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Officials last week upheld an $80 ticket issued to a Norwalk man for parking on a New Canaan crosswalk.
Mark DelGuidice told members of the Parking Commission during an appeal hearing that he was issued the ticket (at 12:49 p.m. on June 9, a Monday) after dropping off a Grubhub order and couldn’t find space for parking.
“I was waiting for the car in front of me to leave so I could move up in that spot, but I couldn’t wait any longer so I grabbed the order, ran inside as fast as I could, and when I came back I had a ticket,” he said during the Parking Commission’s Aug. 6 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference.
During the hearing, Commission Secretary Kevin Karl questioned whether there were “no other spots in town.”
“Did you drive around or only check for spots that were available on the roads?” he asked.
DelGuidice said every town parking space, including the disabled spots, had been taken.
While he understands what he did wrong, DelGuidice said he is on a fixed income and can’t afford the ticket.
Furthermore, DelGuidice said he had four hospital visits and multiple medical emergencies the past month including a pulled tooth and two cauterizations from his ears, nose and throat, putting him “far behind” on his expenses.
“I don’t deny I wasn’t in the wrong spot, I’m just asking you to show some mercy,” DelGuidice said. “I’m not a repeat offender and I don’t break laws. I do positive things for the community. I just try to do the right things, although it doesn’t seem like it here.”
While commissioners were sympathetic to DelGuidice’s financial situation, they ultimately decided to uphold the ticket.
“I have concerns about any car being left on a crosswalk, and the Main Street one is a very difficult intersection for pedestrians,” Commission member John Clarke said. “With the lights already being very confusing and the limited amount of time to cross, having a car in the way makes it even more difficult and dangerous.”
He added: “While I’m sympathetic to the hardships it may create, I’m going to deny the appeal under the circumstances.”
Karl also denied the appeal to the ticket.
“I think this is a learning opportunity, so I’ll vote to uphold the ticket,” he said.
Good reporting— but really?! enforcing an $80 ticket on a GrubHub driver on a fixed income?! We all know we have a parking issue in this town.
I agree
Where has that ‘softer, gentler community gone……😕
They should have given him a break. The extra crosswalk spaces from the resurrection of the decades-ago law was a huge mistake. Valuable square footage that would have provided additional and much needed parking spaces.
I agree with Sheri. Giving tickets to GrubHub drivers is just wrong. Are we even giving tickets to those cars that people leave running with the keys inside them? If you want to make an “example” of anyone, go after them.
We don’t all agree there is a parking problem in town. Lumberyard, Center School/Library, Locust, Park Street, and Train station lots have over 700 spaces. Add in additional street parking and it is highly unlikely there were zero spots available in town on a Monday at 1pm.
Not every spot may be steps away from your location but that is the price one has to pay for the ‘charm’ and ‘character’ of a downtown space.
That it’s a delivery person is unfortunate – maybe the person ordering could chip in. Or maybe make the illegal parking less obvious by avoiding a crosswalk.
The GrubHub algorithim made him do it… more on time deliveries the greater benefits unlocked for the driver.
He clearly admitted he knew he did wrong. He, as he stated isn’t a repeat and I can bet my bottom dollar he wont do it again. Jeez come on New Canaan – you can do better.
Can we get Mr. DelGuidice contact info and set up a GoFundMe