‘This Tax Is an Outrage’: Parking Ticket Appeals

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 spelling, capital letters and punctuation as written by the appellant.

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“Could not see ticket machine screen because of sun. Found traffic cop + he said I was paid up for 1.5 hrs. I paid with Amex card. This traffic cop said I was OK to leave. Came back + had ticket.”

—$25 for unpaid space in Playhouse Lot at 1:39 p.m. on March 23

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“The enclosed ticket for $25 is absurdly too high. When you go to pay online you have the audacity to charge $3.50 service fee. R u kidding. Will Never Ever Shop in NC Again. This tax is an outrage. You can’t balance your budget so you rape people who come to shop! Shame! Get a new parking machine. The lousy one you have never works. You’re all in need of customer service lessons. Spent $475 in one hour will take my business elsewhere.”

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“Hi just writing a note in regards to a parking ticket I got last week followed by 2 other tickets on top of it the same day. I spoke to Stacy the parking ticket supervisor about my family emergency as I had to rush to the hospital after finding out my uncle was diagnosed with cancer, therefore I couldn’t come back in time to move my car. I’m very sorry about the parking incident and I’ve agreed to pay the 1^st ticket and Stacy said she’d put the other 2 on hold to possibly disregard them. Here’s the check for the first ticket I’ve agreed to pay. Thank you!”

—$30 and $40 violations on Elm Street at 1:17 p.m. and 3:25 p.m. on March 9

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“I WAS NOT IN THAT SPACE FOR THE 90 MIN TIME LIMIT. I PARKED NEXT TO MY FRIEND’S CAR AT THE SAME TIME. MY CAR HAD A TICKET, HERS DID NOT.”

—$25 for overtime parking on Elm Street, at 1:04 p.m. on March 9

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“I spent many minutes in the rain trying to pay your parking at both machines. I put in my parking number, 4 quarters and pressed the green button. Instead of getting a receipt – my coins were returned. I tried the next machine with a credit card. The screen first spent minutes saying checking chard and then said checking space … then nothing. I was standing with Monica LaMontagne of space 42 at the same time. She had the same problems. We assumed the machines were broken.”

—$25 for unpaid space at Morse Court at 12:54 p.m. on April 4

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“Shop owner next to CT Mufffins SAID TO PARK UP FRONT JUST FOR PICK-UP, LOADING & UNLOADING. Just picked up a cart w my son – not even in store 5 min. I parked there only because I was told it would be fine.”

—$30 for no parking zone on Main Street at 2:49 p.m. on March 24

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“I work at J Crew. I had to go into work at 6 am. I parked on the street (I do have a permit parking at the centre lot). Thought that I parked my car at centre lot. I got tripled ticketed. I would be happy to pay for a ticket because it was my fault. Is there any way I can reduce my parking tickets???”

—$25, $40 and $30 for overtime parking at Morse Court at 11:48 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 3:49 p.m. on March 30

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“There are no signs in this spot saying anything about time parking. I have a pic if someone wants to check or put one up. It is very confusing.”

—$25 for overtime parking on Burtis Ave., at 3:53 p.m. on March 31

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“Meter on left wouldn’t take money said spot occupied I went into store to get change thinking maybe was wrong with quarters came out @ 12:24 and there was a ticket already. Tried to find parking car but already gone. I then moved my car to street. Others were having problem with meters too. Thank you.”

—$25 for unpaid space in Morse Court at 12:19 p.m. on April 4

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“I was dropping off something to my friend who works at the store at 4 South Ave location, I was not planning to park at the no parking zone right in front of her store, it was less than one minute the time I had my car there, I left the emergency light on, and didn’t even lock it as I knew I was going to be in and out of that store to drop it off. When I came out, the officer was looking at my car and the ticket was being printed, so he couldn’t stop the ticket when I explained. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused to the Parking Commission. It was not my intention to park there, was just for stopping to drop off something to the store. I respectfully request to waive this parking ticket.”

—$20 for no parking zone on South Avenue at 12:56 p.m. on March 22

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“On March 17^th I parked my car in the Main Street Lot at 11:28 a.m. At 12:35, I walked back to my car just after the officer wrote the parking ticket. That is a total of 7 minutes over the allotted time. I am asking for consideration and the officer suggested I write this note in appeal of the ticket. I was spending money in our town and supporting local vendors. I hope you will consider dismissing this violation.”

—$25 for unpaid space in Morse Court at 12:34 p.m. on March 17

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“On 3/18/17 I was ticketed in the Main Street lot. I tried 3 times to deposit money in to the parking ticket machine, my money was returned and I gave up. Upon my return, I saw the parking meter man and told him of my complaint, holding the ticket. With an ambivalent attitude he told me to write a complaint. I request you examine the log data for the parking machine 11:30 am and 12:30 pm.”

—$25 for unpaid space at Morse Court at 12:40 p.m. on March 18

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“Displayed wrong expired permit had new valid permit. Did not display correct valid permit.”

—$150 for handicapped zone at 12:41 p.m. on March 22

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“Working for Telephone Co. (Frontier). Could not fit my bucket truck into any available spots loading zone was full. Stopped for less than 15 minutes to check conduit for bldg on Elm St, Parked by Mobile Sta on South St, had flashers on to indicate working. Come out to ticket on windshield. I’ve worked this town for Tel Co for 22 years have never gotten a ticket and always done my best to obey all Parking Practices.”

—$30 for no parking zone on South Avenue at 11:50 a.m. on March 30

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“I wasn’t aware of the rule that you can’t park facing the wrong way – and my friend (visiting from England also parked facing the wrong way). Neither of us realized as not the same in England!”

—$50 parking wrong side on Main Street, at 11:58 a.m. on March 30.

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“On the morning of 2/22 I was not parked in a loading zone. I was parked in an area that states 90 min parking. Please see pictures attached & waive ticket fee. Thank you!”

—$30 for loading zone on Forest Street at 9:56 a.m. on Feb. 22

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“Hi, I am kindly asking you to consider pardoning me from this ticket. I was patronizing a business on Forest Street and actually almost went to their private parking but then noticed another non-commercial vehicle pulling out of a spot. I saw a sign indicating 90 minute parking, so I left my vehicle. Upon return, I noticed that my spot was right where regular parking meets the loading zone, at the time I parked, it was not clear to me that I was in the loading zone.”

—$30 for loading zone on Forest Street, at 9:57 a.m. on March 9