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Topic starter
09/06/2026 7:12 pm
This vintage 'Official Police Summons" from Columbia, South Carolin, was issued to my future Father-in-law on February 18th, 1953 while returning to Canada from Florida.. It is a paper tag historically designed to be tied to a vehicles door handle for parking violations. In this case, I assume that the parking meter had expired. I wonder when meters were installed in Columbia, S.C.
The tag lists 12 common offences, including parking in an alley, overtime parking and double parking. Interestingly, the offending driver was instructed to appear before the desk Sergeant at 145 Lincoln Street or City Hall, Columbia.
Here is the back of the ticket. I don't think it was ever paid, just used as a souvenir of the Florida trip. The offending car was a 1951 DeSoto.
09/06/2026 8:08 pm
Wow, 1953, that’s gonna take a mortgage to payoff!
Steve
10/06/2026 6:41 am
Two cool auto-related relics. Would look great next to a model close to your father-in-law's DeSoto.
Is it possible that he paid it but kept the summons?
I checked Google AI and it said that Columbia, S.C. first installed downtown parking meters in 1939.
David Green and John Bono reacted
10/06/2026 7:39 am
Posting this may alert the Columbia, SC officials that the fine was not paid and they may come after you . It's only been 73 years since the date of the offense.
This post was modified 1 week ago by Bob Jackman
10/06/2026 7:46 am
Assuming the ticket fine was never paid...got to wonder if the owner was ever contacted by the Columbia PD. Guessing follow-up would not have been cost justified.
John Bono
North Jersey
David Green and Tony Perrone reacted
Topic starter
10/06/2026 8:38 am
My father-in-law, Bert died in the 1980s. I found this ticket while going through some of my wife’s memorabilia. It is possible that he paid the fine and kept the ticket. I have the Franklin Mint 1/43 DeSoto in blue. His was grey but putting the ticket next to the car on display is a great idea, Tony.
10/06/2026 9:17 am
@david-green I too think that would make a cool display. I have the model with all of it's moving parts.
Tony Perrone and David Green reacted