The Who Gets the Boot Game
Let's play it!
The city is talking about putting a wheel lock on parkers who ignore parking tickets.
Step right up and try your luck. Guess who gets the boot first.
I'm guessing it won't be one of the major ticket offenders. It will probably be a lesser known repetitive offender. Some small potato just to make an example of.
But let's guess anyway.
The person who guesses right gets a guest shot on the ticket validation committee or a voucher for a free tow.
The city is talking about putting a wheel lock on parkers who ignore parking tickets.
Step right up and try your luck. Guess who gets the boot first.
I'm guessing it won't be one of the major ticket offenders. It will probably be a lesser known repetitive offender. Some small potato just to make an example of.
But let's guess anyway.
The person who guesses right gets a guest shot on the ticket validation committee or a voucher for a free tow.
posted by The Observer at 6/13/2007 01:22:00 PM
22 Comments:
Renee Shiflett #1
John Patterson #2
Sherri Palm #3
The city is actually being pretty easy going by letting you get 6 outstanding before they boot you. This is revenue to the city which should be able to be collected, so I say hooray to our elected officials for collecting on bad debts from constant offenders. The city can use this money for something useful.
So - does this mean that you have to acquire six more tickets before you get the boot or will the existing tickets held by these folks count toward the six?
Seems that the above mentioned folks already have 6 outstanding, so they better watch out. They don't need more, so they better start to pay up.
The method proposed on: http://www.historicmonroe.org/Patking-fine-collection/parking-fine-impoundment-lot.htm looks like a quick sure solution.
Find a way to give all of the employees who have handicapped placards a ride so they dont park on the streets ALL DAY LONG. Their employers should be shot for allowing them to park all day. Several are employed by Benefit Source. I've seen one rather large gentleman who drives a blue pickup park all day long in front of MB&T. He has a disabled permit, but finds his way out to the park bench to smoke all day long. Perhaps a diet and quit smoking would be in his best interest. Then there's the lady who has asthma, and gets to park at the door all day long. These are the people who should be booted, OUT OF MONROE. Neither they nor their employers have any consideration for any other businesses who may rely on the parking. Why can't they be ticketed?
Last anonymous -
They can't be ticketed because the City of Monroe already ticketed a driver with a Handicapped permit and lost in court. State Law permits handicapped permits to park without time limit restrictions. If you would like contact Randy Richardville or Kate Ebli and work to get that changed.
Also, Monroe, like other places must comply with the ADA so even if you eliminated them from parking there would still need to be handicap spaces.
Post like yours scare me when they say "they are the ones that need to be booted OUT OF MONROE". Why, because they are working in our City and are unsightly because they are fat and not up to your standards? Funny - if you are a medical doctor I suggest you protest there being given a handicap permit. If you are not I suggest you start to consider this; they work in downtown Monroe and spend money in downtown Monroe - saying that for them is more than you can say for most of our citizens. So, why don't you like them? Do you have unresolved fat issues or something?
Has nothing to do with their size or disability. It has to do with the fact that they are taking clients parking spaces all day long. Their employers are to blame. They should be either picked up in a parking lot and driven in, or they should have another able bodied employee park their car for them. No one should have a personal parking space.
The ability to ticket the person under state statute is a matter for the county prosecuting attorney. He has the ability, but it would be a political nightmare. Also, the offenders are not taking up the disabled spaces only, but they are taking all but that spot. The city actually has more than the required amount of disabled spaces, as a municipality is not required to provide one spot per block, or two blocks, or whatever.
Oh, and by the way, I am anorexic, suffer form bolemia, and am a manic depressive. I drink too much and eat all of the wrong foods. I believe that the two staples to survive are McDonalds and Budweiser. All these said, I still walk to work. Laziness is not being disabled, but being disabled sure promotes laziness. There absolutely are those who are deserving of disabled permits, but the system has made it too easy to obtain one because of a sore toe or pregnancy. Regardless, the blame lies with the employer who fails to keep his or her employees off of the street. Perhaps it is the employer who should be run out of town.
If it had nothing to do with there size or physical characteristics that you would not consider disabled you would not have brought it up. If these employees suffered from CP and were confined to a mechanical wheelchair you would not be offended.
Please do not use the argument of "they are taking customer parking". You specifically mentioned two spaces - two - in your first post. Now abusers are taking up "all but" the handicapped spots. I call B.S. - I live downtown and have counted less than twenty handicapped parking permits within the City during work days. Hmmm - there are more than 600 parking spots. But, back to your original post, yeah, that's whats creating the parking problem. Two spaces.
There parking is not a matter for the county prosecutor it is a matter of State Law which trumps City of Monroe Ordinances. I would advise you again that the City of Monroe was SUED (City of Monroe v. Jones) because they illegally ticketed a handicapped vehicle. This is not open to your, mine or the Bill Nichols interpretation - Vehicles with a handicap parking permit can park in any public parking spot and are not subject to parking fines or fees. Sorry.
You have issues - there employer is to blame. Yeah, your right - there employer should be demonized for hiring someone with a handicap. Nice. Thank you for identifying your sensitivity level. The employer should keep them off the street? OK, I don't know how to answer this but as you "walk to work" maybe you know who to "keep them off the street". The employer should "pick them up and drive them in". WOW - sorry - eugenics died back in the 1940's - targeting one group - how pathetic are you? The employer should be "run out of town". Yeah, we have a whole plethora of employers beating down our doors to move in. (Hey, hows that Prebesto Homes thing working out? (they can say what they like, why is nobody at the building?) Opps - how's that ACH thing holding up? Opps (contracts up at the end of this year - can you say gone). I get the concept - run an employer our because they let there handicapped employees inconvenience you.
"Laziness is not being disabled, but being disabled sure promotes laziness". No, wait Batman - the TWO individuals you mentioned are employed! Guess they are not that lazy after all are they.
"There absolutely are those who are deserving of disabled permits, but the system has made it too easy to obtain one because of a sore toe or pregnancy". Run for office or work with a current legislator to work and change this if you like. But, as you work downtown and last I checked there are no doctors offices you are not qualified to make that assessment.
Sorry for sounding so hostile -
Where did I say two spaces? It is every space that is being misused at one time or another.
The size meant that some would not need disabled permits if they quit smoking, and walked a little more. As I said, there are those who are deserving, but there are also some who abuse the ease of securing a permit.
Maybe more businesses would come into downtown if the parking were not an issue. If there were client parking on the streets, instead of being filled up by employees, disabled or not, downtown would be more prosperous. The problem with the disabled is that they remain on the streets all day. Call that insensitive or not, it is the truth, and it is unfair to all of the businesses. If I were the owner of one of these businesses and I hired a disabled person, I would make provisions so that they were not on the street taking up my customer's parking. That only makes common sense, even though you can not see that. 600 spots to be able to put an employees car? So put it in one of those spaces and free up on street parking for customers.
Actually, these cars CAN be ticketed under state statute. The Jones suit was only for the city ordinance. Talk about someone only looking out for themselves. This lady walked around in high heels, but then jumped in her wheelchair on both bad days, or when the Monroe Evening News photographer was near.
Just because they work does not mean that they are not lazy. They work to survive. They could also park in a lot and walk a block. Maybe lazy was bad, how about selfish? Imagine if everyone who could get a disabled permit got one and parked all day on the street. How would downtown be then? I've seen attorneys park on the street with a disabled permit, and then walk from Front St. over to the courthouse. Explain that.
I am not qualified to make the decision as to whether or not a person deserves a disabled permit, but I do see the misuse. I also have seen how easy it is to get one, either temporary or long term. Doctors hand them out like popcorn, so they don't lose a patient.
City Hall is proof that lazy people can hold down a job for years, and be rewarded for it with a great pension.
If you are related to the Ex-Mayor you may even get an extra early Pension you didn't entirely earn.
Quit ripping on Handicap people and take a swipe at your favorite useless city employee or Linda Compora, whichever you prefer.
Leave the special people who need a handicap permit and the lazy bums who lie to get one alone. Be thankful you are not spaz, gimp, or a tard. Leave these people alone, for the love of God!
Article published Thursday, November 20, 2003
Court sides with woman in dispute over tickets
Monroe ordinance is trumped by state law
By ERICA BLAKE
BLADE STAFF WRITER
For nearly a year, Helen Jones left her job at the Salvation Army building in downtown Monroe every evening to find a collection of parking tickets on her vehicle out front.
She wasn’t surprised when she saw the slips of paper because she was aware of the one-hour time limit the city enforced on parked cars downtown. But since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 28, Mrs. Jones, who uses a wheelchair, said her ability to get around is not only restricted, but very fatiguing.
And so she parked in front of her office building and accumulated nearly $7,000 in parking tickets.
A three-year court battle over whether Mrs. Jones was legally allowed to park downtown despite the city’s parking ordinance came to a close Tuesday when the Michigan Court of Appeals reversed a Monroe County Circuit Court decision.
The decision said Mrs. Jones isn’t liable for the 203 parking tickets she received because the Monroe parking ordinance does not supercede the Michigan law that gives liability exemption to people with disabilities.
"We argued this case Thursday and this opinion was issued Tuesday morning," said Mrs. Jones’ attorney, David Grenn. "In two working days, they sent a message to the people of the state of Michigan."
Mrs. Jones, 41, of Toledo, has worked for the Salvation Army Harbor Light for the past six years. There she works as an outreach coordinator for the organization’s substance abuse program for people who are deaf and hard of hearing. She said the nearest employee parking is several blocks away and down a steep hill.
She said she’d been parking in front of the building at Monroe and Front streets for a couple of years before she began getting tickets regularly. She said the tickets came in response to complaints from business owners who cited the city’s one-hour parking limit.
The spaces, devised to lure customers downtown, don’t have parking meters that can be fed money, but do have signs indicating time restrictions, she added.
"I continued to park because that was the only option I have," she said. "They continued to give me tickets and tickets and tickets, and I continued to fight and fight and fight."
The parking regulation was enacted in the mid 1990s to make the downtown more accessible to customers, said Janet Berns, president of the Downtown Monroe Business Network. The ordinance set an hour limit for all spaces with an option for customers to have their tickets validated. Business owners and employees, on the other hand, have to pay if they receive a ticket.
She said the program barred business owners and their employees from taking prime downtown parking spaces.
Ms. Berns, owner of The Book Nook, said the business community has no problem with Mrs. Jones, but it is concerned that the ruling will make a bad situation worse.
"This particular woman, I know, is someone who deservedly needs a handicapped sticker. There are other people who don’t," she said. "It could set a precedent."
The unanimous appellate court decision reiterated what Mr. Grenn had been arguing for months, he said. The city may ticket someone displaying a legal handicap designation for only two reasons: if they are blocking a fire lane or stopped in rush-hour traffic. Mrs. Jones, who had the handicap license plate, did not violate those exceptions.
The city of Monroe can appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court. City officials referred questions to their attorney, who could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The city faces another case filed in 2002 by the Monroe Center for Independent Living that claims the city does not meet federal and state standards for curb cuts, ramps and other handicapped amenities set under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Attorney Mark Finnegan, who is representing the center, said the two sides are close to settling.
The point was that you cited two specific examples and I wanted to ensure you understood the ignorance of such examples. Continue to add to the list of frivalent examples; an attorney who walks and I will continue to tell you (as you have agreed) that neither you nor I are medical doctor therefore are not qualified to make this assessment. So, I don't have to explain someone misusing the system. It happens get over it.
I love how your argument has grown to be on street parking, "filled by employees disabled or not". Please. You took a swipe at a couple of folks you see as "cripples" because you thought it was funny. Whatever, it says more about you than them, even if they are using the system.
Did you ever consider that your "making provisions" argument is not too much unlike the "separate but equal" argument? Uh, no, you didnt.
If you have seen or know of a doctor that "hands them out like popcorn" please report that. This maybe insurance fraud? Help us all and report it - please! Otherwise, this sounds like an anecdotal story of, "anybody can do it".
I am not sure what your trying to get at with the idea that these vehicles CAN be ticketed or that this case involved City of Monroe Ordinances. I thought I said that in my first post. But, I'll try again - notice that the Michigan State Supreme Court decided this case. Notice that in none of the handicapped parking spaces in the City of Monroe there are no "time limited" signs or meters. Notice to that since this case has ended neither Ms. Jones nor any other person with a handicap permit has been ticketed. Could this mean something? (On a side note; if Ms. Jones did or did not walk around in high heels means nothing - she is diagnosed with MS! Maybe you could learn that there are good days and bad days with MS. Maybe you could learn that even if she was taking advantage of the law - YOU are not the arbitrator of that and the courts disagreed).
Again, I call B.S. on your argument that parking is preventing business downtown. Parking is a nightmare in Saline, Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Sylvania and other locals but, it does not seem to deter business. I was downtown last night - didn't seem to deter business at the Monroe Street Grill. Maybe those "capable" people are too lazy to walk from St. Mary's?
Consider this, you call them lazy then change it to selfish. Alright, except if these folks are working they are not lazy. They could be sitting at home and applying for disability - now THAT would be selfish! But, they make the choice to work. They find an employer who is willing to accommodate there disability and they go into the work force. Still - because they need some special accommodations, like a parking space, you view that as selfish! Yeah, OK, whatever - since you work downtown please tell me your employer or if you are a business owner let me know which one - I want to know if your business "selfishly" caters to these blights on our community..
I know this sucks, first we had women's rights, then civil rights, now gay rights and the rights of the handicapped. Don't waste time, call in the cavalry to disrupt this perception of rights gone mad - this is Custer's home town? How the hell would old "last in his class" feel if he knew the weakest amongst us were taking advantage of good parking spot?
Whatever - PS - this post was written in fun with a sense of humor. Although the points are valid and will be defended to the death (kinda like at Little Big Horn), take it with a grain of humor - or not. (yes, lazy people work at City Hall and every other organization on this earth except Al Qaida).
Alacajun,
Somehow I believe that lazy people work for Al Qaida, also. Probably a few of them also have handicapped stickers.
The only thing that motivates them is the promise of all those virgins and wild sex acts. Personally I don't have the stamina mentally to handle that many young, immature females but that is just me.
I heard the Sears Tower was supposed to be hit but the guy couldn't get out of bed on time. Probably due to dreaming all night about the orgy that was sure to come the next day.
I think all posts should be serious with a hint of humor. Why get bent out of shape over Monroe?
Nobody told me the virgins would be immature - I want to talk to my recruiter.
I'm just going off my experience with Virgins.
Most of them around Monroe are kind of young, and females that age seem to be just about out of their head. Must be a hormone thing, and god knows that doesn't get better.
Maybe good Middle Eastern girls wouldn't be this way.
I'd take it easy on your recruiter.
Whats your target? Water Plant with poisin? You learning how to fly out at Custer Airport?
Sadly I was scheduled to start training in aircraft pilot at the new expanded airfield in Erie. Now that those crazy fundamentalist with ENRAGED are protesting I may have a change of orders.
Its nice to know that they are consistently protesting anything that happens in their neighborhood. You can't accuse them of being one issue lunatics. I am still disappointed we didn't get the rail center. If we don't make money manufacturing, at least we would have had some jobs moving junk made in China around.
Hopefully a Monroe business makes some money off it by making signs.
They can ask Compora how to do it. She had really nice skull and crossbone signs with NO IKO and NO CAPPUCILLI signs.
What possible terrorism could happen off a grass strip?
Smith! Here you are calling others lunatics when you can't get over your lunatic rants about Compora.
Man, get over it, get a life or get some help.
Guess again!
This is a fun, fun game!
How many chances would you like?
I guess I'll tell you who I'm not, but I won't tell you who I am. Why should I reveal my identity to you Rick or Linda or Lamptons, when you are a chickenshit and afraid to give your identity?
I have a life. I was rather enjoying blogging with ALACAJUN. Please crawl back under your rock. We already know you are hypersensitive about yourself or your friend Linda. Let it go!
Still Not SMITH
You need help Smith. You're still bitching about Compora yard signs how long ago?
You must be eaten up with vile. You obviously have no life other than this blog or the MEN one.
Buddy, you're one pitiful soul.
Oh - hell, this was beginning to be a fun site. I was nearly ready to ask "not smith" to go get a beer at Beeks and try and play the game, "who is the Observer" (or is it club 129? - who cares they both have alcohol).
Back to the topic - who should get the boot?
Anyone who claims there car has been a victim of skunk oil.
Anyone who claims another person is or could be another person.
Anyone who has or is currently in possession of any protest or anti anything sign within the city limits.
Lets start there - maybe then we can start to follow the great sage Rodney King; "Can't we all just get along".
Don't want to change the topic of the thread or try and direct the Observers Blog but I am just curious about something.
On June 14th Monroe Transfer, LLC followed out on there threat to file a lawsuit against the City of Monroe (http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-miedce/case_no-2:2007cv12549/case_id-221844/). Guess that I am curious how people feel. I don't have access to the Justia (federal court web host) for further information so I have not read the filing petition and have no idea what the premise of the suit is. If there is someone that does please let me know.
What do you think? Is this cool because we have liability insurance to cover the cost? Is this bad because it may send a message to employers that we are not welcoming? Is this going to make the folks who have put four by four signs in there yard on Railroad Street happy? (Side note; does "Joe" know about these signs? Are these things legal? Has Dave Smith posted them yet on Historic Monroe.org?).
I guess that we can find out if Monroe Transfer LLC is even wanting to be deal with the City by there response (or lack of) to the Citizen's Planning Commission.
What does everyone think? Good thing, bad thing, doesn't matter thing?
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