Somerville parking anal violation

[concrete.livejournal.com]

Tomorrow is the last day of January, where our parking passes expire.

If you got new parking passes already: when did you get them?

If you don't have the passes yet: where will you park Sunday night?

Comments

[tom-champion.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry this happened to you.
Were you told this at the counter or by a hearing officer? Because what you were told was not accurate.
I'm not sure that anything can be done retroactively, but I do know that, going forward, Acting T&P Director (and former Police Chief) Bob Bradley is determined to improve customer service at every level of the Department.
To do that, he needs details, details, details.
So if you, or any other DSLJer, has a story of slow or failed processing, lost applications or payments, bad information, or a ticket that wasn't dismissed even though it was obviously a mistake, please write up an account with as much detail as possible and submit it to the City via this online form:
http://www.somervillema.gov/contactus.cfm

Please include dates, violation numbers, check numbers, etc., if you can, as well as the type of employee who provided incorrect information.

2 very important notes:

1. When I talk about a ticket that was "obviously a mistake," I mean things like a snow emergency ticket issued before the four-hour car-moving window had expired, or a ticket issued on a newly permitted-street before enforcement started, or a permit ticket issued on a Sunday, or -- famous in the annals of DSLJ -- a street-sweeping ticket issued on the wrong side of the street, or a ticket issued to a car you haven't owned for a year. This isn't about whether you were really two or three feet outside the violation zone, or the meter hadn't really expired, or you'd just run in to get the visitor permit and were gone "only two minutes." This is about the ones where nobody has to take your word for it: the ticket is wrong on the face of it; or the hearing officer or clerk told you something that just isn't true.
2.T&P staff, including and especially the Parking Control Officers (PCOs) have incredibly difficult, demanding and complex jobs. They make mistakes -- we all do -- but they are doing the best they can in a complex regulatory environment. They frequently deal with people who are angry -- and all too often trying to game the system. They are right to be skeptical and it's understandable when they get defensive.
Now that there is a good-faith effort under way to improve accuracy and customer service, please don't pile on.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry you left the city, but it's so nice having you back here in DSLJ even unofficially.

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

It was somebody at the counter, and I did just say, "Oh," or, "Really," or some such and paid my fine and got my new permit--I _had_ failed to notice that it was expiring, so I figured that, renewal form or no renewal form, that part of it was on me.

And I did feel bad for the officer who had ticketed the car; I walked up as he was writing the ticket and (politely) asked what it was for and he did get a bit defensive--not rude, but clearly, he was used to being yelled at--I'm sure it is a thankless job!

But this is good to know if it or something similar happens again. Thank you.

In redneck land...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

I bet folks would react more violently, in similar situations...

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

"a permit ticket issued on a Sunday" --

Why don't the new "2 hour parking except by permit 8 am - 2:30 am, permit only 2:30 am - 8 am" signs say "except Sunday"? Is everyone supposed to know that permit rules aren't in effect on Sundays?