Here are excerpts from parking ticket appeals letters filed recently with the New Canaan Parking Bureau:
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“I didn’t know the emissions test at the auto repair shop would only take 10 minutes. The person at the counter did not explain that the work will be done in such a short amount of time. So I left the car for over 2 hours. In the future I will not leave it longer than 10 minutes.”
—$25 for overtime parking on Main Street, at 1:35 p.m. on Oct. 12 (New Canaan resident)
Here’s the picture that he sent in as proof of his visit to CCNC.
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“On Saturday, October 20, I visited New Canaan for the first time of my life to golf at New Canaan Country Club. I stopped in the town to get a bagel at Connecticut Muffin (I paid cash and do not have record of purchase) and parked in the parking lot next to the Mobil gas station. There were no signs at the entrance to the lot saying it was a paid lot space otherwise I would have found parking elsewhere. I was parked in the lot for no more than 20 minutes and have attached a picture of my car at the New Canaan Country Club 25 minutes after the ticket was issued. I am not familiar with any parking rules as I am from out of state (live in New York and Maryland tags) and appealing this ticket for the reasons stated above.”
—$25 for unpaid space in Morse Court, at 9:49 a.m. on Oct. 20 (New York, N.Y. resident)
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“Spot lines indistinguishable – bike rack easily accessible. Not blocking bike rack. No sign posted.”
—$30 for obstructing bike rack on Elm Street, at 11:11 a.m. on Oct. 18 (New Canaan resident)
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“I was literally in press burger 2 minutes. Had to pull in spot moving forwards as car behind me pulled up right behind me so I could not parallel park. I was off slightly but not intentional.”
—$25 for parking more than 12 inches from curb on South Avenue, at 12:03 p.m. on Oct. 5 (New Canaan resident)
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“I was parked correctly.”
—$75 for obstructing crosswalk on Elm Street, at 11:50 a.m. on Oct. 19 (New Canaan resident)
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“I did not block driveway. I could not find parking anywhere and parked a bit over limit line. I am so sorry. I made sure I am not blocking anyone. Thank you.”
—$30 for no parking zone on Pine Street, at 9:51 a.. on Oct. 2 (New Canaan resident)
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“I [her name] have been accused of parking in a no parking zone. I plead not guilty to the charge and give formal written notice of intent to appeal the above mentioned citation. I parked in front of a clearly posted sign stating ‘2 HR PARKING 9AM TO 6PM’ at the corner of Elm and South Streets. I was parked within the timeline allowed. There are no street lines painted to guide parking.”
—$30 for no parking zone on Elm STreet, at 12:58 p.m. on Oct. 12 (Wilton resident)
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“The ticket says that I was ‘obstructing bike rack,’ which was not the case. The bike rack could hold possibly 10 bikes, but there were no bikes in the bike rack at any time either before or while I was parked there. I have several photos that show that many bikes could have been parked in the bike rack, so I was not ‘obstructing bike rack’ as the ticket states. There is a sign on a nearly street light that says: ‘2 HR PARKING 9 AM to 6 PM’ The sign stated that parking was allowed at that location for 2 Horus from 9 am to 6 pm, so I knew if would be fine to park there. I have photos that document all of the above. I do not understand why the Town of New Canaan is so intent on giving parking tickets to clientele who either live in or visit New Canaan, or who have come to purchase goods or services. I spoke to several shop keepers about this ticket, and they were very angry, as well. Who wants to come outside after shopping or dining to find a ticket on his/her car? You are doing an excellent job of driving away customers by giving ridiculous parking tickets. You are certainly not encouraging people to return to New Canaan to open up their wallets to dine or shop, or possibly buy a home by giving out parking tickets so liberally. For some reason, the car on the other side of the bike rack was given a ticket, also, for ‘Parking in a No Parking Zone.’ The woman who owned the car came out of the shop after making a purchase, and she was furious, as well. She was parked under a the ‘2 HR PARKING 9 AM TO 6 PM SIGN’ sign! So, I am appealing this $30 ticket, and I hope you will be more appreciative of the people who choose to park in New Canaan. Chances are those people will spend money and want to shop, dine or check out the town to consider whether it might be a good place to live. Who wants to live in a town where you have to worry that you might receive a parking ticket when you need to do a quick errand in town? I do not think the Town of New Canaan wants to discourage people from coming to the town, but by giving out parking tickets when there is no reason for the tickets, you are doing just that. I suggest you give your Parking Authority attendants free coupons good at the stores or restaurants to distribute to people walking in town, rather than slapping them on the wrist with parking tickets! Please let me know if you would like me to send you the photos I took of the parking situation.”
—$30 for no parking zone on Elm Street, at 11:22 a.m. on Oct. 12 (Alice Morgan, Wilton resident)
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“On Tues, Oct. 16th I put $1 in meter for a 15 minute appt w/Dr. Littzi—she ran late and I could not leave to refill meter. I am a senior citizen and a $25 fine is a lot of money for me. Please excuse me this once next time I will put in 2 hrs for parking. Thank you in advance for your consideration.”
—$25 for unpaid space at Morse Court, at 10:33 a.m. on Oct. 16 (Norwalk resident)
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“Where I parked my car, the sign for loading zone did not specify it was applicable every day. I assumed that it did not apply on the weekends. Deliveries are usually done during the week. There were other cars parked in the same area that likely interpreted the sign the same way. The sign should be clearer. As I result, I did not know nor believed that I was parking in an area I should not have been parking in. I would have parked in another space had the sign been clear.”
—$30 for loading zone on South Avenue, at 1:25 p.m. on Oct. 13 (Darien resident)
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“Signage not clear. I parked in front of group signs did not see the – the sign in front of me said loading but thought I was behind it and parked legally – there was a truck in front of me loading therefore I thought it was OK to park.”
—$30 for loading zone on Main Street, at 9:04 a.m. on Oct. 18 (Glen Allen, Va. resident)
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“I moved to 170 Forest May of 2016, I have been parking there since I have moved in. I work at Colonial Barber shop on South Ave. I have never received a ticket at home since I have moved in. Thanks.”
—three $25 tickets for overtime parking on Forest Street, on Oct. 2,3 and 4 (New Canaan resident)
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“I parked in front of a sign that says 2-hour parking. There is no sign that says ‘no parking.’ (There is a bike rack, but nothing that says you can’t park there.) I’m not here all summer, so don’t know that’s for bikes.”
—$30 for no parking zone on Elm Street, at 1:54 p.m. on Oct. 25
Michael Dinan, any word on when the restriping of roads (including parking lines, crosswalks, and no parking “zebra stripes” will be done? Seems like we have been without lines for a few months now, and that only adds to the general parking confusion.