Get Marty: Allegheny County Officials Re-Examining $370 Parking Fines
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Drivers couldn't believe their eyes; parking tickets that ordered them to pay hundreds of dollars.
They didn't think it was fair. So, one decided to "Get Marty."
The tickets were popping up on vehicles parked in the grass at the North Park Boathouse.
Drew Hawk and Mark Ferrelli were each fined $370.
"That's a huge chunk of a paycheck, or somebody's paycheck," said Hawk. "It was definitely something I wasn't prepared for."
Hawk found what KDKA's Marty Griffin found out, there are no signs, nothing telling folks not to park. He also found instructions on Allegheny County's website regarding how much the ticket could be written for.
"The website says it can be anywhere from $10 to $300," said Hawk. "I guess the guy thought, I'll write everyone a $300 ticket, plus the fees and what not."
Nearly $400 for parking on the grass; it caught the attention of Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.
Griffin: "Is $370 a lot, sir?"
Fitzgerald: "I think it is, yes."
So, for now, Allegheny County Police officers are being told not to write any more parking in the grass tickets in the North Park.
Also, there is discussion about what to do about all of the $370 tickets already written. It looks like the county will also be expanding the parking very soon.
"One of the things we're glad for is the popularity of the boathouse," said Fitzgerald. "So many people want to be there and want to go to the restaurant. We're glad of the success. We are expanding the parking."
Here are the issues county lawyers are now looking at; one ordinance says the fines are to be $10 to $300. Another ordinance says $100 to $300, and the Allegheny County Parks website if you go there right now fines are $10 to $300.
There is also discussion about what to do about all of the tickets already written.
Meantime, parking could be expanded as soon as Friday.
If you'd like Marty to help you solve your problem, email him at GetMarty@kdka.com.
RELATED LINKS:
Get Marty: Man Gets $370 Ticket For Parking On County Grass (5/21/14)
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