Get Marty: Fitzgerald Promises Change After Wounded Vets Get Parking Tickets
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Hundreds of people gathered in North Park on Memorial Day for a Wounded Warriors run and walk, including Pennsylvania National Guard Major Mike Clark.
After the race, Clark got back to his car to find a ticket on his windshield for parking on the grass. The ticket could cost him nearly $400.
Clark also says Allegheny County Police Officer Joe Westcott and another officer blocked vehicles in long enough to write tickets.
"To block people in is just unbelievable. I couldn't believe it when I walked up and had a ticket on my car," Clark said. "I definitely don't think it's the way to treat people who are up there, especially participating in the event who are wounded warriors."
For Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who watched our TV report, the wounded warrior parking ticket was his tipping point.
"I have been so aggravated over this issue in the last couple days, and changes will occur," he says.
Fitzgerald is particularly upset because he thought this issue was taken care of.
KDKA brought it to his attention a week ago; nearly $400 parking tickets given out in an area with no warning signs.
Fitzgerald promised better signs, a bigger parking area and told county police not to give tickets until the issue is resolved.
Fitzgerald says it looks like officers ignored orders and wrote tickets anyway, but that stops now.
"Those changes will occur, and if they don't, we'll find people who can make those changes. I am not happy with what's going on out there," said Fitzgerald. "They were directed, after the first story came out, how to function. Apparently, there was an officer or two that decided, on their own, they were going to set their own policy, and that's not how it works."
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)
Get Marty: Allegheny County Officials Re-Examining $370 Parking Fines (5/22/14)
Wounded Warriors Ticketed $370 For Parking On Grass At Memorial Day Fundraiser (5/28/14)
More Get Marty Reports
More Reports by Marty Griffin
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter
