SEATTLE (Map, News) - Thousands of motorists who got parking tickets in Seattle on some holidays will soon be getting refund checks from the city.

The checks - ranging from about $22 to $75 - will be sent to about 4,000 people whose vehicles were improperly ticketed or impounded. A total of about $122,600 will be given back to people who received tickets and paid fines.

The refunds are part of a mediated settlement of a lawsuit that challenged the holiday tickets.

A Bellevue resident, Colette Turner, had sued the city after she received a $35 ticket for failing to pay a parking meter on New Year's Eve 2004, which was a Friday. The meter's sign said parking was free on holidays - and at the time, the city's traffic code said parking was free on Fridays before legal holidays that fell on a Saturday. But she still got a ticket.

A judge last year ruled in favor of Turner and others who were ticketed for parking on legal holidays from 2003 to 2006.

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Information from: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, http://www.seattle-pi.com/

Comments from Examiner Readers

7:12 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 16, 2007 re: "More motorists lament bogus tickets"

Examiner Reader said:
Note to ER from 7:47 ... I would disagree with the "borderline" part of your comment.

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7:47 PM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "More motorists lament bogus tickets"

Examiner Reader: said:
This is the situation. They are trying to make money for the city any way they can.. They don't like the fact that people who live in the county, or Pennsylvania come into the city, use it's facility's then go home..Because they can't tax you, they are looking for other ways to get your money...If you get a ticket from one of these moron's, take it to court, and let them testify....Judges will see first hand, that they have borderline retards issuing these tickets.

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1:37 PM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "More motorists lament bogus tickets"

Examiner Reader said:
Do not the people in the Office of Inspector General or Donald Stoops read the newspapers or listen to the radio or television coverage about this rampant problem? I find it interesting that people on the street are talking about it, but the pople who should be doing something to correct the situation claim they know nothing about it. Sounds like the three monkeys who know nothing, see nothing, hear nothing. What a way to run a railroad.

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10:33 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "More motorists lament bogus tickets"

Examiner Reader said:
DC has accountability laws. Why are these so hard to implemenet in MD? Inspectors drive around the city looking at areas that have been designated "no parking" and make sure the residents have proper amount of time (24 or 48 hours can't remember) to move their cars before they can be legally ticket or towed. No such law in Maryland. Signs go up, you are towed 5 minutes later, even if you are at a paid meter. Ridiculous. Even worse, no employee from the city or elected offical will speak up. Kepp mum and it will contiue to generate $$$$ for the city, since they can't get it the right way with econmic development and property taxes. I'm looking at you, non-tax paying JHU!!!!

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10:31 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "More motorists lament bogus tickets"

Paul said:
I think we need to move to a system like the read light cameras where you get a picture of the violation or one is available online. If there's not picture to prove you parked in front of the hydrant no ticket.

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10:29 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "More motorists lament bogus tickets"

Examiner Reader said:
I just finished clearing 2 or 3 bogus tcikets throught he icty that were over 3 years old. they wanted me to pay hundreds of dollars on a $21 ticket that I never got. Talk about usury. This city is broken at EVERY level, especially when crackheads run the towing lot.

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10:16 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "More motorists lament bogus tickets"

Joy in Baltimore said:
Accountability.......let's do it! I once had an automobile in my niece's name....got several tickets etc. I want her name cleared and that's where my accountability kicks in.......the Powers to BE won't allow it......tickets in her name, her responsibility.....why won't these folks allow me to fess up.......so the accountability things rings a loud bell for me!

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