The New Canaan Parking Commission recently received the following written appeals from ticketed motorists. Where provided, we have included some specifics regarding the violations cited.
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“I had to park in a handicap spot because I get bad gout to the point I can barely walk. there were not close spots other than the handicap spot, otherwise I would have been walking so gar and that the pain would have been unbearable. It says on the ticket that ‘Citation may be appealed before the parking Commission by giving written notice of intent to the Parking Bureau within 10 days.’ This is my notification so that I can appeal the ticket. I am not sure how to appeal the ticket because it doesn’t state how to … any help there would be great.”
—$150 for parking in a disabled space zone, at 10 a.m. on Dec. 16
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“On Thursday, December 9, 2021, I parked in the lot on Elm Street. I read the sign, downloaded the Paybyphone app, put in the lot number and my space number which was 11. I believed I paid for 3 hours (12:30-3:30). However, when I returned, there was a parking ticket on my windshield. I’m 78 and thought I did all I needed to do, but obviously I didn’t complete something because I now see on my phone app that my credit card is registered but there is no parking history. Since I acted in good faith, I would so appreciate it if you would accept this check for $3.30 which is what the amount was supposed to be. I did enjoy my shopping and helped the local New Canaan economy along!”
—$50 for unpaid space in Morse Court, at 3:16 p.m. on Dec. 9 (Fairfield resident)
Photo of car parked the wrong way on Elm Street. New Canaan Parking Bureau image
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“Please let this letter serve as a request to appeal ticket [number], issued on 11/03/21 at 9:33 AM. The ticket was code #60, parking on wrong side, specifically parking the wrong way. I backed into the spot I parked in the morning and upon looking around the area, there are no signs that say that one must pull in the spot, as shown in the attached photos. The only signs present are ones that say: ‘2 Hour Parking 9AM to 6PM,’ which is right behind where I parked; ‘2 Hour Parking 10AM to 6PM,’ ‘No Parking Loading Zone 7AM-10AM’ both of which are on the other side of the street. When I returned to my vehicle at about 9:40 AM, I found the ticket on my windshield and confirmed that there are no signs that don’t permit backing in. Please let me know if you have any questions once this statement and photos are reviewed.”
—$50 for parking wrong way on Elm Street, at 9:33 a.m. on Nov. 3 (Derby resident)
Photo of car parked in crosswalks at Main Street and East Avenue. New Canaan Parking Bureau image
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“I am writing to appeal the referenced parking ticket in the amount of $75. I started doing food ‘good will’ delivery for neighbors during COVID to help the community. I always park my vehicle in a legal spot. This day was unusual as the staff of the restaurant were 30 minutes behind and misguided me to park so they could place the heavy delivery in my car. [The parking enforcement] officer did not exit her car but watched me as I was waiting in the car and then prompted by the staff of Greenology to exit emergently. I feel I was discriminated against as a bi-racial resident speaking to an African American neighbor well and explained [the parking enforcement officer] that her behavior towards me post ticket was erratic and odd when I asked her why she wrote the ticket while I was speaking to the staff and my neighbor. It was ‘good will work’ I informed her and I was misguided by the employees of Greenology that the order was to be picked up. I manned the vehicle that whole time so I could move it but [the parking enforcement officer] aware of that stayed in her vehicle to write the ticket which was odd. I have parking permit at Locust and wanted to move my car but the staff at Greenology asked me to wait and needed to place order in car. The whole ‘good will’ work got quite confusing in a matter of minutes. [The parking enforcement officer] was odd would not say her name and knew it was a ‘good will’ job and punished me for listening to staff at Greenology. Confusion and ‘good will’ should not yield a $75 ticket. Please dismiss this ticket for compassion, ‘good will,’ and diversity.”
$75 for obstructing crosswalk on Main Street, at 12:27 p.m. on Nov. 1 (New Canaan resident)
Here’s a related report from the parking enforcement officer: “Driving north on Main Street, I observed a black Mercedes obstructing both crosswalks on the corner of Street and East Avenue. I did not see the operator of the vehicle while the citation was being written, nor when it was placed on the vehicle. I continued my patrol only eventually returning to the area driving south on Main Street I stopped at the red traffic light. An individual approached me at the light demanding the citation be taken back. She was being very condescending and aggressive. I asked her to appeal the ticket if she left the citation was given unfairly. This individual became very loud asking me for my name. She continued to tell me that she was an attorney and that I was a racist. At this time, the light turned green as she stood—in front of my vehicle only returning back to the driver side and continued to antagonize me as vehicles were driving around us. She also stated that she was a permit holder and was only picking up a food order working Uber on her day off.”
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“I know where I parked was wrong but it was only for just a few minutes. Please let me explain the reason why I am contesting it. For the last two weeks I’ve been helping my 92-year-old father, a decades long resident of New Canaan, get his condo in order for sale in early January and downsize into an in town apartment. He has developed a serious issue in his legs and his walking is very limited. My father and I were running around all morning trying to do errands for him and rather quickly. As you know, there is very limited parking within the town these day between the pop-up restaurants, the road construction, and the influx of new residents. I would like to also point out as I’m sure you are well aware that the town could really use additional spaces for handicapped parking dispersed throughout the town. At any rate, we were on the last errand where my father insisted I exchange the Christmas cares I bought for him earlier in the week. Though he is quite elderly he is very firm in what he wants! I also know he had to get home quickly because he is incontinent. I made a judgement call of parking briefly in a no parking zone running into the bookshop for less than five minutes and sure enough when I came back out to the car I received my ticket. My father waited in the car and tried to speak with the issuer of the ticket with no positive response. And we had to get back to the painters. This is my story candid and honest. My apologies for parking briefly in a no parking zone but I hope you can empathise with what I have been going through, the lack of parking in the town, and why I chose to do what I did. Happy holidays!”
—$30 for no parking zone on Elm Street, at 12:37 p.m. on Dec. 10
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“We are writing to you to dispute the follow ticket numbers [listed]. Due to the ‘no parking’ sign being entirely too small and very easily to be missed. Both are employees of WFL Real Estate and missed the sign. WFL Real Estate manages a lot of properties in the town and we are very committed to New Canaan. We were parked for a short amount of time while meeting a prospective client that is considering opening a store on Forest Street.”
—two tickets for $30 for parking in a loading zone on Forest Street, at 9:47 a.m. on Dec. 9