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. We preserve all capital letters and punctuation as written by the appellant.
This FedEx truck is facing the wrong way on Main Street downtown on Aug. 29, 2016. BS photo
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“Please excuse the ticket, it wasn’t intentional—my sister was with me, from Boston, and we were both mistaken.”
—$20 for unpaid space at Morse Court, 12:02 p.m. on Aug. 1
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“I parked in front of Baldanza and double-checked the space before I left my car, and it appears that it was acceptable to park as it is not in front of a driveway where cars pass nor is it marked with yellow paint or a sign indicating ‘no parking.’ ”
—$30 for obstructing a driveway on Elm Street, at 9:34 a.m. on Aug. 19
This person parked in the yellow hash-marked area by the midblock crosswalk on Elm Street. Credit: Michael Dinan
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“I was out of town in early August and realized I didn’t have monthly train pass. I have parking at Talmadge lot (17 years!) but I couldn’t buy train pass there because there are no ticket machines. With no cash, I needed train ticket so had to go out of New Canaan. I would therefore like to have this parking ticket voided. Thank you.”
—ticket issued Aug. 8
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“Not aware of temporary no parking.”
—$30 for loading zone at Morse Court, at 10:37 a.m. on Aug. 17
This motorist took up two spaces in the parking lot for Waveny Pool. SE photo
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“I purchased a ticket for the wrong spot. I usually park in 135 or 137 when I take the train into the city. I punched in the wrong spot this morning. I have enclosed a copy of my receipt from 7/26/16 in spot 135. Sorry.”
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“All my other 3 cars were out of town, so I had to use my 4 car. I had no choice, can you waive?”
This person is partly in the crosswalk at Main and East Avenue. Credit: Michael Dinan
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“I pulled over for a safety reason (I just bought my car on Friday and the dashboard kept beeping). I pulled over into a handicapped access area. I was by no means in the handicapped space. I also had my hazards on. The officer gave me the ticket and walked away.”
—$200 for handicapped zone on Elm Street at 10:19 a.m. on July 20
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“I am appealing this ticket since it is wrongful. I originally parked my car directly in front of 140 Elm Street, New Canaan at exactly 9 a.m. I brought my son to a doctor appointment, I left him there, and then went shopping with my daughter in town. At 10:25 a.m., I returned to my car and drove around the block, since I was still shopping. I then re-parked closer to Starbucks on the same side of the street. I returned to my car at 11:55 a.m., only to find a ticket given to me at 11:37 a.m. Upset about this injustice, I found the parking attendant badge #304 and told her that the car was moved and not sitting in the same spot for 90 minutes. She stated that cars can’t be moved to another spot. I asked her ‘WHERE IS THE SIGN THAT SAYS THAT!!!” I was told there is no sign, it’s just a known unwritten fact. This is totally unjust!!!! So this means that shoppers can only shop for 90 minutes and then they must leave the town!!”
—overtime parking
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Battery died. Lights left on. Went to fire station to ask for help. Come back ticket on window. Had to call AAA. They arrived shortly after 2 p.m.
One of today’s complaints troubles me – is it legal or not to move one’s car to a different spot within 90 minutes? Is that rule written down somewhere? If not, how is it enforceable?
Perhaps whomever supplies you with these letters can answer that question.
The main reason this happens is because they use a plate reader and it doesn’t specify which spot someone is in. I complained about this when the possibility of this rule was brought up a year or so ago. The intent is to keep employees out of prime spots but if you meet a friend for coffee and park on Elm St., leave after an hour, pick up a child at school and return to Elm St. and park in the near vicinity of your previous spot, you will be ticketed for overtime parking. I’m not sure how you prove your innocence in that case.
We’ve all run errands like the sort you describe. Short of taking a time-stamped picture of your car each time you move it, I don’t know how to prove that you obeyed the rules. That’s not good.
An “unwritten rule” is not a rule, at all.
In reading these, my conclusion is New Canaan Parking is over-policing our town and no one seems to either care or do anything about. Take, for example, the commuter who parked in the wrong spot and had a receipt to show for it. Or this stuff about an ” unwritten rule” ? That is just crazy…wise up New Canaanites and take control of over-policing before we’re all thrown into jail. Terribly unfriendly atmosphere too…where is the Chamber in all this? These police work for us, right?
@aD — I thought they used chalk marks on tires, not license plate numbers. Could be wrong, but I’ve seen a lot of chalk marks on tires.