Fake Parking signs?

[Midwayman]

Anyone have experience with businesses putting up fake parking signs? Parking is really tight where I work and one of the businesses just put up their own 'No authorized parking, violators will be towed' signs. Thing is they are on a public street and its fairly clearly they aren't city signs. I'm thinking I can flip them the bird and still park there, but what to do if they have me illegally towed?

 

[Via]

Wasn't there a video floating around out there years ago that showed a Japanese chick rolling up a fake handicap parking spot? I can't remember if it was debunked or not.

 

[smackababy]

If they own the lot, I'm pretty sure they can have whoever they wish towed. If it is a public lot, they are out of luck.

 

[Newbian]

Make sure it's actually allowed as the city may had sold the spots to the business to use as I have seen places do that.

 

[lxskllr]

Fake No Parking sign are used in places that get a lot of visitors. There was an area in California that did that. People were legally allowed to park and walk to the beach, but neighbors put up their own signs.

What I'd be afraid of is the sign getting enforced, legally or not. Being right is little consolation when you're walking home from work.

 

[Midwayman]

If they own the lot, I'm pretty sure they can have whoever they wish towed. If it is a public lot, they are out of luck.

Not a lot. Its a public street.

Make sure it's actually allowed as the city may had sold the spots to the business to use as I have seen places do that.

Yah, I've seen the commercial zoned permit parking before. Signage is different. Doesn't even look the same style.

What I'd be afraid of is the sign getting enforced, legally or not. Being right is little consolation when you're walking home from work.

That's my big worry. I might not pay anything in the end, but I'll be out several hours of hassle.

 

[sixone]

Call your city code enforcement department - should be able to find the number with Google. They'll look at the signs and take them down if they're not legit.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

but what to do if they have me illegally towed?

They won't have you illegally towed. If they tried you'd own their ass and it's too big a risk for them. If the signs are illegal they'd be used as a deterrent, they wouldn't be enforced. The $64K question is whether the signs are really illegal. Maybe they cut a deal with the city for the spot to belong to them, it's not unprecedented for businesses to have loading zones and other special areas on public streets. So I wouldn't park in it without being sure. Contact the city government. If the signs are legal they'll know and if they're not the city will force them to be taken down. Get some good pics of the sign first.

 

[JulesMaximus]

No authorized parking? I don't see why you couldn't park there... you aren't authorized so you should be fine.

 

[SKORPI0]

Wasn't there a video floating around out there years ago that showed a Japanese chick rolling up a fake handicap parking spot? I can't remember if it was debunked or not.

This one--> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEdO1qWKn7M :biggrin:

 

[xBiffx]

Its worth the price of a parking ticket to find out.

 

[twinrider1]

Call your city code enforcement department - should be able to find the number with Google...

This. They might have also have a guy with a title like Director Of Street Engineering. Those kind of guys have wet dreams over busting people for stuff like this.

 

[Gooberlx2]

From what I've read elsewhere, I guess it's a fairly common thing here in Denver at the night clubs. No, businesses can't just put up "no parking" signs on public streets and expect them to be "legal".

As mentioned, you have to call the parking/code enforcement people and bitch. The problem is, what good does that do you if you get towed anyway because the business is in cahoots with the tow company? So I still wouldn't park there. You might get your money back eventually, but not without a lot of hassle I expect.

 

[SKORPI0]

Its worth the price of a parking ticket to find out.

It's not worth the time someone lost and hustle to get your vehicle back in case it was towed. :hmm:

 

[sixone]

From what I've read elsewhere, I guess it's a fairly common thing here in Denver at the night clubs. No, businesses can't just put up "no parking" signs on public streets and expect them to be "legal".

As mentioned, you have to call the parking/code enforcement people and bitch. The problem is, what good does that do you if you get towed anyway because the business is in cahoots with the tow company? So I still wouldn't park there. You might get your money back eventually, but not without a lot of hassle I expect.

The tow company isn't going to move a car unless it's legal to do so. Otherwise, they're going to get sued, and that will cost them more than they'll get for towing it in the first place.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

The tow company isn't going to move a car unless it's legal to do so. Otherwise, they're going to get sued, and that will cost them more than they'll get for towing it in the first place.

Exactly. If the sign is illegal you are not getting towed. Period. Anyone that thinks a business and a towing company can be in cahoots to scam people on illegal parking violations needs to grow a brain ASAP.

Even putting up the sign is a pretty big risk for the business. They could be facing a hefty fine if the city has a hard-on for things like that. That's why I wouldn't park in a spot where the parking sign looks bogus. Odds are that it's not bogus, no real benefit to the business to try it.

 

[sixone]

Exactly. If the sign is illegal you are not getting towed. Period. Anyone that thinks a business and a towing company can be in cahoots to scam people on illegal parking violations needs to grow a brain ASAP.

Even putting up the sign is a pretty big risk for the business. They could be facing a hefty fine if the city has a hard-on for things like that. That's why I wouldn't park in a spot where the parking sign looks bogus. Odds are that it's not bogus, no real benefit to the business to try it.

If the business name isn't on the sign, there's not much risk for them - if they don't go beyond putting up the signs. The cops aren't going to spend a lot of time trying to find out who put them up, as long as no one gets hurt.

Where it gets risky is if they persuade a tow truck to move someone's car. If there's a problem later, the tow truck company is going to pass the buck to the business that asked them to move the car.

 

[sixone]

So...did you call?

 

[Midwayman]

So...did you call?

Still trying to find the right department. Chicago has a million sub departments and if you don't get it to the right one it goes into a black hole. Even then its difficult to get anyone to care about something like this.

 

[alkemyst]

Fake No Parking sign are used in places that get a lot of visitors. There was an area in California that did that. People were legally allowed to park and walk to the beach, but neighbors put up their own signs.

What I'd be afraid of is the sign getting enforced, legally or not. Being right is little consolation when you're walking home from work.

A tow truck driver aint going to give a shit if a sign is real or fake most of the time if he is called.

 

[nageov3t]

just rip the sign down, you're only cleaning up litter.

 

[SKORPI0]

Still trying to find the right department. Chicago has a million sub departments and if you don't get it to the right one it goes into a black hole. Even then its difficult to get anyone to care about something like this.

Guessing you're near the Midway airport then, why not go to the municipal center and ask around who has jurisdiction for parking enforcement in your area?