Why have the police kept them until they have all added up to a huge amount and then given them to me? Couldn't they have told me after the first time I parked there?
Seriously, do people have nothing better to do than to report visitors parking in visitor spaces?
Is there anything I can do about this hefty fine? Could it of perhaps been a misunderstanding on there part? The number I'm trying to ring won't even answer!
If they're nothing to do with the police, then I imagine they'll be interested what's being sent in their name.
Also, is there a payment slip? What name is on there? The Kantonal Police?
Secondly, draft a letter to the police explaining the situation. You were visiting your boyfriend who lives (lived) in that appartment block at those dates for which you are being fined. Include a copy of the rental agreement from your boyfriend. Make sure you also explain you do not live in Geneva (you may wish to include a copy of your rental contract too) and therefore you were a ligitmate visitor. Have your boyfriend sign a statement to the fact.
Hopefully, if there was no time limit for use of the spaces by visitors, the fines will then be nullyfied. Make sure you do this ASAP. Often one has a 10 (sometimes 30) day right of reply.
Good Luck.
Most fines come with a section allowing you to make your case.
In this instance you probably need to explain that you were visiting your partner in that flat and provide proof that you were not living there, as well as proof that he was. Also, you might want to get a letter from whomever you spoke to ("person in charge of building" that you mention) as well to confirm that you had discussed this with him at the time.
Edited to add:
Doh - beaten to it by lawyerd
I read an article about this in one of the Swiss national papers a few months ago. It appears that in big towns commuters have been abusing visitor parking spaces and parking their cars illegally in spaces within easy walking distance of the local train station. So some 'concierge' in these buildings have been hiring private companies to check cars parked in visitor spaces and fine where necessary.
In this article a woman was complaining, much as in your case, that she had been visiting her boyfriend and had occasionally parked in the visitor spaces overnight. She was being fined by the private agency because the claim that visitor places are for people who 'visit', ie. a couple of hours from time to time!
This woman was being taken to court for quite a large sum of money.
The story is so similar to yours!
Check if the fines are coming from a private company, obviously one of the neighbors has complained and taken note of every one of your visits, then sent the information on to the fining agency.
Try to ask the concierge if this is the case, perhaps they could help clarify why you are receiving these fines.
I'm sorry to say I don't know the outcome of the situation told in the newspaper article, so can't advise. However, I wish you luck in clearing this up.
The frequency and duration, probably led building mgt. to believe that your usage was more akin to someone seeking free parking, than just visiting, and that they passed details onto the Police.
The on the spot caretaker probably notes all vehicles, that he's not familiar with, using the building parking.
As long as you can document that your boyfriend was resident there at the times of the offence, and that you were just visiting (i.e. had a different address, not near by), you should (hopefully) get off with it.
Hassle and possibly an admin. charge, but better than the full wack.
where you hope you get a little screwed for doing nothing wrong, instead of getting a lot screwed for doing nothing wrong
He? Did you maroons read andiholloway's and TiMow's responses at all? Jerks!
Helpful was a change from other places we had lived where the watch merely reported that: our grass was too long, the pile of dirt for the garden had been in the driveway too long i.e. 31 hours (7 hours past the limit, despite the Tornado warnings...), we weren't allowed to grow pumpkins (I fought that one - it was nowhere in the bylaws.) Anyway, I told MDH that I didn't ever want to live in a subdivision again and he said "you do realize we are moving to a giant subdivision called Switzerland, right?"
It's sad that this person, if is was a person, just didn't confront you and give you the head's up - "Hey, you can't park here. Don't do it again, or I'll report you" or something like it. Like you said, you would have stopped. The passive aggressive sneakiness of your accusers is disheartening. I'm new here, so maybe that's just how it is done?
That can't be good
be carfull as there are some people, companies like the one above they just put parking ticket even if you are not wrong and they will follow with you till they put you in the Betreibung !!! looks they have no work only getting paid from the parking ticket . just google the company name along with the word busee and ou will know the rest .
since then i park only in my own car place !!!and sometimes you are not sure as well !
I suspect these accusations are not from the police, go and ask the police if they have sent them!
I suspect this is a scam, with POLICE at the top of the form and a private bank account at the bottom.
You need to scan the document and publish it on here and maybe we can help you.