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Parking Ticket? Look Again

Parking Ticket? Look Again image
Parent Issue
Day
25
Month
July
Year
1974
Copyright
Copyright Protected
Rights Held By
Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
OCR Text

Some Ann cSntor motoras are being startled by the sight of parking tickets which aren't parking tickets on their windshields. The fake tickets, made up as almost exact reproductions of the real thing, are actually advertisements for Harold Moon, a local bail bondsman, running for the Democratie nomination for state senator. Moon, a city resident, is basing part of his campaign for the Aug. 6 primary on an attack on the legality of parking meters. Moon claims the revenue from parking meters actually is a form of unlegislated taxation. He says enforcement of meter regulations violates constitutional guarantees of due process and equal tion under the law. "People must pay taxes to land extending to the middle of the road in front of their business places and homes," Moon says. "The city of Ann Arbor rents the land for parking by way of the meters, then collects the rent and levies fines against those who cannot pay. It's a disgrace." Moon has pledged to back legislation abolishing the parking meter system if he is nominated and elected to a State Senate seat. On the back of Moon's phony parking tickets is the message: "Sorry to startle you with this 'ticket' but it's our way of informing you that your rights are being violated by parking meter regulations and that there is a candidate for the State Senate who intends to do something about it." The message side of the "ticket" also serves as a postcard addressed to Moon's campaign headquarters. The "ticket" is accompanied by a sticker reading "Who needs this? Moon doesn't. Do you?" The fake tickets came to the attention of city officials yesterday when at least one person took one to the District Court to pay the fine. City Attorney Edwin L. Pear said while no one has complained about the tickets, and it's not illegal to advertise this way, it is unlawful to place handbills of any sort on car windshields. No prosecution can take place, however, unless an officer observes someone actually placing the handbill on vehicles. City Council will also act soon to ban the placement of handbills from parking meters, traffic signs and poles and hvdrants.