a new ticket every 2 seconds if you don't move right away. There has to be some minimum period between consecutive tickets for the same offense, or at least a tow to the impound after so many hours/days.

      Besides, why would Parkingticket.com take responsibility for your illegal behaviour? You were breaking the law, not them. Just because you were using their service doesn't make it their fault. To use a car analogy, that's like saying it's Volkswagen's fault that I ran a red because I drive a Jetta. I'll be sure to tell the cops to send the ticket to Martin Winterkorn over in Wolfsburg. I'm sure he'll gladly pay it.

    6. Re:Not the whole story by geekoid · · Score: 1

      You get pulled over for speeding, you get a parking ticket for being illegally parked on the freeway~

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    7. Re:Not the whole story by DerekLyons · · Score: 1

      Well the solution is obvious - don't access the app while driving . Duh.

    8. Re:Not the whole story by RapmasterT · · Score: 1

      If you're driving, you're already effectively protected from parking tickets. also, FAIL!

    9. Re:Not the whole story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why do you have to be driving to use your phone to contest the ticket? Even assuming it wasn't a parking ticket, you could just contest it while remaining parked on the side of the road. I'm fairly certain they can't ticket you for that; shut the engine off, you're not going anywhere.

    10. Re:Not the whole story by Kaell+Meynn · · Score: 1

      They can't pull you over for using your phone, they can just give you a ticket for using it if they have pulled you over for something else. (besides the fact that you aren't driving while parked which others have pointed out)

    11. Re:Not the whole story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > So exactly how often do you get pulled over and issued a parking ticket?

      That depends on whether or not the cop who stops you wants to be a total asshole...

    12. Re:Not the whole story by webwidejosh · · Score: 1

      How often do YOU get pulled over and IMMEDIATELY pay the meter? Because you're just asking for 2 tickets if you get pulled over at a parking meter.

    13. Re:Not the whole story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's parking when you leave the car. If you sit in it, it's not parking.

    14. Re:Not the whole story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >So exactly how often do you get pulled over and issued a parking ticket?

      Ever been on I-5 through Seattle during rush hour????

  19. Really? by DamienNightbane · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wouldn't it be easier to just obey parking laws?

    1. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wouldn't it be easier to just obey parking laws?

      Or not use an iPhone...

    2. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, because the parking enforcement folks NEVER make mistakes...

    3. Re:Really? by Concerned+Onlooker · · Score: 1

      Yes, it would. But people would lose out on all the experience they are giving their 3-year-olds by letting them practice parking. At least I'm sure that's what's happening judging by the parking jobs I see on a daily basis.

      --
      http://www.rootstrikers.org/
    4. Re:Really? by Lumpy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      That's insane!

      next you will suggest people don't speed, tailgate or run red lights...

      Are you MAD?

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    5. Re:Really? by hansamurai · · Score: 2, Funny

      Embarrassing story ahead:

      One night I was visiting my girlfriend at her dorm, and was just going to hang out for like 30 minutes and then head to a movie or dinner.

      I parked in the closest spot I could find, which was actually really, really close. The sign said Resident's Parking Only.

      When we came back out I had a ticket for $50, and was like "WTF?" because I had even parked her car so she had all the right stickers.

      Turns out, the sign said President's Parking Only. Failure.

    6. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When we came back out I had a ticket for $50, and was like "WTF?" because I had even parked her car so she had all the right stickers.

      Turns out, the sign said President's Parking Only. Failure.

      Reminds me of the special parking at UC Berkeley, for Nobel Laureates only.

  20. I can guarantee the sex of your next baby. by ciderVisor · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Fees for my services are quite high at $10,000 / baby, but what value can you put on having your perfect designer family ? If your baby is born of the 'wrong' sex, I will not only refund the entire $10,000, but will give you an extra $5,000 by way of compensation. It's win-win, I tell you !

    Now, where's my first customer ?

    (Thanks to Richard Dawkins for putting me onto this wonderful line of business.)

    --
    Squirrel!
    1. Re:I can guarantee the sex of your next baby. by batquux · · Score: 1

      Yeah, you still owe me $45,000 for my 3 girls, punk!

    2. Re:I can guarantee the sex of your next baby. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Feynman talked about this kind of scam, too. only with horse races.

    3. Re:I can guarantee the sex of your next baby. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Offtopic how exactly ? It's the same old scam whichever way you look at it. If you have a problem understanding statistics and probability, perhaps Slashdot isn't the forum in which you should hold mod points.

      Subtitles for the hard of thinking: If your clients give birth according to a normal random distribution, you'll pay out $5,000 half the time and collect $10,000 half the time. The profit gained over the long term is left as an exercise for the reader.

  21. I doubt it will work in DC by Col.+Klink+(retired) · · Score: 5, Funny

    In my old apartment in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of DC, there was a sign that said you could not park beyond that sign. If you assumed that you could park on the OTHER side of the sign, you would be wrong. The other side of the sign was a cross walk.

    Half a block from that spot, there is another sign indicating where you can and cannot park. If you park where the sign indicates it is legal, you will get a ticket for parking too close to a fire hydrant. My friend took photos showing that the sign itself was 9 feet from the hydrant. He went to court in person. The judge said it doesn't matter where the sign is, the law says you have to be 10 feet from the hydrant.

    The Washington Post has a column called Dr. Gridlock. I recall a few years back where they ran stories of tickets in DC. One person got a ticket for parking at an expired meter. He appealed by mail (which you can't even do anymore) and included a photograph showing that there were, in fact, no parking meters on the street where he was parked. His appeal was denied.

    --

    -- Don't Tase me, bro!

    1. Re:I doubt it will work in DC by Jerry+Rivers · · Score: 1

      Many years ago I had a couple of friends who got jay walking tickets. One friend's ticket was correct and he paid it. However, the other friend's ticket was dated a month before the actual infraction took place. Even though he pointed this out in court whilst contesting the ticket, the judge decided that it didn't matter and made him pay anyway.

      --
      The pursuit of absolute tolerance leads to the most rigorous and ludicrous intolerance. - REX MURPHY
    2. Re:I doubt it will work in DC by DamienNightbane · · Score: 0, Troll

      DC is a terrible example though, as the entire place is so corrupt and ass backwards that the only solution is to get the British to come and burn it down again.

    3. Re:I doubt it will work in DC by mmkkbb · · Score: 1

      I once got a parking ticket for parking in a city that I have never visited by car. I imagine they copied the license plate number incorrectly, as it was dismissed without incident (only after I received a "final notice before we hunt you down and impound your car" letter)

      --
      -mkb
    4. Re:I doubt it will work in DC by demonlapin · · Score: 1

      Well, in the case of the jaywalking ticket, the misdating was obviously a minor clerical error. It's not as though the citing officer picked your friend's name out of a phone book.

    5. Re:I doubt it will work in DC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I once got a parking ticket for parking in a city that I have never visited by car. I imagine they copied the license plate number incorrectly, as it was dismissed without incident (only after I received a "final notice before we hunt you down and impound your car" letter)

      I think that was me.

      One time I made a mistake reading the signs, and got a ticket. While getting ready to pay it, I noticed that my license plate was written incorrectly on the ticket. Never paid it, never heard from the authorities.

    6. Re:I doubt it will work in DC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcRWADEln80&feature=channel_page

      Something like that, I take it?

    7. Re:I doubt it will work in DC by winwar · · Score: 1

      "Well, in the case of the jaywalking ticket, the misdating was obviously a minor clerical error."

      It's a minor clerical issue if the police do it.

      If you do it they call it perjury.

      Simply put, the ticket was falsified.

    8. Re:I doubt it will work in DC by demonlapin · · Score: 1

      You're right, of course, but that doesn't change how they'll view it.

    9. Re:I doubt it will work in DC by Insightfill · · Score: 1

      In Chicago, the court costs of contesting a parking ticket costs more than the ticket. I've gotten one - the point of contesting the ticket would be to get the chance to claim you're right, get told you're wrong, and pay more in the end. Sheesh.

    10. Re:I doubt it will work in DC by Sp*rH*wk · · Score: 1

      Maybe he could have said the parking meter was broken in that street and called for them to repair it ...

  22. Well, tips for other cities: by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 1

    In the State of Michigan (and probably several other states), you can get out of a parking ticket for a handicap parking space if the sign is not properly placed or affixed in front of the parking space: the sign must be in front of (not next to) the center of the parking space, directly facing the parking space, must be of a minimum size, uniform colors and appearance, must be 84 inches off the ground, etc. If it fails to meet ANY of the criteria, take a photo of it (with your iPhone if it makes you feel better ;), take it into court and your ticket will be dismissed immediately upon showing the photo to the magistrate. And, NO, blue lines on the parking space ARE NOT adequate.

    Ditto in the state of Florida. The handicap parking sign MUST conform to F.S. 553.5041. If it's not duly marked or does not conform to 553.5041, it is not a legal handicap space and you are under no legal obligation whatsoever to observe it as such.

    IANAL. Hire an attorney if you want real legal advice to get you out of your parking ticket.

    Also, I can't verify, but I've been told that in Royal Oak, Michigan, if you've never received another parking violation, you can challenge it in court they will drop it, first time only though.

    1. Re:Well, tips for other cities: by fishbowl · · Score: 1

      On the other hand, getting your ass kicked by a guy in a wheelchair is humiliating everywhere. I hope it happens to you soon.

      --
      -fb Everything not expressly forbidden is now mandatory.
    2. Re:Well, tips for other cities: by ciderVisor · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Plus you get that warm glow which comes from knowing that you made one less space available to genuinely disabled people ! Epic win !

      --
      Squirrel!
    3. Re:Well, tips for other cities: by KillerBob · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Or you can not be an asshole, and not park in the handicapped spot in the first place. Those exist for a reason, and while there's usually more than needed, I've been in situations where I wasn't able to use the parking space I needed because some fuckwit in a BMW M3 parked in the handicapped spot.

      Fortunately, there was a cop shop next door, and I went there instead. The officer who wrote the ticket said "unfortunately, being mentally handicapped doesn't count unless you've got a permit". I get a warmfuzzy when I remember that it was a $300 fine.

      And for those wondering why I was using the space, it was shortly after the training accident that got me out of the military, when the doctors thought I wouldn't be able to walk again. Thankfully, I found a good surgeon and don't need the permit any more.

      --
      If you believe everything you read, you'd better not read. - Japanese proverb
    4. Re:Well, tips for other cities: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem is that I see more obese people park in those spots than the truly handicapped and they get to do it legally.

    5. Re:Well, tips for other cities: by mmkkbb · · Score: 1

      I have seen spots in Boston where the Handicapped Parking signs are 20 feet away from either end of the car and obscured by trees. After trying to navigate Boston roads and deal with Boston traffic while searching for a spot, it's really quite difficult to notice such a signage blunder.

      --
      -mkb
    6. Re:Well, tips for other cities: by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      I am in awe of your medical prowess, that allows you to diagnose the truly handicapped at a distance.

      Seriously, they're given to people who have a lot of difficulty with this walking thing that you and I are good at. This can be for a lot of reasons. I've been told that severe asthma is actually the most common. That often goes along with obesity, perhaps because it's difficult to do aerobic exercise while suffering from asthma. My mother's knee replacements didn't go as well as she was assured they would, so she has the handicapped tag. She usually doesn't use her wheelchair, but she is really not so good at walking.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    7. Re:Well, tips for other cities: by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 1

      FWIW, I live in Florida and most of the time, I see people parking in handicap spaces with legal handicap tags who are clearly not handicapped. As in, they could walk just fine, at a normal pace, and did not appear to be in pain or straining in any way.

      I would agree with you if the state properly enforced the law, but it clearly does not.

    8. Re:Well, tips for other cities: by clifyt · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I really can't stand assholes like this either...I was in a chair for about a year but could walk with crutches for short amounts of time (like a few hours a day max), and even then I didn't use the handicapped spots. I figured someone with more need probably could use them (even if that meant I needed to walk a block further).

      Sadly, it was generally overpriveledged yuppies or 18 year old punks that needed them more...

    9. Re:Well, tips for other cities: by keytoe · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Sadly, it was generally overpriveledged yuppies or 18 year old punks that needed them more...

      In my experience, those spots are almost universally occupied by an SUV with a legitimate tag hanging from the rear view mirror. Of course, then you see that 250 pound GOD BLESS AMERICAN waddling over to it. I guess when you're fat enough to develop late onset adult diabetes you get to walk less?

      That just seems backwards. They should give all those fat asses a special tag and designated spots on the far side of the parking lot.

    10. Re:Well, tips for other cities: by fugue · · Score: 1

      What delicious irony! Free parking is perhaps the primary cause of asthma and obesity.

      --
      "The biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place."
    11. Re:Well, tips for other cities: by maxume · · Score: 1

      I would agree with you if no one were handicapped. Unfortunately, if you park in a handicapped spot unnecessarily you might be blocking someone who isn't an asshole, so justifying it with the assholes doesn't really work.

      --
      Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
    12. Re:Well, tips for other cities: by base3 · · Score: 1

      Sad you got modded down for posting fact.

      --
      One CPU cycle wasted on digital restrictions management is ONE TOO MANY.
    13. Re:Well, tips for other cities: by Uberbah · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Or you can not be an asshole, and not park in the handicapped spot in the first place.

      Or you could not be an asshole by making hasty assumptions. A store could have been renovated and the entrance moved, yet the signs remain in the old locations. Or you could be shopping at three in the morning in a grocery store devoid of other customers and given an invalid ticket for xyz reason. At least in Michigan, you'd have plenty of ways to appeal the citation.

    14. Re:Well, tips for other cities: by liquiddark · · Score: 1

      Those pricks can WALK. Wait a minute...

  23. Bad Headline by damn_registrars · · Score: 1
    That headline really should read

    Use Your IPhone To Get Out Of A Parking Ticket

    After all, some people get ticketed for other things that they would like to be able to get out of. If an iPhone could get me out of a speeding ticket I would buy one today.

    --
    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
    1. Re:Bad Headline by PetiePooo · · Score: 1

      There's Trapster and NMobile to start...

    2. Re:Bad Headline by damien_kane · · Score: 1

      Or, we Canadians...

      (Not to be confused with wee Canadians, although they would work too)

    3. Re:Bad Headline by damn_registrars · · Score: 1

      There's Trapster and NMobile to start...

      Both could be useful if you live in a populated area and want to avoid speedtraps. However neither will help you after the cop pulls you over and starts writing a ticket. Hence neither actually help to get out of a ticket as the headline here claims for the parking ticket application.

      The closest "city" to where I live is barely hanging on to a 6-digit population, having lost over 1/3rd of its population since the 50s (no baby boom here). I would be quite surprised if there was a meaningful number of iPhone users here; add to that the cell phone laws in this state that allow cops to pull you over just for holding your phone while driving (even if you are doing nothing else wrong) and the likelihood of there being much adoption for those here is likely very low.

      --
      Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
  24. Sounds like the lottery to me by kheldan · · Score: 1

    Meaning, that the lottery relies on the poor math skills of most people. In this case, it's relying on the lack of common sense of most people, same way that sites like "freecreditreport.com" (which is just trying to sell you a service). If you can contest the ticket all by yourself and get it reduced, then do so. Wouldn't be surprised if they're actually selling people's personal information on the side (which would be how they REALLY make their money).

    --
    Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
  25. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You think there's only ONE troll on all of slashdot?

    That's cute. You're cute.

    There are websites devoted to trolling slashdot.

  26. Pay the darn tax and move on by Dare+nMc · · Score: 1

    can be accepted by the court as evidence supporting the alleged act

    as evidence, not as guilty because a ticket was written. In these cases the witness cannot be expected to remember a single detail other than "I don't write tickets unless they are guilty" same with officers on speeding, etc. The statements in court will always be more of a "this is what typically happens." Not a single detail not written down is really about your incident. Good luck getting them to admit it in court though.

    you're always free to take your own photographs

    Good luck with that, the chances of them being allowed are essentially zilch. All the fair trail of peers, etc, etc don't apply since they don't rise to depriving you of liberty stance, only depriving you of a few green backs (or a state issued permit, but driving is not yet considered a right that a fair trial is needed for.) My experience in traffic type courts: evidence, trial, etc is just a stagged act to make those involved feel good, with a lawyer you get the "friend of the court" rate. without you get the standard rate. All other evidence is a meaningless show.

  27. How is this specific to the iphone? by Soubrause · · Score: 1

    Go to the website, take pictures, how is this specific to the iphone? Any web enabled phone with a camera can do this. Then again if you over paid for your phone & service you're probably more likely to overpay your parking fine reductions.

  28. Wow by CranberryKing · · Score: 1

    Slavery & Convenience too!

  29. Tag: !iphone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seriously, this has absolutely nothing in particular to do with that device.

    What's next, Use Your IPhone [sic] To Make Phone Calls? Use Your IPhone [sic] As A Paperweight?

    1. Re:Tag: !iphone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow! They have phone service on iPhone's now too, huh? Sweet!

  30. Not useful where parking is privately owned by Powercntrl · · Score: 1

    While this is probably great if most of the parking is city owned and the meter readers are ticket happy (Miami, perhaps?), us suburban dwellers have an entirely worse problem if we accidentially park somewhere we're not supposed to - the vehicle will be towed. And if you think parking tickets are sneaky, you haven't experienced how frustrating it is to have your car towed because you didn't see that "Tow Away Zone" sign that was behind a shrub, underneath a street light with a burned out bulb.

    At that point, an iPhone becomes no more helpful than a free Nokia. You'll be calling a friend or a cab for a ride to the towing company to get your car back. Course, I am not dissing the iPhone here - I have one myself. But seriously, we get it, it has a decent web browser. It's not newsworthy every time someone discovers they can order pizza on their iPhone, buy stuff on eBay or find out while they're in the store that Amazon is still selling plasma TVs for cheaper than Circuit City's going-out-of-business prices.

    --

    ---
    DRM is like antifreeze, to the MPAA/RIAA it's sweet, to the consumers it's poison.
    1. Re:Not useful where parking is privately owned by Locke2005 · · Score: 1

      I wouldn't mind getting towed so much if the towing companies weren't so obviously in collusion with law enforcement, and thus are allowed to charge you $150 for moving your car a few blocks, plus allowed to charge you 2 days storage for having your car half an hour on the basis of "we brought it in before midnight, and you didn't show up to claim it until after midnight."

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
  31. D. Graves. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Apparently you nay sayers don't live in San Francisco, where parking tickets range between $45-$90 and are super easy to get (poor signage, weird rules at certain hours on certain streets, etc). The best part about these completely over-priced penalties is that they are damn near impossible to get out of, and the city can even repo your car and hold it hostage if you do not pay the fine. I would gladly pay $22-$45 to get out of the ticket, if that is what it came down to, though I doubt that the situation is as dire in other major cities.

  32. Here is how by geekoid · · Score: 1

    hey officer, I was speeding becasue I saw you drop this shinny iPhone...

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  33. air is taxed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You pay sales tax when you get a SCUBA tank filled. So air isn't exactly free when you live underwater.

  34. No. by dfm3 · · Score: 1

    Ever had to park in a big city, or on a college campus? While I believe that parking laws are important in general, I'm convinced that sometimes certain laws exist purely as a revenue source. Even the most cautious person is going to make a mistake at some point, no matter how carefully they try to understand and follow the rules.

  35. Its only saying they now have compatibility by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Re-read the story. The news is simply that its site is now compatible with Safari on the iphone. After that, its just marketing fluff. You also could go home and use IE or Mozilla (or probably Netscape for that matter, hehe) to do the same thing.

  36. Just say no -- for all our benefit by jamesborr · · Score: 4, Funny

    Not quite understanding the purpose behind this application. After all, the perpetrator who illegally parked their car is admitting quilt, just that they want to pay less to the government. This is what is wrong with this country in the first place. Folks are too selfish as it is, don't they realize the benefit that comes from transferring their money to the government? It is proven that that money spent by the government returns more value to society then any other type of potential spending. The sooner we all buck up and pay government it's fair share -- the sooner the economy will pick up, providing benefit to all folks in the most equitable manner possible.

    1. Re:Just say no -- for all our benefit by hansamurai · · Score: 1

      So sad you got marked informative. I chuckled.

    2. Re:Just say no -- for all our benefit by DanJ_UK · · Score: 1

      Thank god for meta-moderation.

      --
      - Dan
  37. Pathetic by fugue · · Score: 4, Interesting

    People who want to park their cars for free are pathetic whiners. Cars cost our society an enormous amount. Why shouldn't the individual using the car pay for some of the car's costs?

    That said, I did get in illegitimate parking ticket once (parked under a sign with restriction hours posted on it, outside the restriction hours). They dismissed it, eventually.

    But I suspect that the overwhelming majority of parking tickets are perfectly legitimate and completely deserved.

    --
    "The biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place."
    1. Re:Pathetic by pete6677 · · Score: 1

      That's really too bad. A self-righteous prick like yourself is really deserving of a bullshit ticket. I wish you had gotten it in Chicago where it would not have been dismissed no matter what.

    2. Re:Pathetic by mattwarden · · Score: 1

      > Cars cost our society an enormous amount.

      Would you like to back up that statement, skippy? I have some economist friends who would probably disagree with you.

    3. Re:Pathetic by evilviper · · Score: 1

      Cars cost our society an enormous amount.

      Every time major new roads are constructed, the economy grows dramatically.

      Why shouldn't the individual using the car pay for some of the car's costs?

      Individual car owners already pay high taxes at every turn. A parking meter is not a question of the money, it is more a question of the hassle, and a clear sign of the government trying to unfairly extract excess money unfairly.

      If parking meters read credit cards, and charged per-second, rather than requiring you to overpay and/or watch the clock and rush back out to feed it more quarters, the vast majority of complaints would disappear.

      And an for paying for a regular parking spot, it's the old issue of a hidden charge... The overwhelming majority of people are going to need a parking space, yet it's not included with the price of... whatever (eg. rent).

      --
      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
    4. Re:Pathetic by fugue · · Score: 1

      Every time major new roads are constructed, the economy grows dramatically.

      I said society, not the economy. Economists will tell you that they're the same, but then, engineers will tell you that society is measured by the complexity of its machines, aritsts will tell you that society is measured by its creative output, environmentalists will tell you it's measured by whether it will last more than 50 years... it's a standard outcome of myopic training.

      Who pays for roads? We do. What effect do they have? They increase the number of cars (it's a little more complex than that, but you can probably work out the details yourself).

      When we have more cars, what does that do to us? It means we need more parking: more urban sprawl, more expensive paving projects, etc. It means we have less incentive to create public transportation. It means we need more hospitals, since there will be more accidents, more toxins and carcinogens in the air, more people driving instead of walk/bus/bike, and thus more stress, more high blood pressure, more obesity and the dozens of serious diseases that go along with that... Cars (currently) depend on a very limited supply of "free energy" in the form of oil--what is the cost to society of transforming it when that runs out? What is the cost of securing oil resources that we don't have? What is the cost of extracting resources that we do have? Oil spills and ecosystem destruction are usually ignored, because if they weren't, popular positions like yours would not look quite so sensible. and then there's the little problem of global warming, which probably rather trumps the others.

      The true costs of a car include neutralising all of those things. Economists are usually quite happy to spatially or temporally displace these hidden costs, and who can blame them? That's their training.

      The overwhelming majority of people are going to need a parking space, yet it's not included with the price of... whatever (eg. rent).

      I take your point about convenience and roundoff error. However, this last point is moronic: you propose to make everyone pay for something that only lazy people "need". When I go shopping, I pay higher prices because the store owners have to pay for free parking that I don't use. I am literally subsidising parking spots by buying at these stores (providing "free" parking is part of most city building codes). Why should I do that? I've already told you how much cars hurt people (probably needlessly; you probably already knew it). Now why should I pay for it?

      The overwhelming majority of people choose to use cars because they're too stupid and greedy and lazy to find better alternatives. Why should I pay for that? Why should society bear the costs incurred by its stupidest members?

      And only because society subsidises this ridiculous lifestyle is it so popular. Look at places with good public transportation systems. When people don't need cars, what happens to health? To quality of life? To sprawl, pollution, asthma, heart disease, cancer, ...?

      --
      "The biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place."
    5. Re:Pathetic by fugue · · Score: 1

      See my reply to "evilviper" below if you actually care.

      --
      "The biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place."
    6. Re:Pathetic by fugue · · Score: 1

      Wrong word. I have reached some conclusions because I have a brain. They are not moralistic, but based on observation of what works. When there's overwhelming evidence directly tying your actions to great harm to society, I'm going to call you on it. Hiding behind words like "self-righteous" because you want to avoid looking at the ethical implications of your behaviour is pretty weak.

      Thanks for your kind wishes, but I still have enough faith in this government to believe that I could have a few people fired for wasting taxpayers' money trying to collect on a ticket given to someone for a crime he didn't commit. Still, a bloody waste of time.

      --
      "The biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place."
    7. Re:Pathetic by evilviper · · Score: 1

      something that only lazy people "need".

      There are plenty of very active and fit people who drive cars.

      Now why should I pay for it?

      Why should the vast majority of people subsidize the public transit system, sidewalks, etc. that you and a very, very small minority of people are using?

      --
      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
    8. Re:Pathetic by fugue · · Score: 1

      There are plenty of very active and fit people who drive cars.

      Yup, I drive one when I need to. There are places that public transportation can't take you (and that's a good thing, I think). There are things I can't carry on my bike. But when I can bike, it's a little better for everyone, and vastly better for me.

      Why should the vast majority of people subsidize the public transit system, sidewalks, etc. that you and a very, very small minority of people are using?

      Have you ever dealt with LA rush hour, when you can easily average under 5mph for miles? What do you think would alleviate that? Have you breathed the LA air? It makes for pretty sunsets, for sure! That's an extreme example, but for many other reasons it is somewhere between nice and crucial that we move away from cars, and that can't be done until we have an alternative system in place. It's just not practical to say "From tomorrow on, nobody can drive. The alternatives will appear in just a few years." We need to create an alternative and gradually increase incentives to use them, even as we continue to improve them. For example, what would life be like if the Bay Area and LA, or Boston and New York, had effective public transportation and a cheap walk-in 1-hour TGV between them?

      Cheap? Obviously, asymptotically we would like all transportation to cost the rider what it actually costs--no passing hidden costs on to storefronts or health care or environmental cleanup operations or future generations or Iraqis. I don't know what gasoline costs, but it sure as hell isn't $2/gallon. I'm guessing that ten times that is optimistic, but that's just a guess, and of course costs will on average go up until there's none left. I do know roughly what parking costs--about $20000/space to install. At least maintenance isn't so bad.

      Oops. The short answer is this: we have created a society in which people need cars. That has sweeping implications, and hurts us more than most who haven't seen the alternatives or done the maths can understand. Should public transportation be subsidised? Probably more so than private transportation is while we try to encourage people to build a better way of life, but ultimately, perhaps not. Of course, to every person in the world it is worth something to dissuade someone else from driving, so perhaps it is reasonable to pay people not to drive. I don't know.

      --
      "The biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place."
    9. Re:Pathetic by evilviper · · Score: 1

      Have you ever dealt with LA rush hour, when you can easily average under 5mph for miles? What do you think would alleviate that?

      Technology...

      Dynamic speed limits, coordinated traffic lights, some form of dynamic contraflow during rush hour, etc.

      Bicycles don't prevent traffic, they just make it a bit smaller. You could get the same effect on traffic by forcing everyone to drive motorcycles... Or just substantially smaller cars.

      Have you breathed the LA air? It makes for pretty sunsets, for sure!

      Cars don't necessarily have to pollute.

      That's an extreme example, but for many other reasons it is somewhere between nice and crucial that we move away from cars,

      It's also crucial that we KEEP cars by MANY metrics.

      I don't know what gasoline costs, but it sure as hell isn't $2/gallon.

      The concrete in that sidewalk you're walking on just happens to be one of the most prolific sources of man-made greenhouse gasses.

      The short answer is this: we have created a society in which people need cars.

      Cars have also had a HUGE positive impact on our economy, and standard of living. You're not going to have doctors getting an emergency call on their cell phone in the middle of the night, and go walk to the nearest bus stop, and stand around.

      Again, that's just an extreme example, but millions of others exist. The dynamic flow of labor has allowed far more economic development than has been possible in countries with heavy reliance on mass transit.

      And moving to some form of transit that is slightly more fuel efficient or compact, merely moves the problem out a bit further... You only THINK getting rid of cars will get rid of long commutes. In fact, in places like Japan, you can see RIDICULOUSLY long daily commutes via train. And that's in no small part caused by the greater consolidation and urban sprawl caused by the spoke and wheel system of mass transit.

      Don't get me wrong, I know full well the downsides of automobiles. However, I also know that there is no GOOD alternative known to mankind. Maybe one day we'll have our man-side "pods" that pilot themselves at amazing speeds, but they aren't practical yet.

      Mass transit has serious problems. For individual transit, you have the choice of cars, and things that are almost cars (eg. bicycles). Mandate the elimination of cars, but allow bicycles, and you'll quickly see very large "bicycles" with enclosed cabs, shocks, gasoline or electric power, and air conditioning...

      Meanwhile, if you just crank up fuel efficiency and pollution standards, the problem gradually solves itself...

      --
      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
    10. Re:Pathetic by fugue · · Score: 1

      I liked your reply. You raise a point that I hadn't considered: the hub problem. However, I'm not convinced that that's not just a problem of not enough public transportation infrastructure--I've seen plenty of places where there are hundreds of "hubs" (subway stops), and most anywhere is less than 10 minutes by foot (half a mile) from one of them. Since so many people are getting some exercise, the women (and probably the men) are all hot! It works pretty well!

      Is the USA really that much more prosperous than, say, the Netherlands? How about when you take into account our raw resources vs. theirs? Who is healthier? Who is happier?

      There are a couple of things going on here, though, and it would be good to spell them out. The first is that on the individual level cars cause certain social and health problems. The second is that there are simply too many people in the world, and until we solve that, even bicycles will, as you say, cause traffic jams. There is no solution, and there will never be a solution, that will eliminate traffic as we approach the limit of infinite population.

      So it seems to me that we need a two-pronged approach. First: take steps to ensure that the population does not continue to increase forever, even though it'll make plenty of economists have a cow. Second, in the short term (and this is time-critical at least for greenhouse gases and energy independence (national security)): reduce the environmental (pollution, traffic, health care, etc) impact of each person as much as practical, as quickly as possible. You and I seem to differ on what we think is practical, but we have lived in different places and seen differently effective systems, so that's just a detail.

      Here, as I see it, are the problems with cars:

      (1) They convert fossil fuels into toxins, carcinogens, greenhouse gases, and resource wars. This can, as you say, be avoided, if we increase our clean energy production in the USA by a factor of about, what, 100? That's not unrealistic, actually, but it could take a while.

      (2) Most people have no time for daily exercise, but they make time to commute. I and many others have found that the only practical way to exercise is while commuting (too much time spent on slashdot, apparently...). Therefore, human-powered commuting, while far from the only answer, is one very potent solution to the health care crisis. A society that makes that possible will be far healthier. Since societies tend to pay for the poor health of their citizens (even the rather backwards USA is finally moving in that direction, kicking and screaming the whole way), it is very profitable for a society to try to give its members opportunities to be healthy.

      (3) Cars take up lots of space. Storing cars is very expensive, because they're big and heavy. Terminal costs are a large part of transportation infrastructure costs. I don't understand how requiring people to pave yet more land for no good reason boosts the economy. It is not a real source of value to anyone--the only value is secondary, as people can get where they're going in order to produce actual value. You can read more about this one (and some of the others, actually) in "The High Cost Of Free Parking" by Donald Shoup.

      (4) Cars are dangerous. Hurtling at 200km/h within meters of people you don't know in multi-thousand-kilogram blocks of steel seems like a recipe for a horror movie, and indeed it is. Forget the indirect costs--the direct cost in lives due to this peculiar pastime is 40000 deaths/year in the USA. I don't know the injury rate, but it is probably at least 20 times that. What is the cost of that?

      (5) Many people cannot drive. Some are too old or too young, some are drunk or high, some have poor or no eyesight, some don't have the money, some may suffer from random blackouts, some are too stupid or careless, some grew up in New York... Call me socialist, but I like a society that provides a way for these people to maintain their independence.

      --
      "The biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place."
  38. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by Hijacked+Public · · Score: 1

    This must be the Open Source "we" I have heard about.

    --
    "Sacrifice for the good of The State" - The State
  39. Good clip by JCSoRocks · · Score: 3, Informative

    The clip is long, but worth it. Never seen the show before but I'm tempted to start watching. That was classic.

    --
    You are using English. Please learn the difference between loose and lose; they're, there, and their; your and you're.
  40. Hmmm... by KoshClassic · · Score: 1

    "a look-a-like parking ticket is displayed - for your specific city"

    Does this mean I can use the service to print up fake parking tickets and use them to annoy the hell out of my neighbors?

    --
    Understanding is a three edged sword. - Ambassador Kosh Naranek, Babylon 5
  41. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by wastedlife · · Score: 0

    Err, are you asking if all of these copypasta trolls come from the same person? Or are you asking if all Anonymous Coward posts come from the same person? I guess either one is pretty laughable. Welcome to the internet, my friend.

    --
    Said, "It's just like dice but it's got more sides And it tells me who lives and who dies"
  42. Can it print fake handicapped hangers? by wsanders · · Score: 1

    Who needs a web site? Weasel out of your tickets the old fashioned way, with Photoshop and a $30 printer!

    --
    Give a man a fish and you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish, and he'll say "WHERE'S MY FISH, YOU IDIOT?"
  43. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by _KiTA_ · · Score: 1

    Err, are you asking if all of these copypasta trolls come from the same person? Or are you asking if all Anonymous Coward posts come from the same person? I guess either one is pretty laughable. Welcome to the internet, my friend.

    Does it matter? How hard would it be to set up an auto-rejection filter for this?

    Where post text CONTAINS "Nigger" OR "GNAA" AND Anonymous Coward is TRUE then BAN, EXIT.

  44. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by neomunk · · Score: 4, Informative

    That's just not slashdot's style. AFAIK there has only been one post removed from slashdot... ever. The only reason THAT one went is because the Scientologists brought out the lawyer guns.

    I could be wrong, but that's what I remember of my slashdot history.

  45. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by Darkness404 · · Score: 1

    ...Because that is Censorship, something that /. is opposed to. Sure, it might be annoying having to read all these posts, but they get modded troll, offtopic or flamebait quickly enough.

    --
    Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
  46. You're missing the point by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or you can not be an asshole, and not park in the handicapped spot in the first place.

    Assuming it's possible to tell which spaces are handicapped spaces. Blue lines on the pavement aren't even visible for half the year.

  47. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by thebigbadme · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I don't like any form of hate speech... but I like censorship even less

    take my view to be whatever you will

    I do wonder if you would vote for a law that would punish a person for using said word on the street... I mean people by far and large are anonymous in large public places. just wondering, that's all.

    then again, why stop at just that one word?
    you can guess where this is going, and so I will stop here.

    --
    "It's the Law of the Universe, and I'm the sheriff." Slash-cott 2/10-2/17
  48. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    We also would have accepted: Jesse Jackson

  49. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by clownface · · Score: 1

    /. just hit a new low. Goodbye.

  50. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by Architect_sasyr · · Score: 1

    Remember bitchslap.pl ?

    Taco doesn't have to ban/delete a post for it to be hardly ever seen.

    --
    Me failed English...
    FreeBSD over Linux. If my comments seem odd, this may explain...
  51. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nannerpuss!

  52. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by larry+bagina · · Score: 2, Informative
    • Microsoft (at least) once DMCAd them. The story doesn't make it clear, but I'm pretty sure some comments were deleted.
    • When the onmouseover hack was discovered, they deleted some posts (and modded some down to -5)
    • They used to purge all score 0 and -1 comments when archiving.
    --
    Do you even lift?

    These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

  53. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I believe there was another one, containing Microsoft source code.

  54. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by WNight · · Score: 1

    Then they'd just misspell words like spammers do, to avoid the filter. And do more annoying things, like sticking that in the middle of a real post they cut & pasted from some other thread.

    No filter can get around this sort of thing because the trolls would just keep trying until they figured out what it didn't like. It's like watermarks - if there's a way to check for them there's a way to check if you've properly removed them.

  55. Try to live in Antwerpen City with a car! by freaker_TuC · · Score: 1

    For about 250 Euro you can rent yourself a spot per month; which is half of a house-rent.

    Instead of creating more possibilities for the people living in town, they scrap parking spots and write up more!
    Without any consideration of living in that area while dropping off groceries with the car...

    The only hours you might be able to find a parking spot without driving around for 20 minutes is not on fridays & saturdays and at night (around 1:30-5:00).

    As cherry on top, some cops are REALLY blind when they NEED to see the Antwerp citizen parking card; creating unwanted fines and court cases by the dozens. I'm glad they've been commercializing Antwerpen-Parking because these people seem to be atleast looking to the presence of that card... mostly ... that is ;)

    --
    --- I am known for the ones who want to find me on the net. Is that a privacy risk or a privilege? One might wonder..
  56. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    > by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 27, @08:16PM (#27015381)

    How.. fitting :)

  57. I started at my university in Janurary by Uberbah · · Score: 1

    I didn't have a parking pass yet, so I parked along a street where at least a dozen other cars were parked. Came out to find a ticket for having my car in a no parking zone. There were no signs to that effect, but the curb was painted yellow. However, this was in January, and the curb was completely covered with snow. Pretty lame to expect people to follow the rules when there's no practical way for them to know what the rules are.

  58. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hmmm, perhaps a few more than one.

  59. How on earth did this get accepted for front page? by mdwh2 · · Score: 1

    I entirely agree. I'm scratching my head wondering what the story is here - they have a website, which is compatible with the Iphone's web browser (*gasp* a website compatible with a web browser? What a stunning achievement!) and therefore this is newsworthy, I guess because they're riding of the hype that "doing X on the Iphone" is automatically seen as newsworthy.

    There's no story here. The only link is to the website itself - pure spam. The website itself just reads like a spam email. And it's doubly spam, because it's yet more free advertising for the Iphone, for a feature that phones have had for years. This isn't about some new Iphone only application, it's about navigating to the fucking website.

    Normally I'd check to see if my years old phone can also reach the website, and ask if there's going to be a "Use Your Motorola V980 To Get Out of a Ticket", but in this case, I think it's best we see as little spam from this company as possible.

    Next time I'm submitting a story to Slashdot, I know how to make sure it gets accepted - just point out how your can use your IpHoNe to read the link that I'm submitting, and all the Iphone fans will, it seems, mod it up.

  60. Pikepole by Pikepole · · Score: 1

    Doesn't anyone take responsibility for their own actions any more? That is what is corrupting the USA. If you are dumb enough to get a parking ticket, pay it and MOVE ON! You don't have to like, but it is nobody's fault but your own... Just my opinion!

  61. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by neomunk · · Score: 1

    That does seem to be the case, but it also seems that there have been lawyers involved every time too.

    I still stand by the spirit of my post, that it's just not slashdot's style to remove posts, even offensive ones.

  62. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You realize you're heavily into Ninnle Linux territory...

  63. Re:Welcome to Niggerbuntu by Meski · · Score: 1

    I believe there was another one, containing Microsoft source code.

    Posting viruses is fair grounds for deleting. :)

  64. Or, just do your civic duty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Pay the goddamned ticket because you committed a civil offense. Or do you not believe that someone should face consequences when they break the law?

    Did you just realize you're not a good person? Does it hurt? It will stop.

  65. The Wire by YourExperiment · · Score: 1

    As someone who rarely watches cop shows, and watches little TV in general, I can totally recommend The Wire. It's finished now, but there's sixty episodes across five seasons. I'm about half way through, and it's compulsive viewing - grittier than the average police drama, with far more believable characters.