The following appeals have been submitted to the New Canaan Parking Bureau recently by ticketed motorists.
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“I parked in front of StretchLab, where I have been coming for a few weeks, and I did not see the loading zone sign, which was obstructed by my view from a tree branch leaves. I’m normally very aware of this type of stuff and hope you can dismiss and/or forgive any mistake/oversight I may have made.”
—$30 for loading zone on Main Street, at 10 a.m. on Oct. 21 (Stamford resident)
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“I am the general manager at Tequila Mockingbird. I just had a meeting run a few minutes longer than expected with my director and I go ta parking ticket on Locust Ave at 3:02pm and move my car at 3:10. I apologize for the slight delay, can you please tell me how I can formally appeal this ticket?”
—$25 for overtime parking on Locust Avenue, at 3:02 p.m. on Oct. 19 (New Canaan business address)
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“On 9/24 I parked my car at the Park St lot in New Canaan as I was interviewing for a job. I have not parked there before and when I went to pay the machine said we didn’t need to pay so I didn’t. When I returned 30 mins later I received a ticket for not having a permit. I am a little confused as to why as there were no signs. If I would have seen one I would not have risked getting a ticket. Please can you excuse this ticket, I would be very grateful as its quite expensive.”
—$30 for no permit in the Park Street Lot, at 1:41 p.m. on Sept. 24 (Westport resident)
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Here’s the ticketed car, in the hashmarks at Elm Street and South Avenue. New Canaan Parking Bureau
“I wish to appeal a parking ticket that was given to me today that I feel is totally unwarranted. During the Covid pandemic businesses have, in some instances, managed to keep afloat by offering curbside pickup. Yesterday I ordered food items from Goldenberry at 71 Elm street and told them that I would pick it up today. I arrived around 2:20pm and called them to tell them I was outside. They came down immediately with my order, which I put on the passenger seat of the car and as I can around to get into the driver’s seat, met with the parking attendant who had already placed the ticket on my wind shield. This meant to me that she saw me pull up and collect my order, but still decided to give me a ticket. I call this predatory behavior. It’s police work at its most aggressive and least customer friendly. In the town of New Canaan, as in other towns, parking spaces have been taken up by restaurants to offer outdoor dining, (there is a restaurant next door) and this often means that the other businesses have to rely on some sympathy from the police departments to be a little more lenient and accommodating. I was stopped at the curb for less than 5 minutes, a fact that can be corroborated by the owners of Goldenberry, and my engine was still running, which should indicate to most people that I had no intention of parking or staying for any length of time at that spot.”
— (Greenwich resident)
Related email from Goldenberry owner to Parking Commission member: “I am writing to ask if there is a way you can make some Elm St magic. Because the parking spaces are almost always filled in the middle of the day, as I mentioned to you before, having a 5 minute ‘curbside pick up’ waiting spot would make a huge difference for ‘take & pick up’ orders from many shops & restaurants. A Greenwich customer just phoned me to lmk that when she pulled up to the space had of the crosswalk in front of Vineyard Vines (which isn’t a hazard to pedestrians because of the one way traffic), the parking ticket lady gave her a ticket for stopping & stepping out of her car, & taking a package fro the person who brought it out, all of this happening with a clock minute! My customer says the parking warden watched her pull into the spot & must have started writing the ticket immediately. This REALLY isn’t helpful for doing curbside business or for New Canaan’s reputation. Perhaps some people take advantage, but I know that in this case, the whole episode was a max of 2 minutes because we had this customer’s order ready & brought it to her immediately. I know there will be more parking in a few weeks, but having a 5 min waiting spot would be very useful and keep traffic moving along in town. My customer said the parking warden suggested using one of the many town parking lots, but if someone wants to do curbside pick up, this misses the point. I don’t know if Tucker is the right ‘town’ person to approach with this suggestion, so please lmk who else I should address.”
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“I stopped by Dunkin to pick up my son. I never left my car. I was in a wrong parking for 2 min. I could not stop on the road because I would block the traffic and it was not safe.”
—$30 for no parking zone on Elm Street, at 10:04 a.m. on Oct. 6 (New Canaan resident)
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“I hope all is well. My husband I and I were just in New Canaan to return one item at Taylor’s Luggage on the corner of elm. He parked the car on the right hadn’t corner of the street where there is a handicapped spot. I was sitting in the car with my two dogs and the hazards on. We were parked there for all of about 45 seconds and within that timeframe the parking cop wrote a ticket from behind the car. Immediately when I saw her I got out of the car and she stated she didn’t see me in the car, there was nothing she could do because the ticket was already written and I should appeal the ticket. I am hoping someone could be graceful and forgive this mistake of a ticket for $150. It would be greatly appreciated… I also have the time that the ticket was written and the time that the transaction in the store was complete via receipt. The parking cops ticket for 14:02 and the store receipt was printed at 14:01.”
—$150 for handicapped zone, at 2:01 p.m. on Sept. 3 (Norwalk resident)