Disgusted.

[marmota.livejournal.com]

a few weeks ago, I was issued a parking ticket in the brief window of opportunity between exiting my car and obtaining a guest permit from my destination. On showing the permit in hand to the ticket writer who was still there, I was told "it took me a minute to write it. dispute it.", and they walked off. So, I've disputed it.

Today, I received in the mail a demand for payment saying that my dispute had been denied, and I quote, "Hearing officers cannot dismiss validly issued ticket(s), which conform, to the parking rules and regulations.".

Apparently policy is now, or perhaps may always have been, for there to be no grace period whatsoever in obtaining guest permits.

So, fair warning. Apparently Somerville expects nonresidents to have to cell phone ahead to destinations and have someone meet us curbside with a permit.

I'm thoroughly disgusted by this, and out $50 for being LEGALLY PARKED.

Comments

[marmota.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately I contested it online, and did cite the permit #. I had hoped to get a hearing date assigned in which the person I was visiting had expressed a willingness to accompany me, but instead I got a form letter.

So yes, including a written statement from the person being visited is an excellent suggestion for anyone else this might happen to.

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

Word on the internetz is that *all* on-line contesting gets denied. period. Some people here have reported going in in person and contesting the on-line-denial-service and have succeeded, though.

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

I've had two tickets dismissed when I appealed in person. The only time I tried appealing online it was denied. I won't use the online appeal option again.