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.
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“Last week on Nov. 3 I went to barre class at [a local yoga business]—I paid for my parking spot at 10:58 a.m. for one hour. I left barre at 12 p.m. and came directly to my car. I had a ticket that was literally just written at 12:01. I did not dawdle or visit with anyone. Can you please consider revoking my ticket? I use the parking lot behind J Crew a lot, and if ever get tickets I pay them. This one just seems a bit extreme in the timing. I did speak to the parking attendant as he was still in the lot, but he said there was nothing that he could do and that I should appeal the ticket.”
—$20 for unpaid space in Morse Court at 12:01 p.m. on Nov. 3
A Mercedes parks in the crosswalk on Elm Street on Nov. 19, 2015. Contributed
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“I think in the 5:30 darkness I didn’t quite see my space correctly. I think I paid for 138 or 137 rather than 139. (Credit card charge below.) I even walked back and checked before paying so not sure how I messed this up. Suppose my eyesight is not what it used to be.”
—$30 for unpaid space at Railroad Lot on Nov. 18
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“I’m writing an appeal for a parking ticket that I received on Oct. 9. Parking in the visitor spot where the signs had been removed was an unforeseen mistake. Since the posts were still standing, I assumed that the signs were going to be replaced and did not give much attention to the fact that those spots were eliminated. I also noticed that the signs for the first five visitor parking spots where I was ticketed are now back on the post and the last five visitor parking signs have been taken down. It’s inevitable confusion occur.”
—$30 for no permit in the Lumberyard Lot at 11:16 a.m. on Oct. 9
These two cars are parked so close together that a wheelchair would not be able to pass between them, from Nov. 17, 2015. Credit: Michael Dinan
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“We are visiting our son who just moved here from California. We put four quarters in for an hour and then put another quarter in just to be sure. We didn’t take a receipt because we didn’t know we should. We came back after a while but thought we were in time. This seems a little harsh since the lot was mostly empty.”
—$20 for unpaid space at Morse Court at 2:16 p.m. on Nov. 18
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“Sorry. First day back after time change.”
—$30 for unpaid space at Railroad Lot at 10:31 a.m. on Nov. 2
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“I parked on Main Street, diagonally across the street from the Post Office which I needed ot use. There was no parking anywhere on Main Street, Locust Avenue or Forest Street. I parked behind the last car near the exit from the Town Hall so that only front wheels were in the parking spot. I left my engine on, my car keys in the car and lights flashing as I ran across the street to the Post Office. I spent only a minute there and returned to the car immediately. I was not double-parked. I was blocking the exit. The parking enforcement officer watched me run to the Post Office and wrote me a ticket which she handed to me as I returned to the car. I believe the ticket is in error. You know very well how unfortunate the Post Office situation has been since its old location closed. Residents of New Canaan need to be able to use the Post Office but the Post Office in its current location has no designated parking. There is often no parking anywhere near the Post Office. Residents who leave their car with the engine running while they run to the Post Office should not be treated like any other parking offender. I wasn’t lunching with my friends while my car was illegally parked! I wasn’t shopping. I was trying to use a government service which is my right as a citizen. What’s more, the parking enforcement officer actually saw where I went, so there was no doubt about that.”
—$30 for No Parking Zone on Nov. 18
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“Signage, one violation understood, was confusing, or unclear to me; fully understand now—but would request flexibility in that this is act of misunderstanding, not flagrant ignoring of guidelines. I parked in what was believed to be 1-hour permitted parking—not seeing the red-lettered sign atop specifying only between 3-6 p.m. My eyes fixed on the ‘black on white’ lettered sign—a mistake that won’t happen again.”
—$30 for loading zone on South Avenue at 9:33 a.m. on Nov. 17
Car parked in handicapped spot, Oct. 24, 2015. Contributed
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“I want to express my distress at receiving this citation, I did not see the sign and would never park in a Handicap Zone knowingly. I retraced my steps and believe there is good reason I did not realize this was a Handicap Zone. I took the enclosed three photos which sequence how I turned right and parked in the first parking lot (not my car parked in the photo). The Handicap Zone sign is not visible until one has moved into the space and looked up, after seeing signs with conflicting information at the corner.”
—$100 for handicapped zone on Elm Street, at 11:49 a.m. on Oct. 24
This Volvo came off of Elm Street, did a U-Turn on South Avenue and parked awkwardly here, on Oct. 29, 2015. Credit: Michael Dinan
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“I was standing in front of my car with my friend when the parking officer gave me the ticket so I was very surprised he didn’t ask me beforehand. I’ve been living in New Canaan with my husband and kids and we are happy to support our town businesses, but I find it very hard to dine out and shop all within 90 minutes, it’s a different amount of time, especially when I sat down in Le Pain on Elm Street and waited 15 minutes for a menu and longer just to get the check. It’s my first parking ticket so I hope you take that into consideration. I also don’t want to be discouraged with shopping in town, as I love New Canaan and want to show my support. I will make sure next time not to exceed the parking time limit or I will try and move my car to another spot.”
$20 for overtime parking on Elm Street at 11:29 a.m. on Oct. 27
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“I had paid for an hour of parking which expired at 1 p.m. I arrived at my car only five minutes late (at 1:05) and was very surprised to see I had already been issued a ticket. I’m saddened that there is no ‘grace period’ (of even five minutes) and feel that it’s a very unfriendly policy to issue a parking ticket after only four minutes. I enjoy shopping in your beautiful downtown area and like to support the local businesses. I think many business owners would be dismayed to learn that parking tickets are being issued as aggressively as this. A policy such as this might negatively impact store traffic and will certainly make me hesitate before shopping in New Canaan again. I hope you will consider cancelling my ticket.”
—$20 ticket