URBANA — A man from out of town was arrested Saturday after he allegedly hit a parking enforcement officer while trying to drive away from a ticket.
According to a police report, Urbana officers were called around 1 p.m. Saturday to assist the parking enforcement officer in the 1200 block of West Oregon Street.
After arguing with the parking officer, Steven K. Takaki, 54, of Wilmette, attempted to drive away to avoid receiving a ticket. As he did so, he allegedly struck the parking officer and left the scene, said Urbana police Sgt. Andy Hewkin.
Hewkin said the parking officer mostly took a tire to the leg but was able to continue walking on her own.
In the process, Takaki also hit a car parked behind his, Hewkin said, but there appeared to be no damage to the other vehicle.
Hewkin said Takaki drove off, parked his car in the garage under Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and walked away. Police later arrested him on preliminary charges of aggravated battery near the intersection of Mathews Avenue and Nevada Street.
Hewkin said Takaki was in town to visit his son.
I never understand why people think that they shouldn't get parking tickets - it's not like the rules aren't clear, obvious, and public. To endanger someone else in anger is just terrible - I'm glad he was arrested.
Because the freedom of patronization has become corrupted by governental bodies; their greed; and an extreme unwillingness to ENFORCE excessive parking abuse. Instead--we face a transformation into confrontational violence. Many urban areas like ours have free parking with enforcement that is successful. Instead-we are encouraged to "get away with it"---and the revenue from parking in Chicago has trickled down into the bloodveins of local government. We have an "Us and Them" syndrome that will have to implode sooner or later.
Yes, but you DO understand that you can't just park in front of a meter at 2pm on a Wednesday, not put any money into it, and not expect to get a ticket, right? Overall I don't really like paid parking - I think it tends to cause urban sprawl, devalue downtown businesses and residences, etc. That saie, I DO understand that failing to pay when required results in a ticket, so I don't get mad at the metermaid doing his or her job.