Scofflaws owe big fines

[Swede]

This is ridiculous.


But Richard A. Oehling of Willard Avenue said he was surprised to learn from a reporter that his name is on the list with $755 in outstanding fines and penalties.

“The car was not in our hands at the time. Somebody stole it from a repair shop and, apparently, it sat somewhere collecting tickets,” Mr. Oehling said.

In September, notices of unpaid parking tickets began arriving in the mail at his house.

Mr. Oehling said he reported the purple Geo stolen in August. The car was missing for about three weeks before police found it stripped. His insurance company considered the sedan totaled and sent him a check, he said.

Case closed. Or so he thought.

“They sent me all the tickets, and I collected them. But I must admit that once the car had been totaled by the insurance company, I forgot all about it. I have all the tickets, and I need to go down there and get that taken care of,” Mr. Oehling conceded.

Until he does, he is on the hook for $235 in fines and $520 in penalties, according to the city.

Mr. Oehling, and anybody else with outstanding parking fines, cannot renew a driver's license or car registration until they pay up, noted city Parking Administrator Elvira Guardiola.

http://www.telegram.com/article/20100307/NEWS/3070382/1116