What follows is a special installment of our parking ticket appeals roundup—here we reproduce the letters not of those appealing their tickets, but the parting words of those who pay up following violations yet feel it best to offer advice to the New Canaan Parking Bureau.
As always, we have produced spelling, punctuation, grammar and capitalization in its original form.
The scooter guy was forced out of the pedestrian crosswalk here at Main and South. Published with permission from its owner
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“To be honest, I believe that this is not how the town of New Canaan should treat well meaning people. The fact that no where does it say you must pay before departing or receive a ticket is an unethical practice and a very poor reflection on the town and it’s government. As a previous resident for many years, I am sad that both my mother and I have been not treated fairly and with an appreciation of the effort to pay what I owe within 24 hours. I don’t know why the machine didn’t accept my card but the fact is it didn’t, I didn’t have $5 and in good faith attempted to pay twice within 24 hours. That is the right thing to do, and I would think that town of New Canaan would appreciate and respect it. Clearly it doesn’t which in my opinion is wrong and a negative reflection on the town.”
“Shame, shame, shame.” Photo published with permission from its owner
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“Parking – As a property owner in town, I do not appreciate being ticketed for parking in a legal parking spot in the afternoon when the lot has plenty of availability. Plenty of cash is contributed to town overhead from the [family name] family. These things will be/are driving us out of this town.”
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“NOT marked any where near where I parked from OUT OF TOWN — YOU should be ashamed.”
—$25 for overtime parking on Elm Street at 1:04 p.m. on June 22
Not even close. Published with permission from its owner
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“Enclosed is my payment for $25.00. I hope it goes to our awesome Fire department or EMT crew. And I really wish I could shop in my own town w/out having to pay to do so! UGH”
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“I stopped into your office the day after finding the parking ticket. I was not aware of your time constraint or did I see any signs of such. My daughter lives in New Canaan and after her father, my husband passed, I try to visit often. My head is just starting to clear from his death and the death of my twin sister that followed him. I am not making excuses. I really was not aware. Your response came to me today late and with Sunday not being able to call, that leaves only tomorrow, Monday. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday. I cannot drive that distance on Wednesday since I have an Appt that morning. I am disappointed you give no notice and even want me to come. I would have preferred your written answer. I will pay the ticket but will not be spending my monies in your town.”
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“I am enclosing a $25 under duress. I had not been to your town for many years but had to come because it’s the only place I could find New Balance sneakers. When I parked, I looked for signs and saw none. When I came back and saw a ticket on my windshield I realized it was because a telephone pole blocked my vision. Your parking signs are unreasonably far away and not visible. While in New Canaan from about 11:30-2:30, I spent over $200.00. I urge you to return my check. Your fine is simply unfair. If you don’t return it—no wonder so many stores are going out of business in New Canaan. Thank you.”
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“I’m going to pay this parking ticket, but use the opportunity to vent a little about parking in New Canaan. This 90 minute limit is ridiculous. I’m a designer and businesswoman and I have lots of meetings in town—at Stone & Tile Techniques, at Country Design, client meetings in local restaurants; I was part of the team that created the condos on Forest St. Every one of those meetings ran over—even when I’m certain going in that it can’t possibly go past 45 minutes, it turns into 2 hours. I think 2 hours would be much more appropriate interval for parking spaces. I read the protest letters in the New Canaanite and I agree—you need more than 90 minutes for lunch and a short stroll around town. I need more time for a business meeting and I can’t break away to go move my car. I suspect one of the reasons you keep it short is the employee parking problem in town. Why this can’t be solved, I will never understand. You can drive up Elm Street at 7:30am, before any store has opened – and almost all the spots are taken. I had a job in town for a year. My employer handed me a parking pass for Center Street lot and told me to park there. I had to walk a whole block and a half to the office – what a hardship. When I resigned, they asked for the permit back and gave it to the next employee. None of us were moving cars around all day. Why can’t you work out a system where employers are obligated to provide parking for their employees? Why not have a double penalty for employees caught using retail parking spots? You know who they are. Surely, with a few tweaks you can solve this problem and stop the musical car charade that goes on all day.”
This used to be a small ,friendly town and it has changed in many ways. I don’t shop here and when I move I won’t because of the parking problem. There are a lot of smart people running this town but they can’t seem to solve problems. Instead of focusing on parking tickets why don’t you give tickets to phone talkers and the expensive cars double parking like they own the street.
Also ther is not enough time to walk across on the crosswalks. There are a lot of elderly people living here and mothers trying to cross with children.there is so muched to be improved in New Canaan and it is not being done.
I agree that 90 minutes is not enough time. I wonder if it’s changed would it really help? It’s only human nature to ask for more when they have so much already. Perhaps spending more time making sure of were they are parking one would spend less time writing excuses as to the integrity of the town’s rules and regulations and we would not have the need to read these ridiculous letters. Stop wining…
NJ
It is shameful that no consideration was given by the town to a lady who shared that missing the signage might have been exacerbated by still feeling muddle-headed after two bereavements. Where is your humanity? Where is your empathy? Further, her letter should not have been made available to New Canaanite for publication. Very disappointing.
It’s time for New Canaan to solve the parking problem instead of doing nothing. This is an issue that has be worsening for a LONG time. Welcome your own residents and visitors to shop and do business in the Town instead of ignoring the problem of lack of parking and punishing well meaning people with fines. Hats off to Mr. Dinan for illustrating that New Canaan does have a parking problem, and documenting what people think of how it is handled.