Article from: www.thenewspaper.com/news/04/459.asp
6/13/2005
Connecticut Town Claims One-Year Statute of Limitations on Parking Tickets
The town of Greenwich, Connecticut argues state law provides a one-year statute of limitations on parking tickets.
Although several Connecticut cities are making millions by confiscating cars with old, unpaid parking tickets, at least one city believes the practice is illegal. Greenwich Town Attorney John Wetmore issued a memo that argues Connecticut law prohibits pursuing collection on parking tickets that are older than a year in state court.
According to Connecticut General Statutes, "No suit for any forfeiture upon any penal statute shall be brought but within one year next after the commission of the offense. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any civil action brought by the state or a municipality, or any officer or agent thereof, to recover a forfeiture or civil penalty." (Ch. 926 Sec. 52-585)
Bridgeport, New Haven and Waterbury have been using the Bootfinder camera system to seize cars for old parking tickets, even if the tickets amount to only $85. These and other towns collecting on old tickets dispute Greenwich's reading of the law.
Article Excerpt:Stamford uses its own collection agency to pursue scofflaws. "You better believe it," said Dan Colleluori, supervisor of the city's cashiering and permitting office. "So we go after anybody with any outstanding parking tickets -- five years old, 10 years old."
Source: Law may hinder scofflaw hunt (Greenwich Time (CT), 6/13/2005)
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