Location: West Allis Wisconsin Getting Harassed By City Code Enforcement After Confronting Them About Illegal Ticketing. What Can I Do?

Location: Wisconsin This is a long story, because the harassment spans over the course of 3 months.

So I should preface this by saying I live in a large white sprinter van and travel the states. I’m not gross, loud, or messy. I’m currently staying with a friend in west allis for a bit before taking off.

in this neighborhood my friends live in, there are ZERO signs anywhere. On 9/23/2025 we got a ticket for wrong side night parking, even though there are no signs indicating hours or directions to park. So my fiancé emailed the city saying basically what gives there are no signs indicating hours. Also I should add that side parking isn’t even supposed to be implemented until November 1st, and the address on the ticket isn’t even a real address. Like not even on the parcel lot number, the address doesn’t exist. This is the email received from the city “The City of West Allis has a parking ordinance that requires a permit to park on the street between 3am and 6am and abide by even and odd sign parking. Since this covers the entire city, signs on each block and street are not feasible instead signs are posted at all major entrances to the city. For all parking rules, please visit www.westalliswi.gov/parking. If you plan to park on the street between 3am and 6 am, you will need a parking permit and to abide by the even and odd side parking rules. As a courtesy, we will void this ticket. Please note, we will not be able to void any other tickets for you so please make sure you are following the parking rules. Thank you,”

Now over a month goes by and I stayed parked where I got the original ticket because there’s no signs, I’m not moving. on 11/04/2025 received another ticket but this time for no permit night parking. Also a wrong address posted on this ticket, the address doesn’t exist. I saw the code enforcement placing the ticket, so I approached her saying “this isn’t legal because there are no signs posted here” and she starts arguing with me about how I need a permit to park here. Yes in a neighborhood not anywhere near a main road or City. I got heated and called her bored because why are you selectively enforce months apart when I’ve been parked here this whole time? We emailed the city again, this time citing statutes. Here is a copy paste of that email exchange:

Us: “we need you to void this ticket and stop ticketing us until you place signage that states the rules of parking”

The city: “Dear Sir, Wisconsin state law sets a framework for city parking ordinances, which include regulations like prohibiting parking within a certain distance of a fire hydrant, driveway, or crosswalk, and general rules for parallel parking. Cities can then enact their own, more specific ordinances that build upon these state laws, such as restrictions on all-night parking during certain months to facilitate snow removal. For certain specific, city-wide parking regulations such as Night Parking Regulations, Wisconsin law allows signs to be placed at or reasonably near the corporate limits of the municipality on all state and county trunk highways and connecting highways, instead of on every block or street. Since our ordinance falls under this rule, the signage at the main city entrances is considered sufficient and legally effective. The law considers these entry point signs as adequate notice to motorists entering the city that a general, city-wide rule is in effect. All of our parking regulations are posted on our website. Overnight parking was explained to you in an email previously on September 23, 2025, after we voided your first ticket as a one-time courtesy. This is a valid ticket, and we are unable to void it.

Us: “Dear Records Unit, Thank you for the explanation. I understand the city's position, but I respectfully disagree. Wisconsin Statute § 349.13(1e) (a) requires that any parking restriction be indicated by an official traffic control device at the location. No such sign exists within 500+ feet of my vehicle, which was previously shown in the pictures of my parking spot. Your response references § 349.13(1e)(c), but that applies only to time-based prohibitions on all highways, not permit requirements, and even then requires signs on state and county trunk highways-not city entrances. The city's earlier email (9/23/25) confirmed block-level signs are "not feasible." This is not a loophole; it is non-compliance. I would like to note that included in the pictures I sent were "one way" and "handicap parking" signs, which imply the feasibility of needed street signs even on this block. Let alone, on other streets adjacent to here. I would like to contest this ticket in municipal court. Please schedule a hearing and send confirmation. I believe the ordinance, as enforced without local signage, conflicts with state law and creates unfair penalties for residents and visitors alike. The only real way for those who visit or move here to be aware of the ordinance would be by a default penalty, which is nominal enough to go uncontested. But in fact, reflects a wildly predatory ordinance on any new comer in this city.

We then scheduled a phone call to set up a court date, I know they are going to string this along.

Since then, we’ve received TWO MORE tickets, and we even moved our vehicle on the one we got today. On 11/7/25 we got a ticket for night parking wrong side parking. there is also a statute stating the same vehicle can’t be ticketed within a 30 day window if the vehicle hasn’t moved, and we hadn’t moved in between those two tickets not even once. We sent this email:

“Dear West Allis Records Unit, I am writing to demand immediate voiding of parking ticket #___ issued on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at ___ Your own September 23, 2025 email (attached for reference) admits: "Since this (ordinance) covers the entire city, signs on each block and street are not feasible..." This directly violates Wisconsin law, and the selective enforcement of this ordinance renders the citation unenforceable.

1. No Local Signage = No Enforceable Restriction Wis. Stat. § 349.13(1e) (a): "No prohibition, limitation or restriction on parking... is effective unless official traffic control devices have been placed or erected indicating the particular prohibition, limitation or restriction." • Attached photos (taken 11/4/25) show zero signs within 500+ feet (~1 full city block) in any direction. • Entrance signs do not satisfy this statute. • Result: The restriction is legally ineffective at my parking location.

2. Complete Defense Under State Law Wis. Stat. § 346.505(3): "It is a defense... if the defendant proves that no official traffic control device indicating the prohibition was in place at the time and place of the alleged violation." • I have proven no sign exists at the location. • Defense triggered → ticket must be dismissed.

3. Selective Enforcement Violates Equal Protection • I parked my van in the exact same spot every night for over 35 nights after our 9/23/25 email exchange. • Only 2 tickets were issued

4. 5+ weeks apart. • This proves arbitrary, complaint-driven enforcement, not consistent application. • Precedent: City of Kenosha v. Leese (1982) - tickets dismissed for selective enforcement.

Demand 1. Void Ticket #__ immediately. 2. Cease all overnight parking enforcement at the crossing of W and S st until compliant signage is installed per § 349.13. 3. Confirm in writing within 5 business days. If the state law doesn't help resolve this situation via email, I'm more than happy to: • Court challenge (with request for costs and judicial order halting enforcement) • WisDOT complaint for non-compliant signage • Small claims action for harassment and bad-faith enforcement”

Last night We moved the vehicle to the crossing street reluctantly. I’ll add other cars are also parked on both these cross streets. Only ever seen one get a ticket once that wasn’t ours. And I don’t see anything indicating these cars have permits on plates or in the windshield. So we moved the van last night to the cross street, and today 11/9/2025 woke up to a new ticket. at this point they are harassing us. There were no other cars on this street ticketed, just ours. They finally got the address right, but got the vehicle and state on the license plate wrong.

Also what doesn’t make any sense, is the wrong side parking thing.. in west allis when the side parking is actually supposed to be enforced, it’s odd side of the street on odd days and even side of the street on even days.. well the tickets on the 7th and 9th I WAS parked on the odd side of the street on the odd days.

Sorry for the long story I included as much detail as possible. I’m freaking exhausted, this is so predatory and blatant harassment, most of all can’t be legal. They are nominal tickets, I could pay the stupid $35. But for me it’s about the principle and why are they being so aggressive about this. Thanks in advance for anyone who has advice or input.