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.
Creative parking on Main Street. SS photo
***
“On 4/2/16 at 10:06am I was double parked on Elm Street. I have never done this before and I tried very hard to find a spot. I was coming from New England Pediatrics and I had my two sick children in the car (one being a baby) as well as my mother. I needed to get them fluids as they had high fevers and I was running into Rosies to grab a drink for them. I was out of my car for all of 2 minutes and received a ticket during that time. I did speak to the parking officer on duty and she explained that she did not see my mother in the car because of the rain and I could write a letter explaining why the ticket was done in error. I certainly understand the rules of our town and it was extenuating circumstance that I will never do again.”
—$50 fine
Interesting parking job at Weed & Duryea lot. Credit: Michael Dinan
***
“I normally would pay, but I must protest these two tickets. I was in Kiklo getting hair colored—went outside after 95 min and saw I had a ticket so rather than bother moving car, I returned to finish service. Walked out again to leave and was already getting served second violation. A hair color process takes 4 hours—the store must provide parking for clients or I will not be able to do business in town. This is a bit of an aggressive fine in my opinion.”
—$60 fine
***
“Here is the parking ticket you issued to me along with my receipt for the parking I paid for. I’m baffled as to why I got ticketed, but don’t want to go back & forth over $20 when it’s just too much aggravation. You should have some way of making this work so that people don’t have to have a PhD to avoid getting ticketed just to do business in town.”
***
“I parked for the first time in your town near the Church of Science. I was directed there by a resident and told that if I parked there I had 3 hours to park—I arrived back at 1 pm to find I had been ticketed.”
—$20 for overtime parking on St. John’s Place at 12:56 p.m. on March 30
***
“Let me preface my case by saying I have never written a note like this before. I have a temporary handicapped parking permit for my car since my second knee replacement a few months ago. I drove into New Canaan and parked in the lot behind Elm St and Nails Hollywood. When I returned about 45 min later this ticket for parking in the wrong direction was on my windshield. I have enclosed a diagram showing where I entered on Main St and where I parked following the arrows. I parked in what I thought was a handicapped space—the ticket for in the wrong direction was on my windshield. Ridiculous! Why is it okay in Morse Ct. to park in either direction but not here? Please tell them I am 73 yrs old and have been shopping in NC for 45 yrs.”
—$50 fine
***
“Got pulled over by New Canaan Police officer on Elm Street, discovered through him that my license had been suspended starting 4/8/16 due to an unpaid ticket. Changed address in past month so DMV sent my ticket to old address. Police officer had me park in municipal lot because I couldn’t drive any further. Had to run to work late and came back to ticket.”
—$20 and $40 for first and second violations of unpaid space in Morse Court at 11:15 a.m. and 1:55 p.m. on April 9
***
“The spot I was in was right in front of a doctor I was seeing for a cyst on my back. On Wednesday 4-6-16, I had knee surgery and I had some difficulty walking.”
—$60 fine
***
“I hold an annual parking pas for the Talmadge Hill train station. I purchased a new car, began parking and began being ticketed as I forgot to inform you of the change in vehicle. I am happy to report that the system is working.”
—$30 for parking at Talmadge Hill Lot with no permit at 11:34 a.m. on March 23
***
“My time was good 954. Got a ticket at 1002. Went to Dr Apt. We were a little late (8 min).”
—$20 for overtime parking
***
“Today, my daughter received a parking ticket from the town of New Canaan. I would like to appeal it. She approached her car as the parking enforcement operator was completing his/her ticketing. As you will note, Kate was only 8 minutes late in returning to the car. I appreciate if you would void the ticket.”
—$20 for overtime parking at Morse Court in March 21
***
“I was shocked Friday to receive the attached notice of delinquent payment. Why was I shocked? 1. I never saw a ticket for this supposed violation, thus could not pay it on time; 2. Over the past 5+ years that I have used the railroad parking lots, I learned to obsessively maintain my receipt until arriving back to my vehicle in the evening. When there is no citation, I discard the receipt. On the rare times there have been citations (usually for inaccurate space number), I have responded within days; as I would have done had there been a citation on my windshield. You should have records of these responses. 3. The same situation occurred last April, at which time, having paid with my debit card, I had a record of the transaction. But I mostly pay with cash (quicker and more reliable transaction with the parking machines at the train station lots), so, having discarded the receipt as described above, I do not have proof of payment. I can only surmise that: a. the transaction process was not recorded in your payment machine; b. the parking space my vehicle was in was not recorded or input properly; c. the supposed citation was not secured under the wipers or on my vehicle; d. the person in charge of recording this infraction made a mistake. If I was in violation I would quickly pay the fine or respond, as my history with your department indicates. But I did NOT receive a ticket on my windshield, and I believe I did not commit a violation as I have become diligent about always paying and double checking the space on the receipt. I refute that I committed an infraction, but as I have no proof, am enclosing payment of $30. But I adamantly protest being charged a late fee for a citation I never received.”
—$60, including $30 penalty, for unpaid space in Railroad Lot at 10:21 a.m. on March 2