What follows are excerpts from parking ticket appeals letters filed recently with the New Canaan Parking Bureau. Where available, we’ve included information on the violation for which these people were cited, in what amount, and where and when the violation occurred.
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“I parked behind the Mobil gas station and go to bathroom on the gas station when I came quickly I got ticket within less than minute. Please give me favor.”
—$20 for unpaid space at Morse Court at 10:12 a.m. on Oct. 16
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“I live in Charlotte North Carolina and on Saturday, October 3, 2015 I spent a wonderful day shopping and eating along the beautiful streets of New Canaan. I graduated from New Canaan High School 35 years ago and had not been in the town for 33 years. I was so excited to get back that I did not notice the 90-minute parking signs. I do remember looking for meters and did not see any. I had so much fun that I lost track of time and when I got to my car I had two tickets totaling $60. I am very sorry that I left my car parked for so long. I am wondering if anything can be done to lessen the cost of my mistake.”
—$20 and $40 for overtime parking and second violation on Em Street at 2:16 p.m. and 3:58 p.m. on Oct. 3
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“Hello, I just moved to New Canaan from California a few weeks ago. I parked in the municipal parking lot and paid 2 hours fee. I ran errands on Elm Street and Main Street then to the Special Education Department on Cherry. I got lost on Cherry after Wells Fargo. I ran back to the car because my time was up. I got lost again and got to the car close to 11:25 a.m. and got the parking ticket. I drove to the Town Hall at 11:40 to the parking dept but they said I have to go to the police department.”
—$20 for unpaid space in Park Street lot at 11:26 a.m. on Oct. 15
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“First time in New Canaan, ever. Was here for a favor, was picking up a shift for someone who called out. Employees at the restaurant gave me false information on parking, saying it was free on weekends. Full-time UConn student—13 hours/volunteer work a week, 20 hours work/week, I can’t afford the tickets, or can’t pay on time. I’m a bus boy, I don’t get paid much. Normally work in Greenwich.”
—$20 and $40 for overtime parking and second violation on Elm Street at 12:42 p.m. and 3:20 p.m. on Oct. 10
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“My daughter lives at [number] Main St. I parked on Main Street, went upstairs to see her. She was very sick. Had been in hospital, and was very, very weak. I couldn’t leave her as she was throwing up, etc. and needed my help. I hadn’t planned on over-staying my visit, but had no choice. I won’t be here on the 5th of November, but would be happy to speak to someone by phone.”
—$20 for overtime parking in Morse Court at 3:28 p.m. on Oct. 3
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“I was going to the Wells Fargo Bank on Main Street. As I got near the corner to turn and park in the bank’s lot, the construction workers (2-3 of them) stood in the road and suddenly blocked right turns. I left my car in front of the bank—I couldn’t go forward or backward into the bank. When I came out in 3 minutes, I had been ticketed and the officer suggested I write to let you know that there were workers in the road prohibiting turns and to request forgiveness of this citation under the unusual circumstances of the construction and the workers blocking turns.”
—$30 for no parking zone on Main Street at 1:44 p.m. on Sept. 2
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“I was at a [spa] from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Before parking at the lower end of Burtis Avenue, I looked for and did not see a sign that said ‘no parking from here to corner.’ When I returned to my car, a passing driver stopped when she saw me looking at my parking ticket. She told me that she knew other people who had successfully appealed tickets for parking in the same place and suggested that I also appeal.”
—$30 for no parking zone on Burtis Avenue at 1:35 p.m. on Sept. 29
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“I received the above parking violation on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 on Elm Street. When speaking with the officer, she told me that I was parked over 90 minutes. I explained that there were no signs, where I was parked stated that, she mentioned that the sign was posted on the pole where the plants were hanging from, and blowing from the storm, which did not make the sign visible.”
—$20 for overtime parking on Elm Street at 3:47 p.m. on Oct. 3
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“Ladies & Gentlemen: Look at this. What an erroneous ticket, slipshod even. Maybe your tickets didn’t like my car? I don’t know but this is wrong!”
—$20 for unpaid space on Morse Court at 10:18 a.m. on Oct. 10