bnorton

If it makes you feel any better, I feel the same way about DC Police...

ProblemWithCaring

vastrightwing

Remember that time the parking police towed the car with the dead body in it? Not in D.C., but hey, meter maids is meter maids.

Parking tickets, just like red light cameras, have less to do with public order and safety, and more to do with revenue-making.

BrockBrockman

MonsieurBon

Viva La Volvo

We don't have the same vehicle registration in Texas. We have two stickers on the windshield, one is for the safety inspection, the other is registration. The registration comes with a receipt, but it is only required to be kept with commercial vehicles.

When I have had cars financed I don't remember ever getting even a copy of the title (with a lean indicated). I of course got a title when the loan was paid off.

AustinTXProgrammer

district2005

Sean Robertson

Sean Robertson

Case in point: DC wanted a baseball team. So they buy a baseball team...without a stadium. Then they wanted a stadium. So they built a stadium...in a very high crime area. DC then didn't realize that people won't know how to get there because there is a Metro stop named "Stadium Armory" which has nothing to do with a stadium. Then DC realized that they didn't have enough parking. So they ask people around the area to host parking.

Unbelievable....

First of all, RFK (a stadium)is located at the Stadium Armory stop. Second, free parking and shuttle service is available to people who park at RFK to go to the Nationals games. Third, WTF are you talking about "asking people to host parking?" That makes no sense, and is not true.

passwordhuh

jeff303

Darkwish

Buran

Balisong

That doesn't make the police right in this case, this is a case of ridiculousness. But at the same time, the attitude people have towards anybody who might write a parking ticket is just ridiculous. Maybe people should comment on this specific incident, or a specific incident that happened to them instead of calling anybody involved in parking enforcement "parasites."

Nicest people I know right now are in parking enforcement.

Meiran

Buran

Veeber

backbroken

uberbucket

Additional cops showed up and they questioned the woman in the SUV first. After waiting almost half an hour, they asked my mother for her story. Immediately upon finishing, the cop informs her that their stories don't match up. They decide they're going to find it was a both-at-fault accident. A few days later, my mother receives 2 envelopes in the mail. One's from the police, saying they've entered the accident as entirely my mom's fault. The other's from the SUV woman's insurance company saying my mother is responsible for repairs to the SUV and they'll place a lien on her new car if she doesn't pay.

My mother tried getting an attorney, but they all told her that with the police on the SUV woman's side, there's nothing she can do. Her insurance ended up paying for the damage to the SUV, but her premiums went up as a result. Even worse, she contacted a friend of hers who works in the police department, and he couldn't get any information about the accident, saying it was very suspicious. Apparently, the SUV woman was well-connected and pulled some strings to get the whole thing turned in her favor.

WraithSama

polyeaster

I moved the vehicle (pushed it) onto a sidestreet into a different parking spot, half a block away. I removed the ticket, but did not clean the writing on the windsheild. Although legally parked in a new spot with no violation, the vehicle was towed and impounded.

Although I could contest everything with a court date, I would have to pay for the tow and impound fees, and hope that I would get my money back during the court hearing, which would be months away.

The cost of all this exceeded the value of the vehicle, so I did not pay to get it out of impound.

So with no trial or judgement issued, the city crushed my car.

SkokieGuy

And don't forget the two ladies in the DC Tax office who wrote $50 million in checks to themselves from 2000-07 before they finally got caught... not by a co-worker but a bank teller.

Marion Berry hired most of the people - enough said.

halftank

That-Dude

IrisMR

I know, DC officials are dumb, right? How could they name a station like that and confuse tourists? Maybe it's called "Stadium/Armory" station because it's a block away from both a 55,000 seat stadium (RFK) and the DC Armory, which sits between the station and the stadium.

Seriously, if you can't find your way to Nationals Park, you need more help than the DC govt can provide.

jyindc

bovinekid

whanghpo

The cops (about 20 of them showed up) accused me of being drunk, (hadn't had a drink in a week) and damaging the car myself then making up the story for insurance purposes. I think they were pretty close to throwing me in jail even though I was completely polite and respectful, if a little stunned and exasperated. Best part of the story is that the cop who played "good cop" was named Moe Howard. Moe told me he'd be willing to let me go home and drop the whole thing. (!!!!)

Now you know why I hate DC cops.

backbroken

I keep my registration in my car. The car that would theoretically be impounded.

SuperJdynamite

stanfrombrooklyn

tedyc03

cyberkoko

I had to drive a nice distance to take her to the car. She absolutely HAD to get in the car as her meds were in the car and she could not go without them. It kept getting better and better. You see it was her mother's car and was registered in her mom's name. (years ago) When she was in college there was no need for her to have her own car and since school was out for the summer she had borrowed her mom's car. What a fun thing.

I can say for a fact there is a reason they are behind the glass. After 45 minutes in summer heat standing outside the
trailor I was ready to bash the guy with a blunt instrument. He kept repeating over and over that we needed a bill of sale or a registration for her mom's car. I finally lost it and called the cops. It took 2 Richmond cops to get them to release the car. Even better was the officers asking how it was towed from an authorized spot. The lot guys kept repeating that they were called for a violation but there was no ticket anywhere or any documentation. They wanted 75$ period and would not let her
get her meds out of the car.

In the end we paid 0$ and had a police escort to her car and out of the lot. I HATE the parking gestapo with a passion. They cruise the areas and do nothing to help the situation in Richmond. I wouldnt go there unless forced.

vdragonmpc

I mean, my sidearm always follows instructions and is way smarter then most cops.

nightmage61

So, basically, the DC cops deal with any case that doesn't affect the President, any legislators, any federal judges, any military installations or personnel, any national monuments or government properties. Oh yeah, and they don't deal with any escaped or transferring prisoners. Oh, and they would be trumped on any Federal crimes (i.e., anything that crosses District lines at any point in the commission of the crime).

Basically, I think this leaves traffic control (except when dealing with any Gov't VIPs or foreign dignitaries) and theft committed on private properties. Oh, and any murders happening in the SE corner, I suppose. (They've certainly cultivated a sterling reputation on that one.)

So... what other result might you expect but for this assembly to be nothing more than a group of keystone cops?

ColdNorth

Pro-Pain

Rather, tho, it seems more important that impound lots should run plates and figure out whether or not a car is stolen.

Funny story about DC from the other side: my car got towed from Constitution Ave (aka the Mall) in a dumb tourist move when I forgot to read the parking sign and see that lanes switched to no parking in rush hour. All I got was $100 ticket, and they towed my car onto the mall.

A month later, the ticket still wasn't in the system. Last time I checked to try and pay my ticket online, the computer politely informed me that my ticket had been voided because the issuing officer was tardy in turning it in. If it's that simple to void a ticket on a technicality, what is the problem here?

Leah

fostina1

quail

ViperBorg

/Wiggum

BoC

Turns out not only was it NOT stolen, it had been towed and impounded by the VERY same police I filed a stolen car report with 3 hours later with the impound lot being 3 blocks from my house. And they where going to try to extort the 1000 dollars impound fee till I brought the Passaic County prosecutor in.

So they likely dont run tags even though they are supposed to.

Falconfire

psyop63b

Typical right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing.

Barbarisater

forgottenpassword

Case in point: DC wanted a baseball team. So they buy a baseball team...without a stadium. Then they wanted a stadium. So they built a stadium...in a very high crime area. DC then didn't realize that people won't know how to get there because there is a Metro stop named "Stadium Armory" which has nothing to do with a stadium. Then DC realized that they didn't have enough parking. So they ask people around the area to host parking.

Unbelievable....

mike

mbouchard

KD17

Shevek

Neecy

I don't doubt that a failure of the system would allow the thief to claim the car - but why would he risk it?

flidget

Buran

ceejeemcbeegee

Actually, I was just thinking about them going there and picking up the car using someone else's identity.

TechnoDestructo

Neecy

An identity thief might.

TechnoDestructo

Steve Trachsel, Ace

LionelEHutz

PHX602

I would say they take incompetence to an entirely new level, but I think the DC public schools are still holding onto that award.

yevarechecha

dorksandlosers

Neecy

JollyJumjuck

chartrule

Also, nice commenter pic.

Alex Chasick

"Present your payment receipt, vehicle registration, and valid driver's license at the DPW Blue Plains Vehicle Impoundment Lot (5001 Shepard Parkway, SW). If you are not the registered owner, you must have a notarized statement from the owner authorizing you to pick up the vehicle."

The towed vehicle fee is $100.

[dmv.dc.gov]

flidget

AstroPig7

After all, if you stole a car and parked it, then returned to find it gone, would you bother trying to find it, passing yourself off as the owner, and paying to get it back?

flidget

When did Comcast start running Police precincts anyway?

dragonfire81

How irresponsible of the police department to release it to the thief. I wonder what the thief used as identification to claim the car... Anyone know how that process works?

Umisaurus