# What will happen if I don't pay a parking ticket issued by a private parking lot? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 6, 2017, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512 "2017-03-06T02:25:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/1 "2017-03-06T02:25:05Z")
I got a $25 ticket for going over the time limit in a private parking lot. At first I thought it was a NYC ticket, but then I noticed the ticket said it was issued by the SP Plus Corporation. Has anyone received a ticket issued by a private company and didn’t pay it? Anything happen? I can’t imagine they would have anyway of enforcing the ticket if I didn’t pay. ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/2 "2017-03-06T02:35:40Z")
Check your local jurisdiction Some places can and will put it against your drivers license ---
**Author:** ![race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/race_to_the_bottom)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/3 "2017-03-06T03:22:44Z")
Parking lot operators are part of the real estate racket and run city hall with their campaign donations. They probably have arranged to have the DMV collect for them. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/4 "2017-03-06T03:45:42Z")
Legal advice is best suited to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/5 "2017-03-06T03:48:07Z")
First, are you sure it was actually a private lot, and not a municipal lot managed by SP Plus? Second, what do you mean by " going over the time limit "? I ask because in my experience in private lots you take a ticket and pay by the hour when you leave. Or there’s a flat rate, which you might pay either when you enter or when you leave. But paying for a specific amount of time n advance, like through a meter, I’ve only seen in municipal lots. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/6 "2017-03-06T04:30:15Z")
They’ll turn it over to collections (after adding ‘late fees’, of course), and you’ll get dinged on your credit rating. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/7 "2017-03-06T04:56:46Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > First, are you sure it was actually a private lot, and not a municipal lot managed by SP Plus? Second, what do you mean by " going over the time limit "? I ask because in my experience in private lots you take a ticket and pay by the hour when you leave. Or there’s a flat rate, which you might pay either when you enter or when you leave. But paying for a specific amount of time n advance, like through a meter, I’ve only seen in municipal lots. It’s a metered lot. But the signs on the lot say it’s a private lot. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/8 "2017-03-06T10:11:03Z")
In the UK, these ‘tickets’ are really just invoices. They are charging you for providing a space and the potential penalty would have to be clearly displayed. If you don’t pay an invoice they can choose to go to court and get a judgement against you which would add costs and impact your credit rating. Of course, you could defend the case, maybe by demonstrating that the Ts & Cs weren’t properly displayed or that there was some other defect. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/9 "2017-03-06T11:59:14Z")
How over the limit were you? Were there signs indicating what would happen if you over stayed? Can’ this just you call the municipality and ask if it’s the same as a police issued ticket? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/10 "2017-03-06T14:33:46Z")
In Saskatchewan, the big parking companies used to issue “tickets” like the one the OP described, to make people think they were some sort of parking ticket. But after some complaints, the Law Society pointed out to them that the Legal Profession Act makes it an offence to issue documents purporting to be court process that are not actually issued by the courts. The parking companies changed their docs to make it clear that it was a notice of breach of the contractual parking terms, not actually a ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/11 "2017-03-06T14:57:31Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > > [@doreen](#): > > > > First, are you sure it was actually a private lot, and not a municipal lot managed by SP Plus? Second, what do you mean by " going over the time limit "? I ask because in my experience in private lots you take a ticket and pay by the hour when you leave. Or there’s a flat rate, which you might pay either when you enter or when you leave. But paying for a specific amount of time n advance, like through a meter, I’ve only seen in municipal lots. > > It’s a metered lot. But the signs on the lot say it’s a private lot. I’ve only ever seen parking meters in municipal parking lots or at street parking spots. Are you willing to share the address of the parking lot? I’d like to look it up to see who owns it. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/12 "2017-03-06T15:30:47Z")
This may be pertinent - they do seem to work with local municipalities for parking enforcement. > **[Parking Meters and Enforcement - SP+](http://www.spplus.com/subpage/municipal/parking-meters-enforcement/)** > > We’re experts in parking meter installation and maintenance, collections, and enforcement... Continue reading → ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/13 "2017-03-06T17:12:23Z")
Around here, Diamond lots are the norm. You don’t pay, they send you to collections and you’ll end up paying a lot more to get it off your credit report. Much better to pay it off without late fees and collection fees. $25 escalates to $200 quickly. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/14 "2017-03-06T18:50:00Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > They’ll turn it over to collections (after adding ‘late fees’, of course), and you’ll get dinged on your credit rating. > [@wguy123](#): > > Around here, Diamond lots are the norm. You don’t pay, they send you to collections and you’ll end up paying a lot more to get it off your credit report. Much better to pay it off without late fees and collection fees. $25 escalates to $200 quickly. :smack: Expect collections, I would assume. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/15 "2017-03-06T19:58:15Z")
Let me see if I understand. You parked in a lot, owned by a private company, that had meters. I assume that there was signage in the lot and on the meters that indicated their policy. You parked there longer than the period you paid for. They left you a notice that you owed them $25 for parking, again which as spelled out on the signs and the meter. What difference does it make if it was NYC municipality or a private company? You owe the $25. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/16 "2017-03-06T20:02:27Z")
The question is how a private company could enforce a parking ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/17 "2017-03-06T21:17:05Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The question is how a private company could enforce a parking ticket. The answer appears to be either through Collections or through arrangements with local municipalities. ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/18 "2017-03-07T19:18:29Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The question is how a private company could enforce a parking ticket. … as well as WILL they enforce it? Its quite common for organizations or individuals to have the ability to take you to court (and win), but a decision is made not to pursue the matter for various reasons… cost being high among them. So naturally it depends; if the company has an easy semi-automated arrangement set up to collect on such tickets yours might just get added to the list to pursue. Or they might just issue them as warnings and leave it at that… hard to say. There’s probably a hundred variants on what could and would be done across the country, and there’s really no 1 correct answer. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/19 "2017-03-07T22:28:56Z")
> [@mmmiiikkkeee](#): > > There’s probably a hundred variants on what could and would be done across the country, and there’s really no 1 correct answer. But most of those variants will eventually end up in collections. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512/20 "2017-03-07T22:36:06Z")
> [@mmmiiikkkeee](#): > > … as well as WILL they enforce it? Its quite common for organizations or individuals to have the ability to take you to court (and win), but a decision is made not to pursue the matter for various reasons… cost being high among them. I just asked one of our Collections people, and she said the smallest amount she’s made a collection call on was $40-something – for a parking ticket. It’s usually not a matter of taking it to court. They send it to Collections, and they don’t have to deal with it. But you can bet they WILL send it to a collection company. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-if-i-dont-pay-a-parking-ticket-issued-by-a-private-parking-lot/781512.md?page=2)