Fake look alike tickets part of money grab scam?

[Lunican]

I noticed at Art Walk tonight that Central Parking is still issuing these "tickets". 

[TheCat]

[Lunican]

Chicago is going after these fake tickets.

Now the city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection is investigating and are conducting investigations of all 52 lots managed by ABM Industries. In addition, the city has issued a subpoena for more records from ABM, which could lead to a deceptive practices charge against the company and possible compensation to the ticketed drivers.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/15984116-418/drivers-hit-with-private-parking-lot-tickets-may-be-due-refund.html

http://theexpiredmeter.com/2012/10/city-investigating-parking-tickets-at-private-parking-lots/


By the way, this is still one of my favorite posts:

I used to respect the articles on this website but the inferences and faulty legal conclusions drawn here have negated that.  The reason the tickets look similar is because Central Parking System has a contract with the same ticket issuance company as the city and therefore is supplied the same hardware, software and paper tickets.  Central Parking System or any other private parking operator has the right to control their private property, pure and simple.  A parking facility is a product which costs overhead to operate, similar to a flower shop that sells flowers.  Nobody would suggest you just waltz in and take any flower arrangement you want without paying--that is stealing.  The same applies to parking and the most effective way CPS has to control theft of parking services is to issue parking notices. 

[Midway ®]

I used to respect the articles on this website but the inferences and faulty legal conclusions drawn here have negated that.  The reason the tickets look similar is because Central Parking System has a contract with the same ticket issuance company as the city and therefore is supplied the same hardware, software and paper tickets.  Central Parking System or any other private parking operator has the right to control their private property, pure and simple.  A parking facility is a product which costs overhead to operate, similar to a flower shop that sells flowers.  Nobody would suggest you just waltz in and take any flower arrangement you want without paying--that is stealing.  The same applies to parking and the most effective way CPS has to control theft of parking services is to issue parking notices. 

This comparison to a flower shop would be valid if the proposed flower shop had the following attributes:

1. Completely outdoors, with no walls or other discernible security measures.
2. No clerk ever present on the premises.
3. Stock of fresh cut flowers present in beautiful arrangements on the ground 24/7.

As you can see, the comparison is idiotic.

Those unattended CPS surface parking lots are nothing more than attractive nuisances. The fake parking "notices"are nothing more than an attempt collect monies that may or may not be due by implying that these phony look-alikes carry the weight of law, which they clearly do not.

D. Neal's post is thus absurd.

[Lunican]

A reader sent us a copy of their fake ticket. It looks like LAZ has taken over for Central Parking? Also, notice how on their address they include City of Jacksonville, FL in an attempt to make it seem as though it is an official government issued ticket.

[Josh]

Vice has an article up on this issue

https://www.vice.com/read/private-parking-companies-are-issuing-illegal-parking-tickets-623

[Lunican]

COJ should really put an end to this practice by private lot owners.

"While the laws vary slightly from city to city, one truism in the private parking lot industry is that they do not have the authority to fine you any more than I do. Unless they are contracted by the city, or the city itself issues the ticket, a private entity cannot act as a low-stakes Judge Dredd "I am the law" meter maid. So feel free to ignore them."