On Your Side: Fighting an unfair parking ticket

CTV Montreal: How to fight parking tickets

Tow truck drivers are very active during a Montreal winter, moving cars off streets about to be cleared of snow. Each car needing to be moved is slapped with a hefty ticket.

Isaac Enio knows that all too well, having received three tickets this winter at $112 each.

"The second time it happened there was like honestly 2 cm worth of snow," said Enio.

He said dozens of cars on his street were ticketed and towed this year. He does not think his tickets were legitimate.

"There was no signage at all. Every single time I got towed there was no signage," said Enio.

Anna Sgontzos spends her breaks moving her car, she cites the short notice the city provides for snow removal.

"I'm not the only one. There's other people too that do this every time," said Sgontzos.

She got frustrated when she parked in what she said was a legal spot and still got towed.

"There was nothing," indicating it was not a legitimate parking spot, said Sgontozs. She took pictures to prove it.

The final straw for Enio came when he had his car towed and left in front of a fire hydrant.

"At that point I was like something has to be done."

Three hours' notice

The City of Montreal only has to provide drivers with three hours notice that cars must be moved for snow removal.

Lawyer Jordan Charness says anyone with proof a mistake was made should fight it.

"Not only can you contest them but they're quite winnable," said Charness.

However there are certain caveats to be aware of: challengers cannot be refunded for time off work and if they lose they may have to pay court fees.

"It's a lose-lose situation," said Charness.

But Charness said anyone challenging a ticket has several options, including asking for the case to be heard at the municipal court closest to their home or office, or asking to be heard at night court "so that you do not lose your day at work in certain circumstances."

It is also possible to avoid court altogether.

"You do have the right to ask for the date and time that the temporary parking signs were put out," said Charness, which could result in the ticket being cancelled without a hearing.

Armed with that information, Enio thinks he has a strong case, especially as he fights three tickets.

"Four hundred dollars, that's like half a week's worth of work," said Enio. "It's not a joke."