Last week I took a drive to . I couldn’t find any free 2-hour spots along Elm Street, or on Main Street near the . So I rather than keep trolling for a spot, I decided to park in the municipal lot behind .
I grabbed a handful of quarters from my stash and went to pre-pay at the automatic parking kiosk. I dutifully entered my parking space number, inserted quarters and out popped my receipt. I paid for slightly less than two hours.
After spending time leisurely browsing at the , and splurging on Nathaniel Philbrick’s ‘Why Read Moby Dick’ (lately I have shipwrecks on my mind, but that’s another story) I popped into and grabbed a cup coffee to go. Then I walked around, took a look at .
Finally, it was time to return to my car and head home. My break had lasted long enough. I got to the lot and stopped. There was the man in uniform no one wants to see – the parking enforcer. I saw the telltale ticket fluttering against my windshield. For a minute I thought maybe I had made a mistake. Maybe I was supposed to have put my receipt under the windshield wiper (it’s been a while since I’ve parked in that lot). I approached the officer.
“Did I get a ticket? I paid for a spot – was I supposed to leave it on the window?” I asked.
“Oh, no. Let me see. Please don’t make me feel bad, tomorrow is my birthday,” the officer answered.
He studied my ticket.
“You were eight minutes over,” he said.
What? Make him feel bad for giving me a ticket? Shouldn’t I be the one feeling bad? It cost me $15 for those 8 minutes – or $1.875 an hour to be exact. (I know, I used my calculator.)
I know the officer was simply doing his job. In fact, he was so polite and nice about everything that I found myself feeling sorry for him, and actually thanked him as he handed me my ticket.
When I got home I looked at the ticket and saw that you can supposedly pay online. That’s cool, paperless. So I logged on to the town's website, entered my ticket number and license plate number. Nothing.
Hmmmm. Okay, maybe it was too soon. I few hours later I tried again. Supposedly persistence pays off, but after getting an error message for what seemed like the zillionth time (but was really only the thirtieth time) I decided to go the old fashioned route. I took out my checkbook, and stuffed that and the ticket in the mail.
I know that at the train station if you park 5 minutes before 9 a.m. at the $4 spots you get ticketed $50.
In Fairfield, parking tickets range between $25.00 to $85.00. No online payment either, you have to mail a check in the envelope provided or by coming to the in person. Tickets must be paid within ten days of the date issued or additional penalties can result.
The town of offers a detailed explanation about parking permits and payment, but nowhere does it mention a grace period. The same goes for Darien.
I understand the need to enforce parking. I understand the concept of pay for space. But 8 minutes? Isn’t there something called a grace period? Would 10 – 15 minutes be too much? Do any towns in Fairfield County give a grace period? No. No grace.
>>>It cost me $15 for those 8 minutes – or $1.875 an hour to be exact. (I know, I used my calculator.)<<< I think you need a new calculator. :)
SHOP ANYWHERE OTHER THAN RIDGEFIELD!!!!
How about this?---Some towns charge nothing for parking. For those towns who are looking to charge 1 dollar an hour--(thats what they apparently think the time is worth) then for 8 minutes 15 dollars seems too high. If the author got a 2 dollar ticket--or roughly 30 times what the town has valued parking at, it would seem less egregious. The towns need to balance the needs of its merchants. These parking rules are there for merchants. IN towns like Darien, they dont want people parking in a downtown space and getting on train to New York. But in Ridgefield and New Canaan they generally park to shop. If you penalize people too much for shopping in that town, it serves no one. I avoid Norwalk, for example, as much as I can---their parking for restaurants and shopping is too onerous. So the police dept offsets the cost of hiring an officer--(big deal) while its restaurants suffer.
Really? Is it that hard to figure that she meant 1.875 a minute? Wow--that is super hard!
I guess you feel like there are rules--and if there are rules they are correct. I personally dont see any ulterior motive other than most likely shopping in town. ( i differentiate between darien --because as stated- people might park and hop on a train.) What do you think these RULEBREAKERS are doing? Getting their hair done? So what?- -they are supporting the merchants. Which, is the entire purpose for parking rules.... There should be no time limit. All you're accomplishing is hiring a cop --and charging people needlessly. Christine, if ridgefield made it a 5 minute limit--Im sure you'd be ok. But I wouldnt. Because im not of the belief that all rules are smart. parking should be free and without a time limit in ridgefield. (and yes I know there is no charge--) The traffic lights should not incorporate walkers---so as to help eliminate the terrible traffic in town. Traffic in New York city that accomodates 20 times the number of pedestrians and cars works far better. But-perhaps christine you think if it is the way it is set up--we should just follow the rules and accept. I think things can change...and with change comes improvement. And , um, im entitled to my opinion!
You spend the majority of your time patching and intentionally trying to create arguments and friction. Not sure why. My point was not about the limits or the rules... it's about the accountability. Getting upset because you got a ticket for being 8 minutes late is no different than being upset at your boss because you were docked pay for showing up late. It isn't your bosses fault you made that choice, is it? You might not agree with the rules the way they are...and you are more than welcome, and have all the the right in the world to propose a change. However, disagreeing with a rule (or law) doesn't give you the right to ignore it and pretend it doesn't exist. Right here, right now, the rule exists. Agree with it or not, it's your responsibility to follow it - until it changes. I don't agree with a lot of rules...doesn't mean I disregard them.
Ok -thanks christine -- strange you bristle when someone disagree with you, or says you are snotty. But then, you have no qualms about telling me what I do and what I accomplish. Ok-so if I read your postings, you too take issue with people's postings. So? What is your rule there? Debating/disagreeing is allowed? Or not? You can make that rule for yourself Christine, but then I will kindly ask you to follow it. No one, including the author of the piece, suggested she was not going to pay the fine. What people/ I said is that I think it accomplishes very little to have a rule like that. So what we are doing here, christine, is debating whether or not its a pragmatic and necessary law. Not to suggest that we should break the law. Like I say, if the rule were 5 minutes, then you no doubt would obey it and not critique it--just accept because you are very accepting. (oh wait, you dont actually j accept other peoples opinions.) But, some rules/ laws are open for criticism....and I think me , a few others on this board, and the author all agree the rules as they exist, are not in our opinions good ones. And yes, I still am entitled to it..and you are enttled to maintain your attitude that we need to accept all laws.
EVERYWHERE YOU LEAK THEY HOLD A BUCKET SHOP DANBURY IT IS CHEAPER AND NO TICKETS
Maybe im sick of the "not my fault" attitude in this area? As for taking issue with postings,why us my disagreement an 'issue while yours is an opinion? Seems like the same thing, to me. As someone who disagrees with everyone, always causes a stir,and likely created several fake patch accounts to start arguments, your opinion of me or my position really holds no value.
Respectfully, perhaps that's how you intended your piece to feel, but when I read the last paragraph: "I understand the need to enforce parking. I understand the concept of pay for space. But 8 minutes? Isn’t there something called a grace period? Would 10 – 15 minutes be too much? Do any towns in Fairfield County give a grace period? No. No grace." i was not given the impression that you felt your ticket was justified. Can't expect all readers to interpret things the same. Just felt more whiny, to me.
Catherine, I enjoyed your piece. Been to that exact parking lot. Heard about the aggressive parking tactics. The meter machine was broken. Took a video on my flip cam in case I was ticketed. LOL! My spouse thought I was paranoid. You've vindicated me! Thanks!