Nightclub czar cited in spitting

Parking officer ticketed him for time violation

By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 2, 2008 at 11:55 p.m.

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Regas Christou faces harassment charges after parking ticket.

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June 3, 2008

4:24 a.m.

LOUIE writes:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
June 3, 2008

6:02 a.m.

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mikeyg writes:

You know, if Christou challenged this and highlighted how out of control Denver parking officials are to get away with that type of behavior that instigated the encounter, I mean if he made a stink about it he could do some good for all citizens. C'mon, they'll give you a ticket EVEN if you're parked in the car and ready to move it - what's to say he hadn't just pulled up to put money in the meter and the parking meterer never gave him a chance to move?

While I may not agree with what Christou did to the meterer, fact is if the meterer's are able to cite you for being at an expired meter with you in the car like Christou was, it is an unlimited parking revenue scheme. Christou will have consequences for what he did.

But the meterers who forced the confrontation, damaged a citizen's automobile and then issued a questionable citation just to make a point, that meterer will face no consequences. That's just plain wrong, the police should have also issued him a summons for property damage and just plain being a jerk for acting on some power play motivation to harass a citizen.

But nope, the circle of blue extends pretty tight around the Denver enforcement community. They protect their guys who are in the wrong, regardless of the facts. This is a cover up of a bad city law/code enforcement community that never goes reported on in this town. It's knowing that their butts will be covered no matter what they do to a citizen that creates the environment of kids off their meds who get killed in their front yards or fathers called to a scene in order to be killed by DPD being acceptable in Denver. It starts with the small stuff where civil rights are violated regularly, then the big stuff like wrongful deaths occur at the hand of those tasked with protecting us.
June 3, 2008

6:57 a.m.

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Barney writes:

I'll bet Christou fancies himself a classy and sophisticated type of guy. If that is the way he deals with frustration or anger, I wouldn't want to work with him. He most likely treats his employees like this as well.
June 3, 2008

7:21 a.m.

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sheepherder writes:

The parking officer gave him every chance in the world to move without a ticket! I'm guessing this guy thinks he is better than everyone else. To spit in someones face in this day and age (disease) should be a felony. I would like to see this high society type in jail! Or, I wish he would spit in my face, guarantee I wouldnt just wip it off and call for help...the punk would be needing an ambulance.
June 3, 2008

7:34 a.m.

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Spencer writes:

I think they need to check and see if he is here legally ..from artstarz..Seriously? Is everything connected to illegal immigration?
June 3, 2008

7:36 a.m.

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forwhatitis writes:

Louie and Mikeyg, sounds like you both have something against the meters in town, and I'd bet they have something against both of you like unpaid parking violations.
June 3, 2008

8:11 a.m.

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EBone writes:

I read that idiot Louie's comment. Louie, the word is "phleghm." Secondly, to compare people who ticket illegally parked vehicles to a group that committed genocide in WW II shows your lack of vision (added to your lack of intelligence, what a 1-2 punch for your business).

You suggest that business tax should "command some respect." I guess business owners aren't expected to give it.

I hope that he and the dirtbag nightclub owner (I know, redundant) who spat in the face of that person don't represent the business owners in Denver (and I'm sure they don't).
June 3, 2008

8:50 a.m.

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Francesca writes:

What mikeyg wrote. Definitely.

So what this tells us is if you pull up to a parking meter and you're sitting in your car digging around in the console or your pockets for change to feed the meter, you're in violation? Or you've just returned to the vehicle, are preparing to leave and the expiration flag pops up? WTF? I could understand if the driver were not in the car... this car was occupied and who is the "meter maid" to say that he wasn't preparing to either pay or depart? Sounds like this guy needs a review of his job performance and a b!tch slap for misuse of authority. Little that he has of it anyway.

Not defending the spitting either. That's disgusting.
June 3, 2008

9:10 a.m.

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blacksho89 writes:

So, Regas' brother shoots a guy and lets him bleed for an hour before calling an ambulance.
Regas spits in the face of some wage slave doing his job.

Sounds like this family could benefit from some humanity. I hope their clubs burn to the ground.
June 3, 2008

9:10 a.m.

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Spencer writes:

you got me artstarzz, I agree
June 3, 2008

9:30 a.m.

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jamesdenver writes:

re: Barney

My thoughts exactly. A tiny frustration blows him into a spitting rampage?

Great guy

james http://www.futuregringo.com
June 3, 2008

9:38 a.m.

Diff writes:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
June 3, 2008

10:45 a.m.

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mikeyg writes:

So many of these responses are focused on Christou being an arrogant, self-important, uncouth snob. I won't argue that. And I have no problem with Christou having to face the music for what he did.

What I have a problem with is the meterer's actions being given the green light, first by the cop on the scene, and now, apparently by many regular Joe's posting on here who are so fixated on Christou getting his comeuppance that they green light out-of-control code-enforcement.

If you excuse bad behavior of law/code enforcement when the victim of it is seen as a villain (like Christou), then you have no right to all of the sudden demand good behavior of law/code enforcement when the victim is seen more sympathetically (like a 12 yo kid killed in his front yard by DPD).

Only "PMSXpress" at 8:50 a.m. seems to grasp the bigger issue than "rich guy gets what he deserves". Folks, if the meter is expired while you're in the car, whether or not you just pulled in, it is open season on downtown visitor just to raise more city revenue, and to satisfy the need of meterers to assert their power over you, power that only a $8/hour worker with no life would enjoy acting on.

Christou was low-class and will get what he has coming to him. But it's a travesty that the meterer gets to walk away clean for something he put into motion and was also a bad actor in.
June 3, 2008

11 a.m.

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OhBrother writes:

I would rather be punched then spit on. I'm glad we have owners like this that run multiple clubs downtown...I'm sure that has nothing to do with the problems they have after last call.

Either way, this guys actions were un called for but why in the world did this parking guy park so close to his car that he would "bump" his mirror while getting out? He might have been doing his job but i'm sure if he did it differently it wouldn't have gotten him spit on...but hey maybe not, the guys job aint handin out cupcakes. I don't know to many people that would smile while receiving a parking ticket
June 3, 2008

11:25 a.m.

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mikeyg writes:

OhBrother: That's just it, he wasn't just doing his job. His job is not to hand out parking tickets to people receiving them. His job is to put tickets on parked cars, with nobody in them, where it's clear that a parking violation has taken place. If you're in your car at a meter that's expired it's not clear any violation has taken place. Were you coming or going?

The meterer exceeded his job description in multiple ways. He should also be held accountable. Like Christou should.
June 3, 2008

11:27 a.m.

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citylife writes:

Is this even news worthy??? I don't think so... if it had been anyone else in the entire city of Denver, and I am sure something like this has happened before, we would not be reading about it in the paper... Oh well at least you are giving him free advertisment for all of his nightclubs that are ranked in the top clubs in the world.
June 3, 2008

11:54 a.m.

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jamesdenver writes:

here's another opinion of why he's a jerk:

http://www.futuregringo.com/index.php...
June 3, 2008

11:55 a.m.

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timeandagain writes:

Can the Rocky explain why they reissued this same story from last night and made no changes other than wiping out 15 or 20 comments that were made late yesterday afternoon and last night? Kind of lame - particularly when they are apparently just trying to "edit" the comments!
June 3, 2008

12:10 p.m.

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Brain writes:

Regas Christou is a perfect example of an elitist!
The belief that some people or things are inherently superior to others and deserve preeminence, preferential treatment, or higher rewards because of their superiority.

Chritou caused the situation by not just leaving or paying the parking, the meterer was just doing his job.
June 3, 2008

12:31 p.m.

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HE5t writes:

Here's the funny part, Blake took the first shot by bumping Christou's car. Who's the arrogant jerk now? Is coming in physical contact with violaters part of the job description for a meter maid? I'm willing to bet Christou sues Blake and wins, because he was defending himself. You may think spitting is disgusting and disrespectful (which it is), but coming in physical contact with someone's property is equally disrespectful. I ask you all, how would you respond if someone "bumped" your car while you were sitting in it?
June 3, 2008

12:53 p.m.

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TowAway writes:

If a meter is expired whether your --- is in the seat or not your meter is still expired, if you violate an ordinance embrace the consequence, unexceptable behavior in launching a lugy....eeewwww. Own your actions big guy.
June 3, 2008

1:20 p.m.

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mikeyg writes:

TowAway: So you're saying that when you first pull up to a meter to park you'd better look to see if it's expired or not, because in the time it takes you to get out and put money in it you're in violation and subject to a fine. Yep, you're saying that the first person to pull into a metered spot at 7am in downtown can get a fine if a metermaid is right there, too. Why would you ever park at a meter unless you see it still has some time on it? TowAway, you are a dope, probably a metermaid yourself, I hope you've worn your share of spit in life.
June 3, 2008

1:38 p.m.

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BlueSled writes:

Parking Nazi's??? Parking Gestapo??? Please!

Has anyone here every parked in a real city? New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles? They all take parking seriously. The people who complain about parking officers are the same people that complain about EVERYTHING!

Give these hard working people a break. They don't deserve to be spit on. Nobody does. And to say the parking authority, "rushes our clientele", is just idiotic. Dude needs his business smashed and looted.
June 3, 2008

1:52 p.m.

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Fred writes:

I’ve had my fair share of parking violations in Denver. I’m usually in the wrong because I misread the sign or because I forgot about street sweeping.
I’m cool with that…or at least I won’t gripe too much about it and I go ahead and pay those tickets.

But the parking authority in Denver is….to put it mildly, overzealous. I had parked my jeep in a 1hr meter and checked my watch as I paid. When I returned to my car I found that I was blocked in by a meter maid. The meter maid had pulled his jeep within inches of my jeep on the driver’s side so that I could not enter through the driver’s door.
I glanced over at the meter and noticed one minute was left. I asked the meter maid to move and he refused. He had already written the ticket. The moment the meter expired he threw the ticket on my hood and drove off.

In another instance I parked in a residential neighborhood. I was VERY careful because I’d received a street cleaning ticket the day before. I parked at roughly 6:30 in the morning and walked to my office. When I returned, at lunch, my car had been towed and in its place was sign saying the street was closed for parking from 8-5 all week.
I was furious. I’m towed and ticked for a sign they put up AFTER I parked.

I paid the tickets for BOTH of those incidents.

I finally blew my top when the parking authority put a hit on my credit for parking violations issued to a car I don’t own that wasn’t even registered in my name.
I was not notified (the address didn’t even match mine) before they attacked my credit.
The parking authority blamed the DMV who blamed the parking authority.
The DMV had no record of the vehicle in question.

The city was nice enough to remove the hit on my credit provided I pay the fines that I never incurred. Oh, and due to my past record of paying ALL of my fines on time they reduced the tickets to the original fee and dropped the 100% late fee.

Nazi’s? Maybe that is a mischaracterization. But there’s something foul with the parking authority.
June 3, 2008

1:58 p.m.

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happymike44 writes:

Well if you think it is bad in Denver try New Orleans.
The reconstruction effort has left a real shortage of parking.
Some people with a lot to park in will put their car on the street so when company comes to visit.
They put their car in the saved space.
Then move the other car inside after the company arrives.
So if you live in the neigborhood without a lot then you never can get a space closer then what feels like a mile away.
By the way the really big garbage bins take up three spaces.
Now imagine that on every street in the neighborhood.
This calculates to three less spaces everywhere.
So now denver looks pretty good now.
June 3, 2008

6:08 p.m.

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Brain writes:

Many many times I haved parked in Denver and went over the time limit (10-20 minutes) without any ticket; lately I have not been parked in Denver so mabye something has changed?? (the Mayor??).

No wait, the mayor was going to change that?
June 4, 2008

1:23 p.m.

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DenverLady writes:

Why are all these comments taking for granted that this actually even occurred? There are two sides to a story. But since Mr. Christou has already been judged by the court of public opinion, my guess is that there will be no one around interested to hear it if it ever comes out. It makes you wonder why this is even newsworthy material and who decided it should be. There may be a story there in and of itself. Denver has a real opportunity to shine in a few months when all eyes will be on this great city for the Convention. Let's get it together and put our best foot forward Denver.
June 4, 2008

8:18 p.m.

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LOUIE writes:

I humbly accept your judgement in removing my comment; and reserve the right to arrogantly disagree.
June 4, 2008

9:27 p.m.

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MsCo writes:

It's unfortunate that those of you commenting about Regas Christou have no idea who he is and where he came from. He is not an elitist as that would imply he is discriminatory, etc. Regas has supported his staff (many of whom have worked for the company for upwards of 15 years). He gave 10% of his door sales from Serengeti (now called Bar Standard) to The Center so the person who commented about Vinyl Sunday should do their homework. He is a taxpaying citizen who has been harrassed by DPD for many years because of a situation that happened many years ago. He watched an off duty police officer shoot and kill an innocent man (shot over 14 times). He testified against the police department and like flies on you know what, the harrassment began. You can paint him however you want but the truth is, he always fights for the undedog, he gives to charity, loves his family, is the hardest working person you will ever know and always supports his hard working employees. He's been known to pay for college for some of his less fortunate employees. As a former Political Science professor at DU he values education and is conscience of social issues. He has been a successful business owner for over 30 years and I'm not quite sure how he could do that if he were illegal in this country. It's so sad that you waste your time writing about someone whom you know nothing about. It's even sadder that you take the word of the meter maid (gulity before proven innocent?). Regas didn't spit in his face and why does he need to tell the reporter his side? What a ridiculous story to write about. As an educated man Regas doesn't waste his time with silly things like this, he's about the big picture. Someone should have checked into the record of mr. meter maid. He once gave a UPS driver 7 tickets in one day. He just followed him around all day giving him tickets if he parked his big brown truck illegally. Funny thing is, you would probably be the first person to call UPS if your package arrived late. So sad that you just don't get it.
June 5, 2008

7:13 a.m.

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LOUIE writes:

MsCo, your right, but the Rocky has an agenda and it's not free speech, I am begining to think of the Rocky writers as the Temple Acolytes. Mr. Christou has done many things for many people. However, the writers at the Rocky will promote thier agenda over freedom of thought. I was reading a piece written by the editor Mr. John Temple on May 2nd, titled: "Readers, Were seeking a Dalogue". A well written piece, yet it seems he only pays lip service to his noble thoughts. I wonder how much more the Scripps people are willing to lose in print circulation and advertising revenue behind Temples leadership? This paper was once a great source of public pride years ago, today it's a joke! They deleted my comments in support of Mr. Christou, and allowed another to advocate "smashing and looting" the man's business. Mr. Temple, with the declining numbers over the last ten years of your leadership, please select a viable market excuse for your lack of achievement in developimg the great potential this paper has always possessed. Hey, I like the excuse that print media is declining nationwide; I think thats the best one to rest your failure on Mr, Temple. Great May 2nd editorial Mr. Temple, you should follow your thoughts to comletion by putting actions behind them!

Home › News › Local News

Nightclub czar cited in spitting

Parking officer ticketed him for time violation

By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 2, 2008 at 11:55 p.m.

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