Amnesty Program for Unpaid Tickets
May 20, 2011 by Baker · 431 Comments
The Houston Police Department is rolling out an “amnesty program” which will allow parking & traffic ticket scofflaws to pay their original fines, and avoid additional charges as well as warrants. All citations which became delinquent on or before February 28, will be eligible for the program over the next two weeks. However, those who do not elect to participate in the program will be subject to arrest as warrants will be issued starting June 5th.
2 Hour Time Limit Ticket in Houston
July 12, 2010 by Baker · 6 Comments
I got one of these tickets for exceeding a 2 hour time limit. It turns out I accidentally left my car in the spot for about 2 hours and 10 seconds. Nice job, Houston parking enforcement!
City Fudges Red Light Violation Numbers Before Election
June 16, 2010 by Baker · 2 Comments
Potentially facing a referendum on red-light cameras at the ballot box in November, the city of Brayton, Texas, has been “easing up on issuing red-light camera tickets in the hopes of diverting momentum away” from the effort. Data shows that American Traffic Solutions, the company, which operates the photo-enforcement program is deliberately issuing fewer citations than they have in the past. For example, in July of 2008, the program rejected 29% of violations. That number ballooned to 54% in December of 2009. Byron Schirmbeck is one of the leaders of the referendum movement. “The citations weren’t dropping as predicted and the camera company saw a real public relations problem: How can they claim that the cameras are working if citations are still so high? Simple, they can’t. The solution they came up with is to start sending Baytown PD fewer violations for them to review. This way they can say that fewer citations mean fewer red light runners and they can attempt to save their multi-million dollar program when election time comes around,” says Schirmbeck. Schrimbeck is not new to the fight against photo-enforcement. Last week, he spoke to the City Council, challenging the city’s claim that red light cameras had contributed to a decrease in traffic accidents. The decrease, as Schrimbeck pointed out, “mirrored statewide and national trends.” And, earlier this year, Schrimbeck showed that city officials had an “illegally short yellow time at the most lucrative intersection” – a claim officials later admitted to.
Speeding Tickets May Be Dismissed as Inaccurate Radars, Poorly Trained Deputies Uncovered
June 15, 2010 by Baker · 9 Comments
Speeding tickets in Houston are under review due to a recent finding that radar equipment used by officers may be inaccurate in addition to a lack of training for officers who use the machines. An audit of constables’ radar equipment and training has found that many of those devices have lacked equipment used to test their accuracy. “The last thing I would want, or I think the last thing anybody in any of the constables’ offices or in law enforcement would want is somebody getting a ticket that didn’t deserve it, and somebody getting a ticket because we were lax,” said Chief J.C. Mosier with the Precinct 1 Constable’s office. Since each constable only answers to voters, there is no standard authority checking that radars were in good condition or that deputies were properly trained. Department leaders now fears that tickets issued over the last several years may have been inaccurate. “A lot of people will feel we let them down. I mean, are we out there using units that aren’t calibrated, that aren’t correct, that aren’t reflecting proper speeds? Asked J.J. Laine, Assistant Chief for the Precinct 5 Constable.
Ticket Trouble: Walk the Block with a Houston Meter Reader
April 22, 2010 by Baker · 7 Comments
Article talks about the importance of Houston’s meter maids, despite the general public disdain for them. According to the writer, Houston Parking Management “keeps downtown streets from turning into a giant parking lot,” “help traffic flow around problems and even help with emergencies.” Obviously a major factor in the importance is the estimated $13 million in revenue that they generate for the city – around $7 million of which comes from parking tickets.
HPD: Tree-crashing drivers may have been drinking in 2 separate accidents
February 28, 2010 by Baker · 5 Comments
Two separate Houston accidents, both late into Saturday night, involved drunk drivers and trees. At about 1am, an SUV with 3 people inside lost control and smashed into a tree in the median of a road. The driver was brought to the hospital in serious condition while the other 2 occupants were unhurt. About ninety minutes later, a Dodge Charger slammed into a tree while speeding around a curve. The female passenger had to be cut from the car and brought to a hospital in serious condition. The male driver, who wasn’t seriously injured, was arrested for DUI.
Ike-Damaged Parking Meters to be Replaced
January 10, 2010 by Baker · 7 Comments
Downtown Galveston which has hosted free parking since Hurricane Ike, due to the storm wiping out most of the parking meters, will no longer offer that privilege to citizens. New meters are being installed within the next 90 days, which will regulate all spots in certain areas. The meters will be operated and maintained by Ampco System Parking, which will split revenue with the city. The city’s revenue will eventually be reinvested in downtown, according to the new plan.
