‘Parking in a Handicap Spot Is the Norm for Me’: 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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“Merry Christmas! Please reconsider this ticket on the grounds my car was only 2.2” over the line. Have a very Merry Christmas!”

—$30 for no parking zone

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“This letter of intent is for parking commission for New Canaan. Now, on 12/7/16 at exactly 11.16, which badge #303 forgot to write on the ticket am or pm. I received a parking ticket in the amount of $100 for parking in a handicap parking space. I am aware that those parking spots are meant for handicapped citizens or people. Now before I go on any further I would like to point out a few things. First off, the company that I work for are responsible for the distribution of narcotics and other drugs. That’s my reason for even being at the Walgreens pharmacy to begin with, because through me that’s how Walgreens receive their ordered drugs. Walgreens at New Canaan is my last stop, all my other stops all have handicapped signs with the term, ‘van accessible’ on them. With that being said, parking in a handicap parking spot is the norm for me because I’m used to doing it all my other stops. OK, back to 12/7/16, I was in Walgreens for no more than three minutes. When I returned back to my van, New Canaan parking associates were illegally parked behind my van, which prevented me from leaving. Badge number 303 a black male and white female as the passenger were still in the process of written the ticket up. New Canaan parking department is not a law enforcement agency and they had NO right to illegally park behind my van to prevent me from leaving. They are not cops nor do they have the right to detain me as if I committed a crime. It was very unprofessional of them to do so, and I think they need some sort of retraining, on how to better handle these kinds of matters. Next, the $100 fine amount, which is ridiculous because the handicap sign states that violators would be towed and not fined. My van should have gotten towed and not fined if that’s the case. When they saw, me come outside they should have just let me go especially since the ticket wasn’t even on the van yet. I had to wait there patently until badge #303 got down writing the ticket, I kept quit and figured I’d be smart about the situation and dispute the fine in a letter to New Canaan parking department. I don’t like how badge #303 handled this situation, and I’m sorry for any inconvenience that I might have caused but please dismiss this ticket. I will see to it that I never park in New Canaan’s handicapped parking slots ever again. I’m just used to doing it because my other stops all say ‘van accessible’ on the handicapped signs.”

—$100 for handicapped zone at Walgreens, at 11:16 a.m. on Dec. 7

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“I’m sorry for this incident. I’m appealing this one because I can’t paid. I’m struggelling. I have finalcial issue. I would like to you to help me please to avoid this ticket. I really apreciatte it for your understanding. God bless you.”

—$30 for parking in crosswalk on Elm Street at 9:18 a.m. on Nov. 29

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“I had an emergency notification regarding my tire system and put my hazard lights on on my car while I ran into the gas station to ask for help. It was a pending emergency and had no intention of parking in a handicapped zone.”

—$100 for handicapped zone at Morse Court at 12:16 p.m. on Nov. 29

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“I received a parking violation on December 6, 2016 while dining and shopping on Elm Street. As I expressed over the phone, it is nearly impossible to dine and shop in New Canaan in a 90 minute period during the busy holidays. I attempted to park I the lot behind J Crew but as usual there was a line of people having trouble with the parking meter machines. As such and due to time constraints, I parked on Elm Street. For the reasons stated above, I hope you will dismiss my parking violation. Parking in New Canaan is often a challenge and even more so at this time of year. I understand new parking meters will be installed in the coming weeks and will certainly plan to park in a metered lot going forward. Thank you for your consideration.”

—$20 for overtime parking

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“I got a parking ticket on Nov. 29^th for No Permit Parking at Talmadge Hill Train Station. I am writing here to you to appeal this citation. As you can see in the attached photo, there is a sign located at the parking lot saying that ‘Permit Only’ but it also says ‘Metered Parking Also.’ I was confused. So I asked a man nearby and he told me that he does not have permit either and he parked here before and never got a ticket. So I thought it was OK to park there without permit. I just moved to New Canaan and not quite understand the rules here yet. Would you please pardon me for this first time? I will never park at that parking lot again before I get my permit.”

—$30 for no permit at Talmadge Hill Lot, at 12 p.m. on Nov. 29

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“I had an appointment in New Canaan. I’m not familiar with its parking rules and parked in what appeared to be an OK spot. I didn’t see any signs. When I returned about half hour later I found 2 tickets! I looked around and did find a sign but it was backward from point of view (outside the driver side of the car!) I will pay one ticket for my mistake in not seeing the signs, but I think to have to pay for 2 is unfair—please advise.”

—$40 for parking second violation at 1:44 p.m. on Nov. 17 at Morse Court

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“This morning I had to run to train and was not able to pre-pay the parking. I do not live in CT. This was my first time parking at Talmadge Hill, so I was not familiar with the lots and the unlimited spaces for non-permits. I parked in a permit lot, but then someone said I can’t and told to go up the hill. I returned to 12:05 p.m. and was planning to pay at the station. The officers were sitting in the white minivan. They suggested that I appeal my situation as opposed to pay. We then went through the pre-pay station process and what lot is available for day parking. So I now understand the situation and next time I’m visiting and borrowing my friend’s car, I’ll know the routine. Appreciate the one-time pass.”

—$30 for unpaid space—railroad at 10:53 a.m. on Dec. 15 at Talmadge Hill Lot

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“I parked in the morning. When I was initially went to pay using my Pay by Phone app, I encountered technical difficulties. I waited to try again, hoping a better connection would enable me to finish the payment process. Initially, I forgot to try again but remembered around noon and completed the payment on the Pay By Phone app. Please see attached receipt from credit card payment for 12/1. Given that I paid the required fee for the day I request the parking violation be waived.”

—$30 for unpaid space in the Railroad Lot at 9:40 a.m. on Dec. 1

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“I received a parking ticket on Elm Street in New Canaan on December 9. My [vehicle] was on the south side close to Papyrus. I found the ticket at approximately 1:55 pm and immediately called the Parking Bureau to confirm that it was, in fact, 90-minute parking and to find out why I had gotten the ticket because I arrived at the parking spot at 12:29. I know this exactly because I was using Waze and running late. I have attached a picture from Waze showing the time I left my house and the time I took to get to my destination. A black Range Rover was pulling out and I pulled in at that time. When I spoke to the gentleman at the Parking Bureau he contacted the person monitoring the parking and said that my car was there at noon. At noon, I was still at my home in Wilton, CT, scrambling, because I thought I was going to be late for a 12:30 lunch with friends at South End Uncorked. I was at Qdoba in Norwalk at 11:45 getting my husband lunch. I don’t have the receipt but I can show you a credit card statement for that day. I can also get a note from one of my friends who I met for lunch telling you when I arrived. Please let me know the best way to get this resolved. Thank you for your help.”

—$20 for overtime parking