Parking Tickets Can Soon Be Appealed Online

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Appealing a parking ticket in the City of Pittsburgh can add insult to injury. You have to schedule a hearing, come downtown and pay again to park.

But in just a few weeks, you'll be able to appeal your parking tickets from the comfort of your own home.

Due to illness, Ronald Matthews missed his parking court hearing last week, so on Friday he had to come back downtown to reschedule.

"It is what it is. I've got another one scheduled," said Matthews.

But in a few weeks, Matthews and everyone else who finds a ticket on their windshield can spare themselves the trip.

That's when the Pittsburgh Parking Authority will begin allowing people to appeal their tickets online.

Cities like Boston, Mass., already have the option of appealing tickets online by entering the ticket number and typing in the reason for the appeal in an allotted space. You can even attach photos as evidence, all from your home computer or laptop.

"You can do it after-hours, not have to pay for additional parking downtown," said Dave Onorato, of the Pittsburgh Parking Authority. "If that's the issue, you can do it in the evening after hours when your home and you don't have to miss time for work."

People who made the trek downtown to appeal like the idea.

"I think it would be a good thing because you could do it from the comfort of your own place," said Alain Tamo, of Penn Hills.

"You wouldn't have to pay for the parking or all the hassle - as long as you get the same result, a fair hearing," added John Hillenbrand, of Moon Township.

But online appeals won't come soon enough to help Matthews.

"There should be an easier way," he said.

And in a few weeks, there will be that easier way - appealing tickets online, and if you don't like the results, you can always come back downtown.

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