reemoe

Last week, I had the unfortunate luck of not seeing a sign in downtown Honolulu (King and Cooke Streets) that notified I parked in a Tow Zone (from 3:30 - 5:30 PM). My family was eating at the TGI Friday's and came back to no car!!

Parking downtown is already sparse, when we finally came to a few parking spots available (we DID note the sign that mentioned it was 2 hour parking, which was plenty). We also fed enough quarters in the meter.

After our late lunch, shortly after 4 pm, we find our car gone. We walked to the police station a few blocks away and they were able to help identify which tow company was involved. Luckily, we had relatives who were able to pick us up and take us to the tow yard to pay our $124 to get our car back.

Question--there was also a "Parking Complaint" on our windshield from the Traffic Violations Bureau for $50. Does anyone know if I owe this as well, considering it was a rental car? Do the tow companies write these out, as it doesn't seem enough time had passed for the police to have written out the ticket and notified the tow company before we arrived (15 or so minutes after the ticket was written)?

Thanks for your input!
Ryan

MaxwellSmart

Check your rental agreement, brother. In there, it normally states that you're on the hook for whatever charges you incur while in possession of the vehicle. Can't remember the exact legal verbiage.

auntiemaria

Whoever signs the car rental agreement, is responsible for anything which happens during the rental period...including tickets.

And for those who are thinking they'll just ignore any fines/fees slapped on the car and let the car rental company pay for it -- think again. The car rental company has your credit card info and will _definitely_ make you pay (some of them also apply their own penalties, to those who "skip out").

lcuy

You do owe the parking citation. If you do not pay, the state of Hawaii will first notify teh rental agency to have tehm collect, then will put your name in the big ole computer and you won't be able to renew your driver's license in other states or Canada.

They used to just ignore rental car citations, then realized how much money they were losing and started collections.

You should pay it within the 7 days to get the cheaper rate.

lcuy

PS- the cops have to write a ticket before the tow company hauls it.

The cops and the tow trucks are waiting on King at 3:30. Parked cars really mess up the traffic flow. My old office was one block from there and i got ticketed a couple times, but always beat the tow truck!

nytraveler

You parked the car - you owe the money. And you're lucky it's $50 - here it;s from $125 up depending on the neighborhood - plus something like $800 in towing and impound charges.

You really do need to look at street parking signs.

TxTravelPro

I have received 2 parking tickets in rental cars...
#1 Unlucky ... I was in downtown LA shopping in the Fashion district and my meter ran out. I had my watch timing the meter and it had expired less than 3 minutes prior to my arrival.
I was a little bitter about it and did not pay it. Within a few weeks I had a brand new copy of the ticket sent via certified mail (or something like that) from the LA Municipal Court. I paid it immediately.
#2 Deliberate... in a meeting in Ottawa and ran out the meter because I did not want to leave an important meeting. Paid using my credit card over an automated phone system.
The LA ticket was about 75 and the Ottawa ticket was 50.