WTVG ABC13 | June 15, 2009

Busted for parking in your own driveway. Toledo residents along Holland-Sylvania near Nebraska received parking tickets in their own front yards.

The mayor defended the move, then refused to answer our questions.

It is illegal in Toledo to park on gravel or anything unpaved, even if it's in front of your own home. Mayor Carty Finkbeiner says if you break a law, you get a ticket.

Charles Robertson breaks the law every single day-- according to the city. Robertson told us, "I just can't reach into my magic box of tricks and get 5 or 6 grand to pave my driveway."

Thursday he got caught. Charles found a $25 ticket on the windshield of his truck parked in his own driveway.

The law says it's illegal to park on unpaved ground and Robertson's driveway is gravel. 
Thursday the mayor's streets, bridges and harbor commissioner Sue Frederick ticketed cars in their owners' yards all along Holland-Sylvania Road.

The mayor defended Frederick's decision, saying "She wouldn't have written tickets unless she thought she would be vindicated in writing it."

But city councilman D. Michael Collins didn't agree. He took the tickets to try and get them rescinded. He says, "I want this irresponsible activity by city employees going into neighborhoods and just doing something by fiat, it has to stop."

Ron Cousino got a ticket, too. He says, "This is a get-back, the mayor's way to get more money coming in."

We asked the mayor if Cousino had a point. Is this ticket-writing move an attempt to fill the budget deficit? Again he ignored us and in the process further angered the neighbors. 
One of them said, "When the mayor has the audacity to tell me I'm wrong and everyone on this street is wrong, I think the mayor is wrong."