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

Always Appeal in Person

[tom-champion.livejournal.com]

As noted in earlier discussions on this topic, the procedure that works best is to:

1. Do nothing until you get your first late notice, which also contains an automatically generated hearing date.
2. Go to that hearing or follow the instructions to change the hearing date to one that fits your schedule.
3. Appeal in person. Bringing your resident friend and citing the permit number would both be good ideas.

It's not necessarily right or fair or logical, but it is what works.

BTW, a "grace period" only works if the PCO saw you pull up. If you park and run in to get a visitor permit and the PCO turns the corner after you've exited your car, then he/she can have no idea of when you arrived. (I don't know, of course, whether that's what happened in your case. The PCO may in fact have seen you exit the car and just assumed you weren't returning.)

Re: Always Appeal in Person

[ringrose.livejournal.com]

Also, there are all the points raised when I complained about "moved before sweep" - a friend's car was still parked n the street sweeping area five minutes after it went into effect, and got ticketed as we walked up to move it. By the way, he successfully contested the ticket.

Some of the valid points in that discussion included:
If the ticket writer can "un-write" the ticket, there is incentive for bribery, blackmail, and/or threats.
Have the ticket writer annotate it "moved before sweep" and then contest it.

If you get there while the PCO is still there, parking pass in hand, have the PCO make a note on the ticket (I think they do this electronically?) saying that you came out with a visitor pass. I'd bet that just as with moving the car before sweeping, this will make it far more likely the ticket will be dismissed.

Re: Always Appeal in Person

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Once the ticket is written, there's nothing to do, right, it's already electronically recorded?

Re: Always Appeal in Person

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

I was about to make this very point with someone above. I think once they've started writing a ticket, they have to complete it somehow. They can't just "tear it up" or delete it or whatever. But what you CAN do is to put the parking permit in the window and take a picture of the ticket with the permit in the car, then contest in person.

And hope that you don't get a parking ticket while you're in the government building contesting the first ticket!

Re: Always Appeal in Person

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

i do believe there is a little notes section, where the ticket person could have noted the resident came out with a visitor's permit.

i mean, i don't blame the ticket writer for the first step, that is just doing their job. however, their attitude after was uncalled for (unless you gave them attitude to begin with)

Re: Always Appeal in Person

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Well...

More tickets -> More money to the city + ticket writer shows he/she's useful-> Ticket writer gets to keep his/her job.

Re: Always Appeal in Person

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

I really don't understand why the way to get a hearing is to ignore the ticket. It also seems like that's not the correct procedure according to MGL 90-20A 1/2, which says you're supposed to respond within 21 days with either a payment, a written appeal, or a written request for a hearing.

Re: Always Appeal in Person

[bostonartist.livejournal.com]

One thought about this procedure. If you don't pay the ticket and then wait till you get a late notice, a penalty charge will be tacked on. If you then lose the appeal, you will owe MORE money, right?

Re: Always Appeal in Person

[tom-champion.livejournal.com]

No, you won't owe more, even if you lose. If you go through the appeals process but your ticket is not rescinded, ALL your late fees should be waived -- and all you should pay is the original fine.

At least, that's the way it's supposed to work.