Here 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. For context, we’ve also added town of residence for the ticketed motorist. We preserve spelling, capital letters and punctuation as written by the appellant.
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“I parked my car on Main Street at about 9 AM and was to move out by about 10.30. We are in renovation … Misplaced my key, could not find the key in time and had my wife bring another set of keys. By the time she came and moved my car it was 11.10 AM. I understand I was about 10 minutes past the time. As a one-time courtesy I am requesting you to make an exception on this violation ticket as this was extenuating situation.”
—$25 for overtime parking on Main Street at 11:07 am. on March 27 (appellant gives New Canaan address)
This woman in her appeal for obstructing a crosswalk said that she only noticed white lines in front of her car and behind her car. Nice try.
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“I visited your town town to make a sales call to The Linen Shop and parked on Elm Street. In order to make my sales call I must carry extremely heavy bags into the shop and therefor must park as closely as I can to the store. When I pulled into the location where I parked my car I only saw a white line in front of where my car was parked and right behind where my car was parked – therefor assumed I was legally parked. I was not aware of being in a crosswalk. This is a financial hardship for me to make a sales call and then spend all of my earnings on parking when there are not enough spaces closest to the store. I would ask that you please reduce the fines I incurred today so that I can walk away with some profit as I drove all the way from NYC for this … After getting the ticket I saw that it was in a crosswalk but all please note that there was a white parking line in front of where my car was parked as well as behind my car. I believe that was what caused my confusion as I’m not familiar with your town. I would greatly appreciate it if you hold the tickets for review by the council and please mail me the result to my nyc address.”
—$75 for obstructing crosswalk (New York City address)
The ticketed person’s mother said in her appeal that her daughter didn’t know you couldn’t redate these one-day parking passes.
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“My daughter filled out the pass after parking at Talmadge Hill around 10:30. She wrote the date as 3/17/18 and realized it was the ‘16th.’ She changed the day not knowing it could not be modified. I have included the ticket, a copy of the free pass and also a copy of the train ticket purchased online. I am asking for review to forgive this error & forgive this fine as well.”
—$30 for unpaid space as Talmadge Hill Lot at 11:16 a.m. on March 16 (New Canaan resident)
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“I am asking to forgive the enclosed/attached ticket due to extraordinary circumstances at the New Canaan Library. I called the parking office after I got the ticket — and was told to send this letter with the ticket to your office. There was a power outage in Town and apparently the families were at the library using the computers I drove around the library parking lots 3 times and could not find a parking space close to the building. There were a number of cars already parked illegally in the lot and I could not park and leave the car at the entrance and block traffic — even to run in and out. Because of the snow levels — there were fewer parking spaces on the street around the building as well. I was buying a number of used books that the librarian set aside that I purchased which were heavy to carry — so I parking in Main/Morse Street lot — on the corner of Main & Cherry which was as close as I could get to a door (Main entrance to library) so I could run into the back entrance easily. There were very few cars in the parking lot at this time — none around me in this corner of the lot when I parked. I was also running in and out quickly — so paying for the space didn’t seem needed. I cam out 15 minutes later and had a ticket. Could you please see fit to forgive this ticket — given the circumstances of the snow storm and the fact I needed to be close to carry bags of heavy books?”
—$25 for unpaid space in Morse Court at 10 a.m. on March 9 (New Canaan resident)
Poorly done here. Credit: Michael Dinan
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“I am appealing this because I had no idea (the sign doesn’t state this) that you can get a 2nd ticket if you already have 1 on your car. I find that unfair. My initial ticket for going nine minutes over the 2 hour parking ticket I agree with and I paid ($25). This 2nd ticket is $40 which I feel is excessive and unfair.”
—$40 for second violation on Main Street at 3:10 p.m. on April 3 (New Canaan resident)
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Catwoman (or Catman) also left their lights on. Credit: Michael Dinan
“Moved car at 11 to pick up a box around corner + came back to same spot to drop off a heavy box + got a ticket — was moving to the other lot I have paid for parking behind library.”
—$25 for overtime parking on Elm Street at 11:15 a.m. on April 3 (Pound Ridge, N.Y. resident, has paid $3,615 for about 100 parking tickets since November 2013)
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“I’m writing to respectfully contest this ticket. I work in town and arrived early in the morning 3-13-18 during a snow storm. I rarely park in lot, but figured it would be better to keep off the streets for the snow plows. N.C. schools were closed and at the time town hall was not opening. When I asked parking attendant why is he ticketing in snow storm he said he came into work so parking rules in effect. When I called Parking Bureau to get clarification I was told told Lots were being ticketed but not streets. This made no sense to me because of the snow plows. I’ve worked in N.C. for a while. When schools are closed because of snow, and snow plows need to clear streets the lots haven’t been ticketed. I always park on the street. Anyway I got two different answers. I would hope you can understand due to bad weather that day and overturn ticket.”
— $25 for unpaid space in Morse Court at 11:28 a.m. on March 13 (Darien resident)
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“I work in town and arrived early that morning in a snow storm. I rarely park in a lot behind JCrew, but figured it would be better to park there than on the street to give way for the snowplows. New Canaan schools were closed and at the time, Town Hall was not opening. When the parking attendant was asked why he was ticketing during a snow storm, he answered that he came to work so parking rules were in effect. When the parking bureau was called for clarification, I was told lots were being ticketed but not streets because of snow plows. I have worked in New Canaan for a while now and my understanding was that when the schools closed because of snow, streets need to be cleared in order for the snow plows to do their jobs. I always park in the far lot near the library and pay everyday. Anyway I was given two different answers and hope that you can understand due to the bad weather that day, that you will overturn this ticket.”
—$25 for unpaid space in Morse Court at 11:21 a.m. on March 13 (New Milford resident)
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“On 3/22/18 I parked my car on Elm St a little after 11am. I was attending a volunteer meeting for the New Canaan Community Foundation to review a local charity. When we finished at 1 pm a truck was blocking my car so I cited and chatted with my colleagues for a few minutes, when I got to my car at 1:15 I had a ticket! Very unfair I think in light of all the circumstances. I’d like to dispute this.”
—$25 for overtime parking on Elm Street at 1:16 p.m. on March 22 (New Canaan resident)
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“I AM APPEALING THIS TICKET BECAUSE I WAS PARKED LEGALLY. I SPOKE WITH [A POLICE] OFFICER WHO IS THE OFFICER WHO PARKS IN THE POLICE CAR PARKING AREA. HE TOLD ME THE SPACE THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR TWO CARS PLUS HIS. [THE] OFFICER TOLD ME I WAS LEGALLY PARKED.”
—$20 for no parking zone at Main and Elm Streets, at 10:47 a.m. on Feb. 28 (Warren, Vt. resident)