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Dallas Morning News
November 15, 2007 Service branches say GIs who got tickets will pay
By Dave Levinthal, The Dallas Morning News
The U.S. military found itself negotiating a truce Wednesday with Dallas City Hall, a day after city parking officials immobilized eight military recruiting vehicles, and impounded four of them, because the armed forces failed to pay off dozens of parking tickets.
"They've contacted us on numerous occasions today wanting to know what they can do to rectify the situation," said Zena Fernino, Dallas' parking management and enforcement division manager. "They do recognize that they have the outstanding tickets, and they seem very interested in taking care of the situation."
That situation, according to city records, is a five-figure affair: In all, the four military branches owe Dallas $12,265 in unpaid parking fines and fees.
Of that, the Army owes the most ($9,140), followed by the Marines ($3,010) and Navy ($115). The Air Force is debt-free.
"We're concerned. This is something that we definitely want to take care of," said Lt. Col. Gregory Chaney, the commander of retention and recruitment for the Texas Army National Guard.
Col. Chaney says he's sent word to battalions throughout Texas that individual recruiters are responsible for parking tickets they incur while on official business. Ignoring parking tickets, he said, "is unacceptable behavior and something that does not represent our values."
Taxpayer dollars won't be used to pay off debts, as superiors will require the soldiers responsible for incurring the tickets to pay them with their own money, Col. Chaney added.
Dallas is in the process of producing a detailed list of tickets for the military, Ms. Fernino said.
Among the cars Dallas immobilized Tuesday with metal boots, five belonged to the Army, one to the Marines and two to an unidentified service branch.
The Army vehicles alone had accrued $2,635 in fines and associated fees, and upon finding their vehicles going nowhere fast, several fatigues-clad soldiers marched straight to Dallas City Hall and demanded answers from the offices of Mayor Tom Leppert and City Manager Mary Suhm.
The city's response? Pay your fines, and we'll free your cars.
The Army paid up on three vehicles. But as of Wednesday evening, two of the Army vehicles and the two unidentified vehicles continued to sit in the city's auto pound and won't be released until the fines are paid in full, Ms. Fernino said.
November 15, 2007 Service branches say GIs who got tickets will pay
By Dave Levinthal, The Dallas Morning News
The U.S. military found itself negotiating a truce Wednesday with Dallas City Hall, a day after city parking officials immobilized eight military recruiting vehicles, and impounded four of them, because the armed forces failed to pay off dozens of parking tickets.
"They've contacted us on numerous occasions today wanting to know what they can do to rectify the situation," said Zena Fernino, Dallas' parking management and enforcement division manager. "They do recognize that they have the outstanding tickets, and they seem very interested in taking care of the situation."
That situation, according to city records, is a five-figure affair: In all, the four military branches owe Dallas $12,265 in unpaid parking fines and fees.
Of that, the Army owes the most ($9,140), followed by the Marines ($3,010) and Navy ($115). The Air Force is debt-free.
"We're concerned. This is something that we definitely want to take care of," said Lt. Col. Gregory Chaney, the commander of retention and recruitment for the Texas Army National Guard.
Col. Chaney says he's sent word to battalions throughout Texas that individual recruiters are responsible for parking tickets they incur while on official business. Ignoring parking tickets, he said, "is unacceptable behavior and something that does not represent our values."
Taxpayer dollars won't be used to pay off debts, as superiors will require the soldiers responsible for incurring the tickets to pay them with their own money, Col. Chaney added.
Dallas is in the process of producing a detailed list of tickets for the military, Ms. Fernino said.
Among the cars Dallas immobilized Tuesday with metal boots, five belonged to the Army, one to the Marines and two to an unidentified service branch.
The Army vehicles alone had accrued $2,635 in fines and associated fees, and upon finding their vehicles going nowhere fast, several fatigues-clad soldiers marched straight to Dallas City Hall and demanded answers from the offices of Mayor Tom Leppert and City Manager Mary Suhm.
The city's response? Pay your fines, and we'll free your cars.
The Army paid up on three vehicles. But as of Wednesday evening, two of the Army vehicles and the two unidentified vehicles continued to sit in the city's auto pound and won't be released until the fines are paid in full, Ms. Fernino said.