BUFFALO, N.Y. — 40 dollars...
It might not seem like a lot of money, but Jim Vice of Eden tells 2 On Your Side it's worth fighting for because he wants to hold the City of Buffalo Parking Enforcement Division accountable for what they promised him.
Back in April, Vice came to 2 On Your Side after trying to contest a parking ticket that he knew was a mistake. He got it for parking at a handicap metered spot in downtown Buffalo, in front of Shea's Performing Arts Center on Pearl Street.
"I came to you guys because I was upset," Vice said to Investigative Reporter Emily Lampa in April. "It made me ill. And I thought, 'You know, they're not going to listen to me. They'll listen to you.'"
He says he tried to explain to Parking Enforcement that the signage on the street didn't make sense: two "No Standing Any Time" signs on either side of the handicap metered parking spot.
When we approached parking enforcement and public works about this the heads of both those departments admitted the signage was in wrong place.
The sign situation was fixed immediately, which begs the question, 'Why is it taking so long for Vice to get his refund and apology?'
After the story aired in April 16, 2018, we asked Vice to let us know if the city followed through on their promises.
August 17, 2018, Vice sent 2 On Your Side a letter which read in part "They lied to you and myself, I have not received anything from them. If the shoe was on the other foot, I would now owe them lots of money in penalties and such..."
We asked parking commissioner Kevin Helfer to talk to us today in an on camera interview, but he told us that request needs to go through the city spokesperson, Mike DeGeorge.
DeGeorge never officially turned down our request, but he did not facilitate the interview.
There were a number of phone calls and text messages exchanged on Monday. Commissioner Helfer told 2 On Your Side a parking ticket refund can take some time to be issued because of "procedures" the parking enforcement division has to follow.
DeGeorge says most of the delay is likely because of increased parking enforcement volume during the summer months and that it can take anywhere from 16 to 90 days, or longer, for a refund to be processed.
When we asked how much longer it might be until Vice gets his money back, DeGeorge said a check will be mailed to him within the next 10 days.
As for an apology, DeGeorge tells 2 On Your Side the City of Buffalo apologizes to Jim Vice for any inconvenience the delay may have caused.