...and while the by-law enforcement officer needs to be commended for their dedication someone should let them know the war is over and they can hang up their helmet.
Senior outraged by ticket
A 67-year-old disabled man is outraged over a bizarre parking ticket he received on Danforth Ave. a few weeks ago.
And even though it’s only for $15, Ron Dean vows he won’t be paying it any time soon.
“It’s not about the money at all,” the senior said Monday, his hand shaking as he held up the ticket.
“I plan to fight this on principle.”
The ticket actually had nothing to do with how or where he was parked; it was for having a “For Sale” sign on the bottom corner of the rear window of his Ford Taurus.
Dean is convinced the fine, which falls under a by-law infraction, is just another cash grab by the city.
“Every time you turn around in this city, someone wants more money,” he said bitterly. “Where does it stop?”
Dean, who has a disabled parking permit because he had his hip replaced recently, had taped the handwritten sign on the window hoping to sell his vehicle.
“I’ve always sold my cars myself, so that I could get a little more money for it than I would on a trade-in,” he said, explaining he has probably sold eight cars privately over the last 40-plus years.
Dean found the ticket April 27 on his windshield after leaving a Danforth Ave. tavern, a block east of Greenwood Ave., where was “enjoying” a game of darts.
He was confused at first because he knew he was parked legally. Then he read the ticket and he became even more puzzled.
“I’ve been asking around and nobody has ever heard of this,” Dean said. “It’s stupid!”
Toronto Police Const. Tony Vella checked with the city and found out the by-law “has been in effect for decades.”
“The rationale behind it is to prevent people from parking on the street for days on end as they try to sell the vehicle,” he explained.
Vella pointed out motorists can also be ticketed for having a sign in the window of their vehicle that “obstructs” the driver’s view.
Such a ticket would set a driver back $200, he said.
But Dean was careful to ensure his sign didn’t obstruct his view.
His ticket reads simply: “Park Vehicle For Sale.”
Dean still hasn’t sold his Taurus and he just received a notice in the mail warning him of the outstanding fine.
“I think the city assumes most people will just pay it because it’s only $15 and it’s easier,” said Dean. ““I’m definitely going to fight this.”
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And they wonder why people regard them as pond scum. This is the most stupid thing ever. The city should cancel the ticket then work on getting the law repealed. I'd get them to work on that 4 legged animal one too. You just know some uniformed nazi wanna be will remember that one and start using it. I'd like to know how long the guy or gal was on the job. Sounds like a severe case of rookie-itis.