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Using FOIA Data and Unix to halve major source of parking tickets

mchap.io

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Re: Using FOIA Data and Unix to halve major source of parking tickets

#71

Post by koolba »

bpchaps wrote: post #22
tptacek wrote: post #2

Matt's schtick is automated, large-scale FOIA requesting; he obtains huge collections of data from cities and then tries to do interesting stuff with it. Here, he apparently managed to get all the tickets in Chicago for several years running, and then used that data to fix the parking signs. This, to me, is so neat.

Hey! Thanks for posting this, and the kind words. Interesting note about getting data like this - Illinois FOIA allows a requester to submit a SQL as part of their request.. so long as they know the tables and columns within the database ;)

If that’s possible then the first two requests should be:

    SELECT *
    FROM information_schema.tables
And

    SELECT *
    FROM information_schema.columns

Re: Using FOIA Data and Unix to halve major source of parking tickets

#72

Post by ccleve »

I know this intersection. It's at the corner of State and Division, in the heart of the Rush Street neighborhood.

The likely reason there are many tickets there is that there are many bars there, and great crowds of people who have had a bit too much to drink. There are also great crowds of cops there every weekend.

Without looking at the data, I'd expect that many of the tickets are getting written in the middle of the night, when people are too inebriated, or too distracted, to read signs carefully.

Re: Using FOIA Data and Unix to halve major source of parking tickets

#74

Post by icelancer »

amaccuish wrote: post #41

$190 million?! What does the architecture consist of? A database, some forms and some integrations/api? I'm 90% sure they could have done that with free software and a good support contract with a UNIX provider for far less :/

Someday you'll work for a government and have to provide a support contract, and that first one will be woefully, absurdly underpriced. Your second one will answer the question you just asked here - why does interacting with the government cost so much money?

Re: Using FOIA Data and Unix to halve major source of parking tickets

#75

Post by vageli »

count wrote: post #63
mehrdadn wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I forgot about this, but at the same time that doesn't imply it's legal for a government agency to just give it away. There are obviously industries that gather up all your personal information from address and DoB to SSN but that doesn't mean a government agency can just give it out to a random nobody.

The difference in rational is pretty simple: A plate identifies a vehicle. A vehicle is not a person. Govt can't give out personally identifiable information.

But a plate identifies a vehicle _and_ its owner—not just a vehicle.

Re: Using FOIA Data and Unix to halve major source of parking tickets

#76

Post by icelancer »

bpchaps wrote: post #23
throwawayjava wrote: post #15

How much did the FOIA request cost?

It was free. I've never had to pay for any information coming from an Illinois FOIA request.

That's interesting. I've often had to pay small to medium-sized amounts - always reasonable, I might add - for the price of producing said information.

Re: Using FOIA Data and Unix to halve major source of parking tickets

#77

Post by xbryanx »

acct1771 wrote: post #8
toomuchtodo wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You could have these hobbies!

I'm kind of on a negative streak these days, so forgive me, reader, but...why in god's green earth aren't these the government's hobbies?!

When is...dear educated technologists...the last time you even slightly considered working for city government? Alas, our best and brightest aren't serving the people. They toil at advertising.

Re: Using FOIA Data and Unix to halve major source of parking tickets

#78

Post by vageli »

sdinsn wrote: post #52
mehrdadn wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is not criminal though?

It is. If you get a parking ticket that means you are being charged with a crime, the crime is just a minor infraction.

If that were the case, wouldn't the municipality be required to provide a defense attorney? Or is that only for felonies?

Re: Using FOIA Data and Unix to halve major source of parking tickets

#79

Post by btrettel »

jessaustin wrote: post #69
btrettel wrote: post #13

Would be nice to use the same skills to help reduce cars illegally parked in the bike lane. Identify areas which cyclists commonly complain about that (e.g., to the city) and encourage them to put up better signs?

This problem would solve itself if vandalism laws were changed slightly.

On that note, watching videos from the Russian "Stop a Douchebag" movement can be cathartic, though even their mild form of vandalism is illegal.

https://law.stackexchange.com/questions/16564/would-stop-a-d...

Re: Using FOIA Data and Unix to halve major source of parking tickets

#80

Post by gt_ »

ccleve wrote: post #72

I know this intersection. It's at the corner of State and Division, in the heart of the Rush Street neighborhood. The likely reason there are many tickets there is that there are many bars there, and great crowds of people who have had a bit too much to drink. There are also great crowds of cops there every weekend. Without looking at the data, I'd expect that many of the tickets are getting written in the middle of…

Did the bars close when the new signs went up? Coincidentally or otherwise?
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