Alex Bentley Staff

Geez, Scott, I gave you the link -- least you could've done is clicked a couple of times and found this:

1. No online payments will be accepted for:

   • Defensive Driving

   • Deferred Adjudication

   • Cash Bonds

   • Juvenile Cases

   • Payment Plans

   • Payments for Individuals in Custody

     These cases must be handled in person at the court.

1 year, 8 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Mike Orren Staff

"Pretty convenient that you can't do anything which actually benefits you from the online system."

Yup-- The system is definitely engineered to maximize revenue. I've had a rant on this rattling around for a bit and here seems as good a place as any.

Here's the details of my recent case:

• Car broke down near the West End. Rather than leave it in the street, even though it was a small side street, I pushed it off into a loading zone and called AAA.

• Since AAA said it would take 45 mins for a truck to arrive and I was down there for a meeting, I put a sign on the window saying "Car stalled. Tow truck on the way." Included the time and went to my meeting.

• Came out to find a parking ticket on top of my sign. Two sanitation workers came over and told me that they told the ticketer not to do it and pointed out my sign. They gave me their cell phone numbers and the number for parking adjudication.

• I was told I had to go downtown for adjudication during business hours. I went on TWO different occasions during those hours and was sent away because they were shorthanded for the holidays.

• On my third visit, I stayed the hour until someone could hear my case. They told me I had to produce proof from AAA that I had been towed for repairs in order for them to let me off. I offered on the spot to call my mechanic and the sanitation workers and got an angry "It's not my job to sit here while you build your case."

• I'm a relatively busy guy, and missed the deadline to get my proof. At this point I'd sunk enough time into this that it cost more than the $30 ticket. So, on receiving a notice, I went online to pay it.

• Online, it said I owed $20 more than the notice did -- and the dates were in synch. No way to ask, alter or change.

• So the city managed to get $50 out of me plus about 4 hours of wasted time because I was too courteous to leave my car sitting in the middle of the street while I waited for a tow truck.

1 year, 8 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )