Obama finally pays local parking tickets

The Somerville News ^ | March 07, 2007 | George P. Hassett

[Brown Deer]

Before Barack Obama was a United States senator and a presidential hopeful, he was a Harvard University law student living in Somerville who parked in bus stops and accumulated hundreds of dollars in parking tickets. And for nearly two decades those parking tickets went unpaid, until a representative of Obama’s settled all his outstanding debts with Cambridge’s Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department Jan. 26.

Obama attended Harvard Law School from 1988 to 1991. During his time at Harvard, Obama lived at 365 Broadway in Somerville, according to his parking tickets. Records from the Cambridge Traffic, Parking and Transportation office show that between Oct. 5, 1988 and Jan. 12, 1990 Obama was cited for 17 traffic violations, sometimes committing two in the same day. The abuses included parking in a resident permit area, parking in a bus stop and failing to pay the meter. Twelve of Obama’s 17 tickets were given to him on Massachusetts Avenue.

In one eight day stretch in 1988, Obama was cited seven times for parking violations and was fined $45. Thirteen of the 17 violations occurred within one month in 1988.

Obama’s disobedience of the rules of the road earned him $140 in fines from the City of Cambridge. The tickets went unpaid for over 17 years and $260 in late fees were added to the tab. On Jan. 26, the fines and late fees were paid in full. The final tally for Obama’s parking breaches was $400, according to Cambridge Traffic, Parking and Transportation.

Obama spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said the presidential candidate’s parking violations were not relevant.

“He didn’t owe that much and what he did owe, he paid,” Psaki said. “Many people have parking tickets and late fees. All the parking tickets and late fees were paid in full.”

Psaki declined to comment further. She refused to say how the fines went unpaid so long and what prompted Obama to finally pay them.

At Harvard, Obama became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. After school, he spent eight years in the Illinois state senate before becoming a United States Senator in 2005. He is currently campaigning for the Democratic nomination for president.

[Brown Deer]

Jennifer Psaki said, "That was many years ago! I believe that the distinguished friend of domestic terrorist bomber Bill Ayers has been rehabilitated since then."

[Brown Deer]

ping

[Netizen]

Seventeen years. Did he pay them or did somebody else pay them. He seems to have had others paying his way for him.

[Delta 21]

It must really be tough being an elitist.

But Im probly too stupid to fully comprehend its depth.

Guess I’ll just be a plumber instead.

[Samizdat]

I’m wondering if the campaign paid them. If so, that would really be disgusting.

[henkster]

Why didn’t I hear this in the msm? Oh, they ran the story on a some poor plumber, a normal guy not running for office, who owes some back taxes instead. Glad they got their priorities straight.

This country has gone totally nuts.

[an amused spectator]

I’m pretty sure if you had parking tickets outstanding for 17 years that there would be some sort of legal sanction involved, and the fine would not be only $400.

[Jim Robinson]

Laws are intended only for mere mortals.

[ridesthemiles]

I’m wondering if the campaign paid them. If so, that would really be disgusting.””

If paid out of campaign funds, I believe that would be illegal.

[popdonnelly]

Bwahahahahahaha! And they’re complaining about Joe the Plumber’s tax lien. Phonies. Hypocrites. Charlatans.

[skimbell]

Phakin thug!

[lightman]

No matter the color of the skin, ANYONE who behaves like that is an uppity....

[tina07]

and I just read on another thread that Joe the Plumber had his license pulled in Ohio for unpaid tickets in Arizona. Big deal when it’s Joe but another pass for THAT ONE.

Joe is being ripped to shreads, no job and now no driver license. He dared to ask a question of THAT ONE and now his life has been turned upside down and inside out, amazing.

[popdonnelly]

“Why didn’t I hear this in the msm?”

The news media is more than biased. They are dishonest. They should be shunned.

[feedback doctor]

“It is patriotic to get parking tickets and not pay them for 17 years.” The main stream media

[fso301]

What State was the vehicle tagged in? What State did he claim residency in at the time?

[kcvl]

bttt

[southernnorthcarolina]

It's a small matter (in comparison to, say, associating with terrorists), but a telling one.

Even if he'd paid the parking tickets promptly, the fact that he accumulated so many of them says loud and clear that he felt that the laws didn't apply to him. The mindset that paying fines excuses offenses is just wrong. Every time he parked illegally (whether an expired meter or parking in a no-parking zone), even if he had promptly paid the fines, he was inconveniencing someone else.

The fact that he didn't pay his fines until it became a political necessity to do so compounds the offenses.

[Fireone]

In Minnesota, a warrant is issued after a short period of
time.

[an amused spectator]

http://www.cambridgema.gov/CityOfCambridge_Content/documents/tpat_regulations_sept_2007.pdf

Appendix D (at the very end of the PDF) is fascinating. There's a 1st late fee, a 2nd late fee, and a 3rd late fee for each violation. As of March 28, 2008 (The One's servant paid the "fines" in January 2008, apparently), the 1st late fee was $10.00, the 2nd late fee was $20.00, and the 3rd late fee was $40.00. Per violation.

So, knock off half each for ancient days, and you're still looking at $50.00 a crack per violation [$15.00 for the initial, $5.00 first late fee, $10.00 for second late fee and $20.00 for third late fee]. That's only about 8 violations - and that's if the local gendarmes don't get bent out of shape at you flipping them off for 17 years.

Something smells REAL ripe here.

[Aliska]

It sounds like he did it on purpose rather than drive around and look for an available one. I think maybe I've had 5 in my life. None were on purpose. And I paid right away so I wouldn't forget and get hauled into court which I think they do here and fined.

Sometimes they do blow off your car, but not that many.

Nothing will come of it. I think I could overlook it if it weren't for all the rest. It's like laws only apply to the proletariat.

[an amused spectator]

Same in our area. Some Ones are above the law, apparently...

[DannyTN]

Campaign expense?

[El Gato]

I’m wondering if the campaign paid them. If so, that would really be disgusting

Probably illegal too. But the campaign donated $800,000 to an offshoot of ACORN, so anything is possible.

[Enchante]

While the Mediascum are so busy going over Joe the Plumber’s kindergarten records you’d think they might find a little time to scrutinize everything about the PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE Barack Obama.

[rockinqsranch]

Believe it or not this really is a reflection on the character of Obama.

[antioscar]

Somerville can thank “Joe the Plumber”....;)

[LikeLight]

Thugocracy.

[an amused spectator]

OK. I got to 2005 in the Wayback Machine. Parking meter overtime was $20.00, bus stop was $20.00 and resident permit only was $30.00. Add $35 for maxing out the late fees, and you get an average of $50 or more per pop.

Let's say $25 in late fees per violation, times 17 violations. The late fees for the 17 violations come out to $425 - $25 more than reported total. Apparently, Cambridge was PAYING people to commit parking violations - in Obama's case, a negative $25.00.

[mlocher]

In one eight day stretch in 1988, Obama was cited seven times for parking violations

Seven for eight is a pretty good batting average!

[apt4truth]

How did he graduate with unpaid parking tickets?

[antioscar]

Harvard Law School! He was in "law school", HARVARD none the less, and doing this!!! That goes to show his complete disregard for the law.

[Yaelle]

Dude, where's my car???

[Galleta]

DMV in Massachusetts

If You Get a Traffic Ticket in Massachusetts

You have 20 days to pay your ticket or request a hearing. If you don’t do one or the other, you are technically in default and face suspension of your license indefinitely. Continue to ignore the payment and the RMV can file charges in court, which can result in a warrant being issued for your arrest.

Parking tickets are not considered traffic violations and are due to the municipality where the violation occurred. You need to pay the traffic tickets or you will not be able to renew your driver’s license or registration.

http://www.dmv.org/ma-massachusetts/paying-tickets.php#If_You_Don’t_Pay_Your_Traffic_Ticket

[RatsDawg]

Didn’t we hear right away in the msm about how Sarah Palin got some hunting fine back in the early 90’s for not having the proper license?

[Galleta]

“Obama spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said the presidential candidate’s parking violations were not relevant”

I bet if Obama was JOE THE PLUMBER they would be very relevant!

[Paladin2]

I still have outstanding Boston parking tickets, I'd guess. In the days before computerized databases, they didn't followup on tickets for out of state plates. The tickets made nice mobiles when artistically attached to each other and hung by the window.

In Boston, double parking was a regular practice and triple parking an art form.

It's free parking that made America great.

[BobbyT]

I believe it was fishing.

But you need to understand that on the great socialist farm, some are more equal than others.

And here in O’Teleprompter’s home of Chitcago, there is no way on earth 17 tickets, plus 2nd warnings, plus 3rd warnings and late fees would come out to $400. I doubt Boston is any better...barring some Chicago-style Rezko-esque favors, it should probably be at least 3-4x that.

[Redbob]

Parking tickets:
That’s the only reason *I* haven’t run for President!

[LucyT]

Thanks, Brown Deer.

Pinging, and adding a few links.

An Examination of Obama’s Use of Hidden Hypnosis Techniques in His Speeches

Rick Ross Cult Information Forum (posted link from Las Vegas Penny Press) ^ | Oct. 2008 |

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2109105/posts

-

Searching for Obama’s 95 Percent

The American Spectator ^ | 10.16.08 | Philip Klein

“How can Obama cut taxes for 95% of Americans when 40% pay no income tax?”

3 posted on Saturday, October 18, 2008 7:30:20 PM by george76

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2109203/posts

-

Thank you, Fred Nerks. Interesting thread:

The Ultimate Web Site On Obama’s Past

http://www.ObamasPast.com

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2109168/posts?page=8#8

[beethoven]

His campaign funds probably paid the fines. He thinks he’s above the law. What a piece of work.

[airedale]

Campaign money?

[Mad-Margaret]

How did Obama clear the character and fitness committee of the Illinois bar with all those unpaid parking tickets? The Illinois bar does not admit an applicant until all outstanding parking tickets are paid. (I distinctly remember that question on the character and fitness application. And I also remember my classmates scrambling to pay off their fines. Heh!)

Either someone pulled strings for Obama or he lied on his application.

[Carismar]

Wow, can you imagine the fuss if Palin had done this?

[Netizen]

I’m wondering if the campaign paid them. If so, that would really be disgusting.

Actually, THAT would be newsworthy! lol

[CORedneck]

I am sure that Obama would want a person’s head on a platter if they ignore Chicago parking tickets. “Do as I say and not as I do”.

[Netizen]

Don’t they put out bench warrants or something? I thought the fines seemed awfully low for 17 years worth of fines.

[Kickass Conservative]

All Muslims are equal, but some Muslims are more equal than others.

[TigersEye]

He’s nothing but a scofflaw.