All you can do is laugh. I received a parking ticket, in front of my house of all places, due to an expired zone parking permit. Yes, my car was the guilty subject. I admit I wasn’t aware those little green placards you stick to the back window expire. Then again I haven’t lived in Everett for too long. (Sounds like an excuse, eh?) Anyway, I made the request to see the judge and brought evidence of my residency, registration and the updated placard. Feeling pretty confident, being the law-abiding tax-paying citizen of Everett that I am, I told the judge my story. I even thanked him for the increased patrolling of my neighborhood, which had been mostly ignored in the past.
Honestly, many of you would’ve been impressed by my statement. It was airtight! The judge pondered my presentation and reduced my fine in half.
Half! Wow, what a colossal waste of time. I even put on a collared shirt, khaki pants and shaved. Yeah, I thought he’d throw the ticket out but in a friendly way, I might add, he thought I should still pay half the fine. Oh, well.
Anyway, fellow parking ticket receivers, let my experience be a lesson to you. Don’t bother to meet with the judge. Just pay the fine because the time spent isn’t worth the money or ironing which I’m proud to say I did not do. Not to mention, I live 5 minutes from the municipal court and spent all of 10 minutes inside the building. No way is your defense better than mine.
Just pay. Consider my letter a public service.
Tim Harrington
Everett
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