A DRIVER has been slammed with a $225 fine from a city that he hasn’t visited in years.
The only evidence convicting him of the crime was “blurry” camera footage.
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Ray Shover was issued the $225 fine after a camera caught someone passing a stopped school bus in Miami Beach, Florida.
“I ain’t never been to Miami in my life,” Ray Shover told local CBS affiliate WKMG-TV.
“Actually, I can’t say that. I got lost one time going to the Keys and went through (Miami), but that was over 20 years ago.”
After receiving the violation, the driver realized that the man on the scooter had the same license plate number as his motorcycle.
Due to the low-resolution pictures and video captured by the school bus camera, it was hard to read the license plate.
“I couldn’t read it. It’s so blurry,” said Shover. “The letters could be anything, really.”
Despite the blurry evidence, Shover noted that the scooter had a completely different style and wasn’t the same size as his motorcycle.
Also, the scooter rider who passed the stopped school bus wore a business suit, which Shover didn’t possess.
“I don’t own a suit,” said Shover. “That’s not me.”
Not only that, Shover said he was working at a job site in DeLand when the fine was issued so it could not have been him in the photos.
Many states have adopted new technology like high-speed cameras to catch drivers who evade traffic laws.
These cameras can detect more than just license plate numbers; they can also identify the model of a vehicle and sometimes even defects.
Cities that use these cameras to issue tickets usually have a human double-checking the evidence to make sure the right person is getting fined.
“I was flustered, especially when I saw how much the ticket was,” Shover told WKMG-TV.
How to fight a parking ticket
You can avoid being ticketed by following all posted laws and ordinances, but sometimes mistakes are made
Like any form of citation, parking tickets are preventable by reading and obeying posted signage. However, when visiting a new city, or state, or in a hurry, things can be missed and mistakes are made.
Suddenly there’s a ticket you weren’t prepared to pay for. If the ticket is a surprise to you, there are a few things you can do to help your case when appealing a parking ticket.
- Carefully read the ticket. Look for errors like incorrect street names, license plate numbers, vehicle make and model, time and date, etc. Errors would then make the ticket invalid.
- Take photos. Of the vehicle in the parking space, lack of signage, or other vehicles that weren’t cited for performing the same parking job. If the ticket involves parking too close to something like a fire hydrant, a photo showing a reasonable distance would help your case. Make sure metadata with the time and date are accessible. Signs that are obstructed by trees, or are on bent posts, or aren’t “obvious” are great things to photograph, too.
- Make sure the statute that was violated is listed on the ticket. If not listed, the ticket is not valid.
- Promptly follow the appeal instructions on the ticket. All legitimate tickets will have directions for appeal. Waiting until the very last moment weakens your argument and can result in late fees.
- When in court, avoid these phrases as they reduce your credibility and weaken your argument:
- “I didn’t know the law.”
- “I was on my way to move my car.”
- “I can’t afford this ticket.”
- “I’ve been doing this for years.”
- “I checked with the parking officer, who said it was OK.”
- Contact a lawyer. If you’re running into roadblocks and feel stuck, it may be best to reach out to a traffic lawyer in your area. Many have free case consultations.
Source: Reader’s Digest
“They need to have a better system. If they can’t get it right, they shouldn’t be trying to charge you.”
Initially, the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office did not reply to Shover’s inquiry or WKMG-TV’s emails.
However, after the story was published, authorities called Shover to inform him that authorities dismissed the violation.
“This is indeed a unique situation, as the individual has not been in the Miami area for over 20 years,” Detective Argemis Colome wrote in an email.
“We understand this may be frustrating for them, and we are committed to assisting in any way we can.”
Shover thanked WKMG-TV for bringing attention to this issue and getting the fine dropped.
