Here are excerpts from parking ticket appeals letters filed recently with the New Canaan Parking Bureau:
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“I would like to contest ticket number 3030005075 issued on 12/05/18 on a day of a holiday. It was a National Day of Mourning and was considered a holiday day. The sign said that the parking is free on holidays.”
—$25 for unpaid space in Morse Court, at 12:11 p.m. on Dec. 5
Long drive from New Jersey. Credit: Michael Dinan
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“I was parked on Main Street earlier in the day was done at work at noon – ran some errands. Had to be back at work at 2 pm – I parked my car on Cherry St at 1:50 and got a ticket at 2:58.”
—$25 for overtime parking on Cherry Street at 2:58 p.m. on Dec. 18 (Norwalk resident)
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“Backed into a parking spot that was partially blocked by a delivery truck (FedEx I believe). The truck was obstructing the pole + handicapped sign so I simply did not see it. The sign was not visible from the front view of my car. Additionally, there was not a painted wheelchair on the pavement to signal me given the sign was obstructed.”
—$150 for handicapped zone on Elm Street, at 11:17 a.m. on Dec. 28 (Wilton resident)
What are we not understanding about yellow stripes in the road. Credit: Michael Dinan
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“I can’t believe your department would give a ticket to a car running for 3 minutes with the car owner a business owner for over a dozen years giving business to a local business (Vicola Pizza) as I do almost every week to this establishment. I came out with a pizza in hand and she still wanted to give me a ticket. The car was not double parked as her vehicle was and was not blocking any traffic and was NOT in any Fire Zone. Is this a community or is the NC parking bureau just a revenue source for the town?”
—$30 for no parking zone on Main Street, at 11:41 a.m. on Dec. 13 (Weston resident)
Do you also like to hop the curb when making right-hand turns. Credit: Michael Dinan
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“I am the owner of the Nails Hollywood. My co-worker was unaware of the handycap space due to a lack of a clear sign. There was a sign above but he did not see it. There was no sign in the street & no blue color. He had to repair speakers for the business before the customer came. They go in the ceiling. We have been here at least three and a half eyars and have always respected the city and town laws.”
—$150 for handicapped zone on Elm Street, at 9:35 a.m. on Dec. 18
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“I was just drop up a friend.”
—$150 for handicapped zone on Main Street, at 1:38 p.m. on Dec. 27 (Stamford resident)
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“On October 29th, 2018, I took a spot in place of a car which had just pulled out. There was no indication that this was not a spot. When I returned from my business, I was surprised to see a ticket for illegal parking. I understand that it is my responsibility to park appropriately, but in a place where there isn’t any indication that one can not park, this is not possible.”
—$30 for no parking zone on Main Street, at 11:31 a.m. on Oct. 29
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“I am a sales rep & had an appointment at The Whitney Shop on 11/1 – I found a parking space, noted the time & put the alarm on my watch to make sure I didn’t get a ticket. I noted that the parking police marked my car right after I parked – within seconds. I made sure to be back to my car on time & when I got there a ticket was bien placed on my car – I spoke to the attendant and he told me to write to you as I know that I didn’t park longer than noted on the signs. Could you please recuse this ticket as I know that I was back at my car on time & the attendant must have gotten there second before me.”
—$25 for overtime parking on Elm Street, at 1:13 p.m. on Nov. 1 (Westport resident)
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“I have permit parking and under normal circumstances park behind the library lot. I am a manager @ Crewcuts and parked on Elm Street as I was running late on the 6th. I was going to move my car when the other manager arrived; however, she called out sick. So my car stayed on Elm all day as there must always be a manager present in the store. This is my first ticket and absolutely underhand that I should pay something. I am asking for a one time ruction or pass as, again this was not a normal circumstance.”
—$25 and $40 for overtime parking on Elm Street, at 1:06 p.m. on Dec. 6, and second violation (Stamford resident)
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“I usually do not park on Main Street. I put my car near my office at 11:30 because a Liberty Mutual adjustor needed to inspect the car. I double cked the tie because I knew I had to be at OR at 1:45 and would move by 1:30 + was ticketed at 1:16. I am appealing this ticket because of the special situation today and I am sure of my timing.”
—$25 for overtime parking on Main Street, at 1:16 p.m. on Nov. 6 (New Canaan resident)
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“Quick shop at J Crew – the cashier could not find price or color code ticket. Another cashier tried to help, he couldn’t either for a while. I was waiting at least 20 minutes. (Fortunately, I was the only one there.) The initial cashier verified the issue with a note on the back of the ticket. I really was ready to leave in the 15 min I was parked.”
—$25 for overtime parking on Main Street, at 11:06 a.m. on Dec. 19 (Darien resident)
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“I paid for 90 minutes in spot 76 and received a ticket as if I had not paid. I do not have my receipt.”
—$25 for unpaid space in Morse Court, at 9:56 a.m. on Dec. 18 (New Canaan resident)
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“I accidentally (and partially, I believe) parked in a handicapped zone on Elm Street on 11/27/18. I am a long-time resident of the town and current employee of a New Canaan business, and I would never intentionally park in a handicapped spot. I believe that I did not see the sign and assumed it was a standard spot on Elm as it used to be before the recent redrawing of the parking spots. I apologize for my error and kindly ask for your leniency.”
—$150 for handicapped zone on Elm Street (New Canaan resident)
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“From Main Street, I approached Elm Street and turned LEFT on to Elm Street. As you turn left onto Elm Street the handicap sign is 100% not visible or obvious to cars coming from this direction in particular. The sign itself is facing Main Street where in it is only clearly visible to cars turning RIGHT onto Elm, not LEFT. As I turned left onto Elm, I saw a car parked at the 2-hour zone sign with space behind it for another car. Seeing that, I steered my car directly toward that vehicle, pulled long side it and backed in to the open space, taking note of the time limit and wholeheartedly thinking I was parking in a 2-hour time limit zone. It is because of this, and the obscurely placed handicap parking sign, that I was absolutely unaware that it was a handicapped designated parking space. In addition, there is no painted handicap notations or sign or markings for a delineated handicapped parking space on the actual street itself to indicate that the area was for handicapped vehicles. There is no marking on the actual street itself to indicate otherwise so if you did not see the sign on the spot then there is zero way to know that this space was designated for handicapped parking. The handicapped parking sign is also placed barely above the painted triangle on the street indicating NO parking. It is not placed in an area where it would be obvious for a car to fit there without being in the NO parking area. When backing into that parking space, there is zero chance one would see that posted sign, given the placement of it. I will always take full responsibility for my action and was truly upset when I saw that parking ticket as I have never, and will never, use a handicapped parking space knowingly. On top of it being illegal, it is just plain wrong and immoral to do so. I believe my clean record having zero infractions of this nature can attest to that.”
—$150 for handicapped parking on Elm Street, at 9:49 a.m. on Dec. 11 (Darien resident)