(no subject)

[kidsmokes.livejournal.com]

I have a parking question, and I tried 311 but it didn't work on my phone? I went down to the parking place this morning and the lady just kinda bitched me out.

Anyways, I don't have a car but two of my roommates do and 2 of my future roommates (starting 9/1) have cars too. I notice that other people have those signs that block off the space in front of their homes for a few days for "moving" so I wanted to do the same but the person at the P&T office said I have to pay $25 for a moving van pass despite the fact that we're not using a moving van, just a suburban and the like. Is this not kosher? She told me they don't block the street off 'just for moving' but I really don't want to have to park down the street and lug stuff back and forth and up the the two flights of stairs. Parking on our street is pretty sparse as it is.

Also, will they ticket an unpermitted car in our driveway?

Edit: You're all full of shit. (I say this half jokingly). Thnx for flooding my inbox while I was out for coffee.

Comments

[ron_newman]

If you buy the moving pass, the city will put up temporary No Parking signs (or give them to you to put up) and tow away any cars that violate them. This gives you a space in front of your house to park the moving vehicles (even if they are not vans).

The city doesn't care what you park in your driveway, only what's parked on the street.

[miraclaire.livejournal.com]

Dialing 311 only works from a landline. The number if you're calling from a cell phone is 617-666-3311.

[kidsmokes.livejournal.com]

i am saving this now. thanks!

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

It's supposed to work from cell phones, but in practice it only works with some carriers.

[lustfulgustav.livejournal.com]

Hail Satan.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

You have to pay $25 regardless of what vehicle you're using because you're blocking off that parking space for a long period of time. That way, if you need to, say, depart and come back with another load of stuff, and some jerk takes the clearly-marked space that's yours, you can have the city tow them.

As for your driveway, unless the city's gotten overly invasive, if it's legally parked on property that isn't theirs, they probably don't care.

[infinitemorning.livejournal.com]

Unless it's the Batmobile. Somerville frowns on vigilantes.

[ron_newman]

Seriously -- if parking in your new neighborhood is at all crowded, you will be glad the city provides this service for just $25.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

I have to pay $25 for a moving van pass despite the fact that we're not using a moving van, just a suburban and the like. Is this not kosher?

Yes, it's kosher.

http://www.somervillema.gov/section.cfm?org=Traffic&page=349

[kidsmokes.livejournal.com]

i was just confused cause i'm not using a pod or van. but i get it now.

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

as far as i know, your driveway is private property and not city property, so they're not going to check for resident stickers on any cars parked there.

dunno what to tell you about blocking off some sidewalk for moving, tho.

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

as long as it's your driveway, not one you share with anyone else, and not one your landlord rents out spots in, etc, they won't ticket.

[tarkap.livejournal.com]

The $25/day fee went into effect on June 1st. I confused them quite a bit when I asked for the signs to cover 5/31 and 6/1. Luckily they only charged me $25/day plus something like $2/sign for 2 signs.

They did ask for the license # of the Budget truck I was using, and I just kind of laughed at them since nobody ever knows that info ahead of time for rental trucks.

[kidsmokes.livejournal.com]

Yeah I went in thinking I could get a day pass no big deal for a friend coming in from Maine and they were like YOU NEED THEIR REGISTRATION.

[justjess.livejournal.com]

I've been parking in my driveway without a sticker and with NH plates for a year now. If it's in the driveway, you'll be fine.

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

If you want to save the $25 you can try to get a friend with a somerville permit hold spaces on the street for you and then move when you arrive with your carloads of stuff.

(I'm not saying that's easier, I'm just saying that's another possibility)

'not real cities' - a partial apology and an explanation

[ron_newman]

My comment about Texas mostly not having 'real cities' was intended as a joke, but it seems to have raised some hackles, which wasn't my intention.

I was referring not to population or culture, but rather to urban form, or lack of it. A place where you have to drive everywhere, and pedestrians are scarce, lacks what I consider to be 'urban' characteristics. Parking in such a place is usually easy and free, but you give up a lot for that privilege.

Re: 'not real cities' - a partial apology and an explanation

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

I don't think you should have to apologize. "Think globally, whine locally" true to form.

[purpless77.livejournal.com]

Weird how people who aren't even from here feel they can jump on another about not being from here. Stop crapping on each other and act like adults, lol.
Lived here my entire life and my advice is, don't pay attention to nonsense. Really though, $25 dollars is not cheap for some people.
chenoameg is on to something. What you possibly could do is obtain a "Visitors Card". Place this on the visiting car that is transporting the items. Again, not sure if this is feasible for you since I don't completely know your situation but it's worth a look.
http://www.somervillema.gov/section.cfm?org=traffic&page=138

Other then that, of course you can use your driveway if nobody else is occupying it.

[ron_newman]

That works, but it doesn't reserve the place in front of your house, so you could well end up parking 2 blocks away and having to haul stuff. Not fun.

To/From?

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

Say you are moving from one somerville address to a different somerville address, does $25 block off both the old address and the new address?

Re: To/From?

[ron_newman]

That would be an excellent question for 311. (And if you find out the answer, could you post it here?)

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Hey, kidsmokes, bet you didn't think this post was gonna get so epic, huh?

[purpless77.livejournal.com]

She might not even be reading this anymore and I don't blame her if she isn't. It sucks that so many people can hijack a legit thread and turn it into something so ridiculous. Especially since there is still advice being given that she might not even see it.

[kidsmokes.livejournal.com]

seriously. i got tired of weeding through. can you believe I'm still getting personal attacks in my inbox as I type?

[tt02144.livejournal.com]

Just to clarify some earlier comments. The city can't/won't ticket a car on private property, except in some very specific circumstances. If your car is at the end of the driveway, for instance, and is hanging over part of the sidewalk they can and will ticket. Other than that, we still retain some private property rights!