In 2013, the Calgary Parking Authority doled out 270,000 tickets and collected $15.6-million in fines, but some question what per cent of the tickets were legitimate infractions.
Cheryl Lafond refused to pay her $40 ticket, as a matter of principal, and took the parking authority to court.
Cheryl received a ticket for leaving her vehicle for an extended period in a designated parking zone, next to the Franklin LRT station, with a posted two hour maximum.
According to the CPA officer who issued the ticket at 11:17 a.m., a tire on Cheryl’s car was chalked at 8:30 a.m., a practice which marks the length of time a car is parked in one location. Cheryl was certain the officer’s allegations were without merit as her car had remained in her parkade until 10:30 a.m.
Cheryl appealed the fine but the city maintained the ticket was valid. Undeterred, she decided to continue her fight.
"I thought somebody needs to do this, someone needs to put them on notice and show that they're gonna fight back and not just pay the $40 and walk away,” explains Cheryl.
A frustrated Cheryl obtained her parkade’s security video and the timestamp proved her car remained in the lot until 10:48 a.m. With the video evidence on her side, Cheryl was victorious in court.
“I explained to him how notorious I think the CPA is for giving out tickets and how few of us have the evidence to actually prove their innocence and that's why I was here,” said Cheryl.
According to officials with the parking authority, approximately seven per cent of tickets are appealed. Roughly 60 per cent of appeals are successful and, of those that lose, only 0.5% take their case to court.
Cheryl’s successful attempt to prove the $40 parking ticket was improperly issued came at a price. She estimates with work hours lost for court appearances, plus additional expenses, her fight cost her $200.
Cheryl may file an application for reimbursement of her expenses, but that will require another day in court.
With files from CTV's Consumer Watch reporter Lea Williams-Doherty
