mbm

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    4950 Elm Street Montgomery County, MD - Bethesda
    On 26 JUN 2013, I was legally parked in the Bethesda Row parking garage to go out for dinner with friends. We parked and paid the meter with coins for the 2 hr limit. After dinner (which lasted less than 2 hours), we returned to our car and drove home. There was no parking ticket left on our vehicle and there was time remaining on the meter. So, I was shocked to find that 3 weeks later we receive a notice in the mail for an overdue parking fine of $70 ($45 + $25 for the late fee). I tried to call the number on the notice, but was told that because of the timing (greater than 15 days from the date of the penalty), our only option was to pay the fine and contest the ticket in person. However, I am an Army surgeon who has been reassigned and am preparing to deploy to Afghanistan and have no time to report back to Bethesda in person to contest this ticket. I asked kindly to speak with the manager, knowing that the person who answers the phone has no power to help with these issues. I was told that I had to leave my cell phone number and would get a call eventually but that it was imperative that I pay the fine as soon as possible. I'm not contesting this ticket because of the fine (as I can easily pay this). The issue is the predatory policy that is in place whereby motorists are not given a ticket, there is no proof that a ticket was placed on my vehicle, and there is no way to contest the ticket by email or letter without paying the increased fine first. There are many many military personnel who live in the DC/MD metropolitan area who are relocating constantly. How are we expected to comply with such policies?
  • 3408-3418 14th St Nw Washington D.C., DC 20010, USA - Columbia Heights
    Driving to work on Thursday morning, I was surprised to find multiple cars being pulled over on both sides of 14th street by a very rude female traffic officer. It clearly appeared that the MPD traffic officers were pulling as many people over to administer for dubious "violations" in order to fill their quota due to the impending government shutdown. I was fined for a "seat belt regulation" for no reason. I was simply told to pull over and was fined $50. When asked to hand over my registration and proof of insurance, I was told that the printout of the online registration was invalid and that I should be fined $500, despite having an up-to-date and valid registration and insurance policy printout. Currently, USAA emails the insurance policy card. However, I was told this would be a $500 fine. When I asked why I was being fined for a "seat belt regulation" when I in fact had my seat belt on, I was told "Just answer me this, do you want me to fine you $500 in addition?" I felt like I was being treated like an innocent person in a place like Sudan or the Congo, where people are stopped routinely by "officers" for "fines" just to line their pockets. Perhaps I am assuming too much, but when 5 other cars are stopped at the same time during rush hour on a busy street in the midst of a looming government shutdown, the actions of these officers are suspect. Furthermore, their blatantly rude behavior (one officer looking on just laughed at the situation) is appalling.