PARTIERS planning on celebrating Mardi Gras may be hit with a shocking fine for overnight parking.
To tame the crowds of cars headed to Galveston, Texas, for Mardi Gras, the city announced anyone who parks overnight will be fined $200 more than the standard fine.
KPRC2Galveston told its residents that anyone who violates overnight parking will be hit with a $250 fine[/caption] KPRC2The fine will last from February 17 to February 28[/caption]The massive Mardi Gras event draws crowds averaging 350,000 people, according to the Mardi Gras website.
Galveston’s massive several-day-long event includes parties, parades, and more.
In preparation for such large crowds, the city is taking extreme measures to ensure residents aren’t inconvenienced.
“The City realizes that some festival goers opt to show up early to snag a spot and pay the fines, but this creates headaches for crews trying to maintain the Seawall and prep for the parades and festivities,” the city posted on its website.
“As such, there will be increased fines associated with parking overnight on the Seawall in the days leading up to Mardi Gras. To discourage this practice, there will be a $250 citation.
“This $250 citation will be in effect from midnight on Monday, Feb. 17, until 5 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20. These fines are only for illegal overnight parking, not during the day.”
The celebrations are planned to start on February 21 and will run until March 4.
The city also asks that visitors not try to cover space with anything other than a properly registered vehicle and keep sidewalk pathways clear of any obstacles.
Residents are voicing their opinions about the new fines underneath a story by local NBC affiliate KPRC about the upcoming changes.
One commenter even said that a fine incident left them not wanting to visit the city ever again.
“Besides being way too crowded, the main thing I hate about going to Galveston is paying to park. One time we parked at the drugstore to buy some overpriced ice cream sundaes for my family,” the commenter wrote.
“I came out to find a ticket on my windshield. Nothing makes a visitor feel less welcome than that. It was a kick in the soft spot.
“After calling about my ticket, I was very rudely told there are signs on street corners informing you how to download an app to pay for parking,” they continued.
“But when you’re driving on those crowded streets, how are you going to read the tiny signs? If you park in the middle of the block and you’re new to the island, you’ll never know to pay.
“Things like that really stick with me, and I haven’t wanted to go back to Galveston since.”
A more seasoned Mardi Gras attendee warned others about potential parking scams drivers may face.
How to fight a parking ticket
You can avoid being ticketed by following all posted laws and ordinances, but sometimes mistakes are made
Like any form of citation, parking tickets are preventable by reading and obeying posted signage. However, when visiting a new city, or state, or in a hurry, things can be missed and mistakes are made.
Suddenly there’s a ticket you weren’t prepared to pay for. If the ticket is a surprise to you, there are a few things you can do to help your case when appealing a parking ticket.
Carefully read the ticket. Look for errors like incorrect street names, license plate numbers, vehicle make and model, time and date, etc. Errors would then make the ticket invalid. Take photos. Of the vehicle in the parking space, lack of signage, or other vehicles that weren’t cited for performing the same parking job. If the ticket involves parking too close to something like a fire hydrant, a photo showing a reasonable distance would help your case. Make sure metadata with the time and date are accessible. Signs that are obstructed by trees, or are on bent posts, or aren’t “obvious” are great things to photograph, too. Make sure the statute that was violated is listed on the ticket. If not listed, the ticket is not valid. Promptly follow the appeal instructions on the ticket. All legitimate tickets will have directions for appeal. Waiting until the very last moment weakens your argument and can result in late fees. When in court, avoid these phrases as they reduce your credibility and weaken your argument: “I didn’t know the law.” “I was on my way to move my car.” “I can’t afford this ticket.” “I’ve been doing this for years.” “I checked with the parking officer, who said it was OK.” Contact a lawyer. If you’re running into roadblocks and feel stuck, it may be best to reach out to a traffic lawyer in your area. Many have free case consultations.Source: Reader’s Digest
“I’m a annual Mardi Gras attender. There are also places that will scam people so please be aware when you’re paying for parking,” they warned.
“I’ve seen people act as if they own a parking area take peoples money as they park and then leave.
“An hour later, there were tow trucks towing everyone that had just paid to park there.
“This happens a lot on the sea wall during the Mardi Gras parades, if you’re on the Strand those parking lots are legitimate.”
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