Park Ranger Ticket

[Spookin'Em43]

Fished Lake Clementine today, and they have a self pay box. Normally I would pay the correct fee, but today we got to the lake and noticed we were $5 bucks short. I put what I could in the box and hoped I wouldnt get cited...well I did. Ranger left me a damn near $70 ticket. Is there any way to get out of this? I would have paid the full amount, but I was a few bucks shy. I would be more than happy to give them the $5. If anyone has any advice, thatd be great. I dont mind taking responsibility for it, just thought Id see if anyone has gotten outa' these before. On a happier note, boated 7 fish today, not stellar, but better than nothing!

Thanks!
Derrick

[Grape Ape]

Derrick,
I did something similar a few years ago at San Luis. I wasn't short cash but, didn't have the correct amount. I was not leaving them a $8 tip either. My intentions was to pay on the way out. When we got out of the water I found a citation on my windshield. It was for I believe $85. I contested it in a written letter and won. They didn't even ask for my gate fee that I was more than willing to pay. The info on how to contest the ticket should be on the back.

[keithcant]

Next time I attend a ball game.....I'll pay 85% of the ticket fee and expect to get in>
Do you think the fee posted was a Suggested starting bid?

On your way to the lake....get gas and suggest an offer O of say $2.60/gal.

LOTS OF LUCK....................AND you think you have a position to complain!!

[bryanmc]

That's one of the reasons I always keep a blank check stuck in my wallet. They may not want to accept it, but the worst they can do is ask you to exchange it for cash later.

[Grape Ape]

A little harsh Keith but, I have to agree with what your saying.

[Rod Martin]

*NM*

[Bill K]

You can always give the court a explanation, and hope the judge takes that into consideration, but the best thing to do, is always have the amount needed before going to any of the lakes that charge. We all know the fee, or should, and be prepared.
As mentioned we know what the fee is to enter a movie, game, etc and are prepared to pay the price.
Bill K

[Tarpon120]

You should have followed Harry and Lloyd's lead and written an I.O.U.

[Spookin'Em43]

Thanks guys, and Keith, I see your point, but I am not complaining about it. I was just trying to see if there was a way to give them the $5 instead of the $68. To be honest, when I walked to my truck at the end of the day and saw a white envelope on my windshield, I just chuckled. I have no problem paying the ticket....just thought id see what options are out there before I send them the full amount, especially being a college student in this economy.

[CN]

I have left a $20 several times at northern lakes and had the ranger hunt me down with change when I came off the water. If you dont bring the right amount then you pay more not less

Once over at San Luis I only had a $20 when it was $12 for the boat and truck so I went ahead and put the $20 in.

About a month later I got a check from the State for $8.

[Jeff C.]

A few years ago I was fishing one of the gold country lakes (Pardee maybe, I can't remember which one) and I didn't have the correct change for the self-service envelope so I left a larger amount than required. A few days later I was happy to receive a letter in the mail from the ranger with my change. I thought that was a very nice gesture.

Jeff C.

[OLD MOSS BACK]

Wow Keith! You sound like a really neat guy. I am sure everyone is hoping you respond to the questions with all your great info. Apparently you were raised pretty poorly and have little or no people skills. I saw a guy who was asking a question not to complain but for info and he gets someone like you who wants to make him look foolish. Pretty cool dude.

Ketihcant.....well you guys can fill in the blank.....

[Whoopbass]

Contest it like suggested by "Grape Ape".
It's the only shot you have. I contested a speeding ticket by "trial by declaration" and won. Law enforcement will always show up in court and the Judge sides with them 99.9% of the time. Who ever wrote the citation will also have to state their side of the story by declaration and half the time their to lazy to do it and if they fail to do it the Judge will toss out the cite.

If the pay booth was supposed to be attended and wasn't then that would be a good argument.

If the citation money was going to a good cause then I would say pay it but the $$ will just be wasted.

[mrfishin86]

funny that they wont pay for someone to attend a booth, but they'll pay for someone to drive around and check to make sure everyone has paid their fee

[Spookin'Em43]

Had I had a $20 bill in my wallet, I would have slipped that in the envelope no questions asked. It came down to a few options, and I chose to leave what I had in the envelope, instead of not paying at all.

[Steve]

I did that one time and what I did was call them, explain to them that I must have mis-counted the money I put in the envelope, and could I please just send them the money I owed for fishing. They said yes, just send us the money and we will cancel the ticket. Give it a try, it might save you some money.

[Barry Watson]

I fish Clementine quite a bit as well as Rawlins and others. I have made it a habit to take some extra envelopes out of the boxes and stick them in my fishing bag. I fill them out and put the money in before we go. The idea of carrying a blank check is also a good one.

[huddleston]

I have actually paid the launch fee and still got a ticket. I think some knuckle heads were stealing the envelopes out of the boxes, at least that what I told the ramp patrol when he said I didn't pay. But now, if I forgot cash or have the incorrect change, I leave a note, I explain the deal to the ramp patrol, and let them know I'll pay as soon as I get off the water. It's worked before

[smworker1]

Last year had sortof the same thing happen was $9.00 short in greenbacks (wife got into the wallet again)
Luckly I don't smoke so all my spare change goes into the "ash tray" pulled out 9 bucks worth of change put it in the envelope.
When we got back in I saw the ranger, and I asked her if she found my envelope "the heavy one" at the bottom of the bin holding all the other down?
She laughed and said it was the first time someone had put that much change in one.

[Wild Bill]

Are the "iron ranger" fees the same statewide in parks ?

Seriously, if so, we all are adults and SHOULD know what to expect fee wise, and BE PREPARED for it.

If so, you KNOW in ADVANCE what the fees are going to be, so stop and GET THE EXACT FEE in advance.
Don't expect the ranger to chase you down to give you a refund for over payment, nor expect NOT to get ticketed for not leaving enough.

Yes, it is FAR cheaper for the state to having a couple of Rangers driving from park to park than having a guy sitting in a booth all day in each and every park for the entire time the park is open

[Marty]

Spookin'Em43,

Que Serra Serra (an old song from the 50’s) meaning “What will be, will beâ€