Ticketed motorists and their spouses submitted the following appeals recently to the New Canaan Parking Commission.
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“I parked my car there for a few minutes to run a quick errand and I was under the impression that parking was free on the weekend. I apologize for this unintended violation on my part. I have lived in New Canaan for 14 years and have never had a parking violation until today, and I very much appreciate your consideration of my appeal.”
—$25 for unpaid space in Morse Court, at 9:32 a.m. on March 27 (New Canaan resident)
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“My wife Melanie was in town on Saturday with our twin daughters and she parked in the lot across from Spiga and she received a $25 ticket. She did not pay the meter because she was unaware that you had to pay on Saturdays because before during the peak of Covid it was free. She was there for an hour trying to enjoy the day with our daughters and she was written a ticket.”
—$25 for unpaid space in Morse Court (Darien resident)
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“I was recently visiting your town and received this ticket. I was parked behind the J. Crew store in the parking lot. While trying to determine my parking space number (which was seventy something—very faded and illegible) a woman walked by and told me that parking was free ever since COVID. Not being from the area I believed she knew what she was talking about. Because of the faded parking space number and the misinformation, I am hoping not to pay this ticket.”
—$25 for unpaid space in Morse Court, at 12:11 p.m. on March 10 (Darien resident)
Here’s her Jeep. New Canaan Parking Bureau file photo
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“On 3/9 I parked in the Playhouse lot (in the spot where the white Jeep is) and started walking to the parking meter (on my way to Starbucks). I walked down the access road and up a few stairs to the parking meter and realized that my wallet was in my car. I returned to my car and I had a parking ticket on my car… For what it’s worth on Friday I pre-ordered my lunch at LPQ. I drove down Main St and up Elm but there were no parking spaces. I wanted to quickly grab my food. I parked in that spot, walked down the stairs and picked my order. I did not wait in line or talk to anyone. I was away from my car for less than 1 minute. I adjust trying to support our local restaurants. It’s now a very expensive take-out lunch.”
—New Canaan resident
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“I am writing to appeal the parking violation I received on 2/1/2021 on Millport Avenue. I regularly parking in this spot adjacent and south of a handicap space. I take care each time to make sure the nose of my vehicle is not on or inside the handicap space line. I have been unaware for at least 2 years that the adjacent space is a Fire Zone. This is because the street markings are significantly faded, there is no traditional fire hydrant, and there is no sign indicating no parking any time, or a sign indicating a Fire Zone.”
—$50 for fire zone on Millport Avenue, at 12:30 p.m. on March 1 (New Canaan resident)
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“Used the spot for 10 minutes while doing business at a local restaurant. I used the back lot to keep Main Street spots available for customers. I have always paid few in the past until COVID fee change. I wasn’t aware of the change. Also no signage about reinstated fees!”
—$25 for unpaid space in Park Street Lot, at 2:22 p.m. on Feb. 8 (Monroe resident)
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“Having kids in school in New Canaan, I try to support the local businesses as much as possible. As you know there is a lot of traffic on Elm Street. One of the largest issues that I see are the trucks that pull up and double park to make their pickups and deliveries. This makes driving a larger car a difficult challenge in navigating the street and the parking spaces available. On 1/06/21 at 2:34 I was given a citation for pulling my Ford truck into a no parking to pick up my daughter who was walking out of her Orthodontist appointment 2 doors away. She was in route to the car and I had been standing for a minute waiting for her to get in. I had already circled the town multiple times awaiting her arrival and was just pulling in for a moment so I did not stop the stream of traffic behind me which was as usual very busy, especially with the traffic cop (unknown to me) parked on the other side of the road blocking the only other lane.”
—$30 for no parking zone on Elm Street, at 2:35 p.m. on Jan. 6 (Norwalk resident)