Here are excerpts from parking ticket appeals letters filed recently with the New Canaan Parking Bureau:
***
“My daughter and I pulled into this spot both of us never knew it was handicap spot. There were no markings on the road all that was visible to us was the 2 hour parking sign in front of us on the right. The one handicap sign was beyond us when we parked and we never even knew it was a handicap. I’m compelled to let you know there were plenty of other spots to chose from at the time on Elm street and I have never and would never park in a handicap spot intentionally. The fine is very steep. I get the severity of the supposed offense but I just feel like this is grossly negligent and I am the victim here. The signage should be in front of the driver and the space not beyond the driver with no white lines or double blues outlining the designated handicap space. It’s just not right. I implore that this handicapped spot is too poorly designated and should be changed so this doesn’t happen again. If you look at this spot there is the sign and the end of the street lines. There is no room for a handicap vehicle to even fit beyond the sign in what is now outlined in the street.”
—$150 for handicapped zone on Elm Street, at 3:28 p.m. on Nov. 12 (Norwalk resident)
***
“I am a semi-retired physician living in Pound Ridge. I was dropping off some items at the N.C. Thrift Shop. With no parking spaces on Locust I parked in spot 33 next to the Thrift Shop in the Locust Ave lot. I entered the shop at 12:55 pm as attested to by the manager, copy attached. I inquired if the process would take long, and if so, could they make change for me to pay the meter while I waited. They immediately took my donations and I left the shop at 1 pm. I was away from my car for 5 minutes, total. The summons was issued at 12:56 pm, 1 minute after I entered the shop. Agent #304 was still near my car and explained how to handle my appeal. I believe that 5 minutes leeway is a fair time for getting change to pay the meter or to make a donation to a worthy cause such as the N.C. Thrift Shop and what it supports.”
—$25 for unpaid space in Locust Avenue Lot, at 12:56 p.m. on Nov. 6 (Pound Ridge, N.Y. resident)
***
“I WORK FOR CREW CUTS AND PARKED IN LOCUST PARKING LOT AND PAID FOR 4 1/2 HOURS. I THEN MOVED MY CAR AND PARKED IN A 15 M IN SLOT. I AM NEW TO WORKING AND PARKING IN NEW CANAAN. PLEASE, PLEASE CAN YOU EXTEND A ONE TIME CURTESY AND WAIVE THIS TICKE TAS IT IS MORE THEN I MADE WORKING TODAY.”
—$25 for overtime parking in Morse Court, at 3:01 p.m. on Nov. 7 (Ridgefield resident)
***
“I parked at the bottom of Elm Street and because the painted lines were temporarily, my car was pushed into a no parking zone. Up and down Elm Street, parked cars are not exactly lined-up with the lines. Residents do their best but the temporary line are the problem. That caused my car into a position to get this ticket.”
—New Canaan resident
***
“I was unloading passengers on main street. My car was never turned off, my hazard lights were on, as well as my right blinker. I uploaded my passengers – but the officer did not hadn’t me the ticket. Instead he just put it on the car and walked away. I don’t think he realized I was right there. I would not consider this ticket justified because I did not ‘obstruct’ the hydrant. I was near it, but I was ready and able to buckle my seatbelt and move my car in an instant if there was an emergency. I didn’t turn the car off and leave it unattended.”
—New Canaan resident
***
“I haven’t been to New Canaan in 25 yrs, (I’m from Orange) but was invited to meet and have lunch with a friend. I followed her into town as I didn’t know where I was going. We found the parking lot. We both used separate kiosks, simultaneously, to get tickets for 2 hours and then had to walk around the lot for a way to get to the street b/c they were doing construction at the bottom of the stairs. We walked around downtown and then settled on Rosie’s restaurant. When we realized it was getting close to the 2 hrs., we left the restaurant to go back to the parking lot and remembered we had to walk around to avoid the construction. We were gabbing as we walked downtown and she was pointing out the different stores and encouraging me to come back. By the time I got to my car, it was 15 minutes past the expiration. We both parked in the back of the lot where there were no cars b/c the spaces were tight. My friend’s car was parked 1 space away with no other cars around it so she didn’t get a ticket. I am asking for leniency, please. I was not in any way trying to take advantage of the parking system, jus though ti was within the limit.”
—$25 for unpaid space in Park Street Lot, at 2:56 p.m. on Nov. 8 (Orange resident)
***
“Today I parked in the Locust Lot spot #123. I put 6 quarters in the meter. It read 1:45 as the time I had to be back. (I inserted the quarters at 11:45 a.m.) Unfortunately not being familiar with this machine I did not get a receipt. I returned to my car at 1:19 p.m. and found a parking ticket for $50. This is unfair and unwarranted. I am 82 years old and cannot afford to pay this ticket nor do I deserve it. Please rescind ticket.”
—$25 for unpaid space in Locust Lot, at 12:51 p.m. on Nov. 9 (Wilton resident)
***
“While ignorance is no excuse, I truly did not notice that the sign stated that the time started at 11:00 vs the 9:00 time I had sen on all other signs posted in the area. It was pouring out (election day) and I just saw the 2 hour time limit and assumed it was 9:00 like all the surrounding areas (it did not look like a loading zone to me!). I ran into Wave for all of 5 minutes to quickly return a gift that I had gotten from my daughter (which was damaged). I truly hope that you can forgive this ticket (or if not perhaps reduce the fine?).”
—$30 for loading zone on Main Street, at 10:37 a.m. on Nov. 6 (Stamford resident)
***
“I am a sales rep and 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 noticed 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 being placed on my car—I spoke to the attendant and he told me to write to you as I know I didn’t park longer than noted on the signs.”
—$25 for overtime parking on Elm Street, at 1:13 p.m. on Nov. 1 (Westport resident)
***
“I, [name], hereby inform you that this citation was given under incorrect circumstances. I parked by the hydrant for 1 minute in order to enter Organika Kitchen and pick up what I had ordered prior to entering the location. There was also a person in the vehicle at the time. In which case, the officer could have just asked the vehicle to be moved given that it was not an unoccupied vehicle. As I walked over to the vehicle, the officer had not even begun to issue the citation and made us wait until she finished entering the information and citation to print. I realize that parking by the hydrant is illegal. However, for a literally 1-minute occurrence, with someone still inside the vehicle, and the officer had not even begun to issue the citation. There could have been some courtesy given. This is a $75 ticket which I received in one minute. I don’t even make that in 2 or 3 hours of work. I work extremely hard for my money and pay my bills as I know anyone else can agree with.”
—New Canaan resident
***
“Parked in front of Bank on Elm Street (B of A). There were always handicap parking spaces there. What happened to them? I am 80 + have a handicap sticker. Where are the signs? I had to go to bank. Please – I won’t do it again.”
—$30 for no parking zone on Elm Street, at 11:26 a.m. on Nov. 15 (New Canaan resident)
***
“1. On Wednesday, November 7, 2018, I parked in a space that was a regular parking space on Elm Street. 2. To the left of the space, a green and white sign with arrows indicated that people can park in that area for 2 hours. 3. I therefore believed I had parked my car in a legitimate spot. 4. At the time I parked, there were no yellow lines to indicate that vehicles should not park in that spot. 5. However, when I was on Elm Street 48 HOURS later (2 days later) on Friday, November 9, 2018, I saw that yellow lines had been freshly painted to clarify that vehicles should not park in that spot. 6. I will provide copies of the photos of the space on the following dates: a. Wednesday, November 7, 2018 (no lines) b. Friday, November 9, 2018 (with freshly painted yellow lines)”
—New Canaan resident
***
“Silver BMW hatchback. 10:55-11:00. 11:20-11:30 gone for hour. 12:30-1:00 came out within 30 minutes and I had a tix.”
—$25 for overtime parking on Elm Street, at 1:21 p.m. on Nov. 13