Here are excerpts from parking ticket appeals letters filed recently with the New Canaan Parking Bureau:
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“I ran into a stairwell to drop off a wallet I found at Starbucks. I saw the ticketing officer doing his rounds and was in sight of my car the whole time. I would have been able to see someone wanting to park in the space and been able to move my car.”
—$150 for handicapped zone on Elm Street at 9:50 a.m. on July 3 (Milford resident)
Bad enough it’s a BMW. It also has to be a New York plate, right? In Morse Court lot. Nice job, pal. BT photo
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“I got out of my car and ran right into the store with my niece so she could use the bathroom. I went back out to my car to get my wallet and pay for the space while we stayed in town and in the matter of 2 mins there was already a ticket on my car. I was so furious – we left. This is extremely unfair as we were having an emergency bathroom situation + the parking attendant pounced on us. Please disregard this ticket. It would be much appreciated.”
—$25 for unpaid space in Morse Court lot, at 11:56 a.m. on Aug. 1 (Greenwich resident)
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“My daughter had an appointment at 12:15 at Dr. Litzis office for skin evaluation of skin cancer. Dr. Litzi removed a mole. After the appt we added money to the meter – we were not aware of a parking ticket until w returned to the car at 2:15. We paid parking meter twice. Our intentions were to pay meter.”
—$25 for unpaid space at Morse Court, at 1:04 p.m. on Aug. 8 (New Canaan resident)
This is a car parked in a private driveway on Crystal Street during South School’s “Meet the Teacher” day last week. The homeowner had no idea whose car it was. Contributed
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“On August 13th, I went to you lovely city for the first time. I looked for a place to park, and found a lot just off of Main Street. The parking system was a bit tough to follow, so I figured I had to pay when I left so the meter would know how much to charge me. When I paid, it seem to only take a dollar for my parking time. But when I got to my car, I had a ticket for not paying. That was a bit hard to understand since I didn’t know how much to pay. I asked a local resident what was going on. She explained I was supposed to pay before I left the parking lot, and not when I returned. I hope you can see that the system con be a bit confusing to a first-timer. I did pay the parking meter for spot 50, the meter just did not know I was leaving and not arriving.”
—$25 for overtime parking in Morse Court, at 2:35 p.m. on Aug. 13 (St. Johnsville, N.Y. resident)
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“Pulled up to parking spot the ‘No’ was covered by the potted plant.”
—$30 for loading zone on Main Street at 10:24 a.m. on June 28 (Darien resident)
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“On July 31, 2018, at 11:18 a.m., I parked my car in the parking lot in the Main Street lot. I went to the parking meter to pay for my parking and entered my space number, 71, and then entered my credit card in the machine. It said my time was covered for one hour, from 11:18 a.m. – 12:18 p.m. I did not see anything on the screen to print a receipt. I went into JCrew and came out to leave at 11:50 a.m. and I found this ticket on my car, it had just been printed, stating the space was unpaid. I discussed it with the parking meter employee in the white van and he said he could not do anything and that I should appeal. I had entered my credit card and believed, honestly, that I paid for the space, as I followed the instructions on the machine.”
—$25 for unpaid space at Morse Court, at 11:52 a.m. on July 31 (Darien resident)
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“The ‘commercial loading’ zone sign has not been there in the past. I have lived in town for over twenty-five years. The spot where I parked was not previously designated as a commercial loading zone. With all the changes to parking and signage, it is not always apparent to a longtime resident. I have paid (a lot) for many years for a spot at the Lumberyard and just recently gave it up.”
—$30 for loading zone on Main Street, at 10:12 a.m. on Aug. 27 (New Canaan resident)
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“Misunderstood the arrow. There were plenty of other spaces where I could have parked. Unintentional, real mistake.”
—$30 for loading zone on Forest Street, at 10:29 a.m. on Aug. 22 (South Salem, N.Y. resident)
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“Morse Court 15 min zone. Went into tile store – picked up tiles. Recall leaving house at 10:15 – ticketed at 10:38.”