The City of Greensboro has had a continual problem collecting parking ticket fines and is once again asking for help from the state.
An item on the legislative agenda that was presented to the Guilford County Legislative Delegation last week asks for Greensboro parking tickets be linked to the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles annual vehicle registration.
In short, Greensboro doesn’t want vehicle owners to be able to renew their NCDMV registration until any outstanding Greensboro parking tickets are paid.
The state would in effect be in charge of collecting outstanding parking fines for the City of Greensboro, which is currently owed about $2 million in parking fines.
Although there are many reasons why the DMV might not want to get into to the parking fine collection business for the City of Greensboro, Rep. Pricey Harris brought up an objection that has nothing to do with the complexities involved in such a system, or the fact that the NCDMV is not likely to provide this service for Greensboro and not other cities in the state.
Harrison brought up the fact that this could severely affect those at the lowest income levels who wouldn’t be able to legally drive their cars to work if they had an outstanding parking ticket.
She said, “A lot of people who don’t have a lot of money could be hurt pretty badly by this.”
Councilmember Sharon Hightower, who voted in favor of the legislative agenda, said, “I don’t want it to disenfranchise those that find themselves in an economic situation that prevents them from paying fines.”
She added, “While we want to get the fines paid, are we not creating another barrier so that people can’t get to work.”
Councilmember Justin Outling noted that in other situations the city has waived or reduced people’s fines based on their ability to pay.
Councilmember Nancy Hoffmann asked if the city would be able to segregate the list and only use the NCDMV for habitual offenders.
It seems like the City Council might have discussed how this process would actually work and if they were in favor of it before including it on the legislative agenda.
In my (much) younger days, I wasn’t doing so well. I bounced a check to pay the NCDMV. Not too long after that, and nice lady Deputy stopped by my house unexpectedly. Fortunately, I had the cash at that moment.
I know how it is to be more than a little short. Nonetheless, for those with a collection of non-paid parking tickets, a visit from a Deputy sheriff would be most productive. Or garnishing of wages. Anyone that has accumulated a lot of tickets is gaming the system.
I guarantee that a Marine wouldn’t stand for any of their own to pull this kind of stuff.
I know this is an old story, but when people make baseless opinionated claims I google and this is what I found. Apparently from 2001-2007, Marines in White Plains New York accumulated $94,000 in parking tickets. So much for the good old miller guarantee.
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/04/nyregion/04scofflaw.html
Half stupid and the remaining 50%, “just plumb dumb”.
Greensboro is NOT a friendly town. We should stay out of downtown if at all possible!!! Its time we take back our City. We need MEN on the Council who understand responsible human behavior. Crime is the way of life in Greensboro. Good luck to ALL citizens. Give US a chance!!!
A policy eliminating the fines for anyone would do several things. It discriminates by not giving the same opportunity to “those who could pay” forcing them to pay more for another service for those who they’re already keeping up. It will surely reduce revenue for the City. Once word gets out anyone who “can afford a fine” by the City’s definition won’t be able to find a parking space because those who “can’t afford a fine” will gladly take advantage of the system and fill up all the spaces knowing they won’t have to pay. Another dumb socialist idea. Either everyone pays, or you take up the meters and no one pays. It’s not complicated. If this passes it won’t prevent the people from going to work, it will just increase the number of people with fake license plates. Another fine you probably won’t collect.
Parking Fines Could Prevent People From Driving To Work
What a great headline! It definitely fits the current city council.
As usual, it seems the city council thinks the onus is on them to ensure people can get to work, even if it means to enact parking regulations, and then to vote to end the parking fines of those who may not have the money to pay for the parking. If that is the case, why aren’t those people taking the bus to work?
Yet one reason why this council seems bent on providing relief to people who wander around in life and want the “government” to solve their plight in life.
Remember the old saying . . . .Hello, I’m from the government and am here to help you” when in fact, people who are self-reliant do not want the government to do anything for them, just get out of their way.