Philly Parking Authority nails Supreme Court Justice

**Gio7707** · 10-17-2012, 01:01 AM

haaa ... just another crazy story ...

Philly Parking Authority nails Supreme Court Justice

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land, but no justice, even Antonin Scalia, is apparently safe on the streets of Philadelphia when it comes to its Parking Authority.

The Philadelphia Parking Authority is nationally known because of its starring role for five years in “Parking Wars,” the popular cable TV show that depicts everyday life for PPA workers and the citizens of Philly.

And on Monday, one of the citizens who will interact with the PPA in the near future appears to be Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia.

Scalia was in Philadelphia at the Union League of Philadelphia, the private club best known outside the city for its role in the Eddie Murphy film Trading Places.

Dean Picciotti sent us a picture of Scalia’s official car, parked at the League, with a brand-new PPA ticket on its windshield placed by an attentive parking enforcement officer at lunchtime.

Scalia’s car was ticketed despite the presence of a Philadelphia official police business placard on its dashboard.

Ironically, the Parking Authority is one of the few GOP-dominated institutions in Philadelphia, a city long controlled by Democrats.

Scalia is one of the most conservative Supreme Court justices. He frequently votes on issues that find favor with Republicans.

But in this case, the PPA was definitely nonpartisan.

According to the PPA’s website, the parking violation was the lowest of three

**Gladys** · 10-17-2012, 01:25 AM

That's wonderful!

**Gio7707** · 10-17-2012, 08:58 AM

yup..wonder if he will pay the ticket or appeal it ..

Justice, Philadelphia style: Scalia gets two parking tickets

The justice's two cars - at least one featuring a U.S. Supreme Court Police parking placard - had been lingering 28 minutes over the 20-minute limit when a PPA officer slapped each with a $31 citation. "The vehicle was ticketed and the ticket is valid," pronounced Vince Fenerty, executive director of the Republican-controlled Philadelphia Parking Authority. Fenerty, a pillar of the city's GOP establishment, offered no partisan clemency Tuesday for Scalia, the court's conservative standard-bearer.

Kathleen L. Arberg, the Supreme Court's public information officer, would say only that "the ticket was issued to a U.S. Supreme Court vehicle driven by a Supreme Court Police officer." She did not respond to a question about whether Scalia is a fan of Parking Wars, the reality TV show that had its genesis in the obscenity-laden exchanges between Parking Authority employees and the people they ticket.

The case might just be "the biggest test of Justice Scalia's belief of whether everyone is equal before the law," observed Lerner. The story took wing after Dean Picciotti, a lawyer who was at the Union League on Monday, snapped a picture of the ticket and posted it to his Facebook page. Scott Bomboy picked up the story on the blog of the Constitution Center. Soon, it hit the websites of The Inquirer, the Washington Post, and Politico.

**Tartan69** · 10-17-2012, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Gio7707

Scalia’s car was ticketed despite the presence of a Philadelphia official police business placard on its dashboard.

This is what bothers me...why did he have a police placard? Was he truly doing official police business at the UL? Or was he just having lunch? Who approved this?

Honestly, if you're that important, then valet the damn car. Or even better, have a driver.

**Gio7707** · 10-17-2012, 12:56 PM

**Hospitalitygirl** · 10-17-2012, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Tartan69

This is what bothers me...why did he have a police placard? Was he truly doing official police business at the UL? Or was he just having lunch? Who approved this?

Honestly, if you're that important, then valet the damn car. Or even better, have a driver.

I think I read that he did have a driver.

**Hospitalitygirl** · 10-17-2012, 01:07 PM

Yes:

Instead, he was just outside the Union League, where his driver's decision to park in a loading zone seems likely to cost the nation's highest court $62.

The justice's two cars - at least one featuring a U.S. Supreme Court Police parking placard - had been lingering 28 minutes over the 20-minute limit when a PPA officer slapped each with a $31 citation. "The vehicle was ticketed and the ticket is valid," pronounced Vince Fenerty, executive director of the Republican-controlled Philadelphia Parking Authority. Fenerty, a pillar of the city's GOP establishment, offered no partisan clemency Tuesday for Scalia, the court's conservative standard-bearer.

Justice, Philadelphia style: Scalia gets two parking tickets

**Hospitalitygirl** · 10-17-2012, 01:08 PM

Issuing this ticket makes us as a city look bush-league and petty.

**Tartan69** · 10-17-2012, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Hospitalitygirl

I think I read that he did have a driver.

I see that quote now. Makes it worse IMO...did the driver just park it and take off? Was he in the car while it was being ticketed?

**Tartan69** · 10-17-2012, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by Hospitalitygirl

Issuing this ticket makes us as a city look bush-league and petty.

How so? To me it reinforces the "Rule of Law" no matter who you are...which is something that desperately needs reinforcement in this city.

**Hospitalitygirl** · 10-17-2012, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by Tartan69

How so? To me it reinforces the "Rule of Law" no matter who you are...which is something that desperately needs reinforcement in this city.

I would agree if rules were applied with an equal hand across the board, but we know differently. Still, he can pony up the money (or his driver), and follow the rules.