I recently got a parking ticket from Harris County for illegally parking in a movie theatre parking lot. I thought the city has no jurisdiction in private lots, so I was surprised I got the ticket. I have heard that the police cannot enforce moving violation fines in private lots, so this is surprising for a parking violation. Should I attempt to fight the $200 parking fine?
Not sure about the law, but I think it goes like this, the parking lot in the theatre even though private property is a public place, as a lot of the public, as it is nothing exclusive, is there. So I believe the officers can give you a ticket for parking wrong. I may be wrong though.
I think that it is vague at best. How can you get a $200 ticket for parking in a theater lot? Did you park in a handicap spot? Because, I believe those are under police jurisdiction. DD
That sounds extremely fishy buddy. I think you are right. The reason I say is because if you hit someone's car in a shopping center parking lot, a police officer will not give you a ticket. A friend of mine had her car hit pretty badly in a parking lot and the police would not determine fault nor give a ticket. She had to file a claim on her insurance even though it was the other party's fault. Contest it! Those meter maids need to be put in their place.
was there a meter there? was it a handicapped spot? we need more information to understand why this happened.
now that you can get ticketed for. the pass you get for a handicapped spot is one you get from the state...not from the private property owner whose lot you parked in. i don't handle traffic tickets...so you may want to contact an attorney who does. but my understanding is that sort of ticket is totally legit, whether in a private or public lot.
A friend of mine had a broken leg and tried to get a handicap tag from our company so she could park in the handicapped space in the company lot. They told her they could not do that and she had to get it directly from the city (or county).
yea, i know- i deserved the ticket. just wondering what the rule of public jurisdiction on private property was.
