Category: Ticket and Tow

Is It Worth The Fight?

You can beat city hall, but is it worth it?

Nearly a month after I won my hearing on Stef’s parking ticket–no check! I went to 200 Orange Street this afternoon. I am told a check will be cut.

Truth is, this isn’t my screw-up. The city was wrong with their sign which is what started us down this rabbit hole. This is now my third trip to 200 Orange plus the other hoops I’ve had to jump through.

I feel bad because New Haven is in a financially difficult time. However, this ticket isn’t how they should be working their way out of the crisis (and I suspect it is a crisis).

You can beat city hall, but is it worth it? Maybe I should have just paid the seventy two dollars and said screw it?

Justice Has Prevailed

It couldn’t have taken more than two minutes before he said, “We’ll send you a check for the towing.”

Early in July Stef got a parking ticket. She was babysitting that day and didn’t see the “No Parking–Street Sweeping” sign. If you want to follow this story contemporaneously from the first day, click here to read all about it.

By the time she was done for the day her car was gone, towed to a local garage and held pending payment of $77. That was on top of the ticket.

Originally I was upset my daughter had been so cavalier not seeing a sign she surely should have noticed. But the more I looked into it and the more I saw the more I realized the deck had been stacked against her.

There had to be rules governing this sort of situation, so with the help of a friend who’s a lawyer I began to read up. I’m pretty confident right now I’m New Haven’s number one expert on no parking signs. The rules are actually well thought out and if followed wouldn’t have led Stef astray.

Today was my turn to convince the city they were wrong in their enforcement. My goal was a dismissal of the parking ticket and refunding of the towing fee–and that’s just what I got!

You might be saying (and I can understand why you would) you got off because you’re TV-boy. I have after all gotten everything from free desserts to a bump to first class by virtue of my job–absolutely. But today I’m pretty confident that didn’t enter into the equation. This was being argued on the merits.

My hearing was scheduled for 10:00 AM in Downtown New Haven. Helaine wanted to come to keep me from letting my temper get the better of me. My friend Peter came because he had a stake in it, having helped with my research.

We were there early–first to sign the sheet. We patiently waited. When the hearing officer came to fetch us (a few minutes early), there were only two others in the room. We were taken across the hall into a small conference room.

I don’t remember the hearing officer’s name, but he was very business-like. He wore some sort of law enforcement badge on his belt. In the room with us was a uniformed traffic officer. She said nothing.

I came with printouts of the applicable state rules and photos from the scene. It had the potential to be Alice’s Restaurant II.

The hearing officer asked me to present my ‘case,’ which I did. Did he want me to quote the actual regulations, I asked? No, he knew what I was talking about.

It couldn’t have taken more than two minutes before he said, “We’ll send you a check for the towing.” And then he proceeded to tell me why he thought the sign had been incorrectly placed.

I’m pretty lucky. I was able to attend this hearing without missing work. That gives me a major advantage over many others who have to pay regardless of the circumstances. And I was looking forward to the hearing as a personal challenge. There’s probably some deep seated sickness at work with that.

That’s it. All done. Justice has prevailed.

Hold Your Calls, We Have A Winner

I’ll write more later, but the Traffic Department hearing officer ruled in my favor this morning and our tow charges will be refunded and the ticket withdrawn.

Sweet!

Ticket And Tow Hearing Awaits

This is like Alice’s Restaurant. I have photos and copies of state regulations

Tomorrow is my hearing day, so I’m a little frazzled. I will present my evidence that New Haven improperly marked a no parking zone and so illegally towed my car.

This is like Alice’s Restaurant. I have photos and copies of state regulations. Helaine is going along so she can kiss me goodbye should they decide to take me away in shackles. My friend Peter, an attorney, is coming for moral support though not as my attorney.

The city offered to drop the ticket if I paid the tow. Pretty smart on their part. It’s a tough choice–double or nothing.

I will report back on the outcome.

The Parking Ticket Saga Continues

“Let me have a look into this and get back to you later today,” he said.

Really–you thought he would?

Forty four days ago, if you’re counting, I went to City Hall to protest a parking ticket and tow Stef received. The area was improperly marked. Here’s the full story. I thought it was unfair to hide the sign in the bushes and then play gotcha for $127.

Two days ago I sent an email to the Director of the department that covers this asking for an update. “Let me have a look into this and get back to you later today,” he said.

Really–you thought he would?

I sent another email this afternoon. He asked if I could call and I immediately replied saying it would be five minutes. Five minutes later when I called he was gone.

Really–you thought he would be there?

I called and spoke to someone else in the department. Probably not a good idea. I reminded her that we only get 15 days to respond. She was not happy. She had discussed my ‘case’ but had not seen my “Request for Review Parking Violation/Towing.” I read her the state regs. I am not yet convinced that matters. She said she’d speak to the engineer, who I assume was the person who said the signs would be fine where they are in the first place.

I am told there will be a written response soon, right after their decision. I am torn between wanting this decided in my favor now or going for a real judicial appeal so I can play amateur lawyer. Whatever.

I will pursue this as a matter of principle… and because this afternoon they ticked me off. Please, don’t tick me off.

My March To Justice: The Photos

Here are the three photos I’ve submitted to the Department of Traffic and Parking

Here are the three photos I’ve submitted to the Department of Traffic and Parking:


This is what Stef would have seen from her car. Most of the sign is obscured. The only part of the bottom sign showing is for “SNOW EMERGENCY” parking. From the sidewalk this sign is blocked by the bush.


If she was curious and turned around, the sign behind her is blank in this direction.


That’s the lovely and talented Matt Scott with a tape measure. It’s about five feet from the sidewalk to the bottom of the sign. It’s well below the state regulations.

Making My Case – Step One

If the law is followed we’ll be getting back the tow money and the ticket will be quashed… if the law is followed.

I took a ride to the scene of Stef’s ‘ticket and tow.’ Sure enough, the signs are out of compliance! I took some photos (and will post them later). If the law is followed we’ll be getting back the tow money and the ticket will be quashed… if the law is followed.

I drove to work and walked the block and a half to 200 Orange Street, where New Haven’s Department of Traffic and Parking fills part of the basement. They could not have been nicer. I filled out a form: “Request for Review Parking Violation/Towing” and handed it over the counter. In the “Nature of Complaint” box I wrote:

No parking sign does not comply with state regulation 14-28-514. It is approx 5′ tall & hidden by bushes. Next sign on block is blank on side in view.

“Six to eight weeks,” I was told. Hmmmm… I was only given fifteen days. Whatever.

A department functionary looks at it first. If they don’t kill my ticket I can see a hearing officer.

OK–this is too much fun for me. I admit it. It’s a game I like to play.

Intrigue With The Missing Car

There must be a way out, I thought. Tonight I drove by the scene of the ‘crime’ looking for anything that might be helpful… and there it was.

The cost for the ticket and tow Stef acquired this afternoon was $127. It upsets me. There must be a way out, I thought. Tonight I drove by the scene of the ‘crime’ looking for anything that might be helpful… and there it was.

The “NO PARKING” sign is mounted on a pole closer to five than six feet above the sidewalk. I consulted the Connecticut State Traffic Commission Regulations.

Sec. 14-298-514 Height

(b) In business, commercial and residential districts where parking and/or pedestrian movement is likely to occur or where there are other obstructions to view, the clearance to the bottom of the sign shall be at least 7 feet. The height to the bottom of a secondary sign mounted below another sign may be 1 foot less than the appropriate height specified above.

Tomorrow I’ll make some measurements and take some photos. I’m pretty sure the ticket is invalid because the warning does not conform to the regs. How I get the tow fee back is another story. It can be done. I just need to figure out how.

Playing lawyer is fun–undoubtedly, more fun than being one.

The Missing Car

By the time she was ready to leave, her car was gone. It had been towed.

Stef has been doing some babysitting this summer for one of my co-workers. Everyone’s a winner in this. They get some needed relief from parenting, while they work at their jobs and renovating a new home. Stef gets something to do and a little cash to boot.

She got in her car and drove to their condo this morning. By 11:30 she was in the park with their daughter. By the time she was ready to leave, her car was gone. It had been towed!

No Parking 2nd and 4th Tuesday, says the sign. Oops, forgot my calendar. I think it’s unfair to limit parking that way, but quite likely a legal way to write the sign. Did I mention it’s unfair? Thanks New Haven.

Helaine and I were 2/3 of the way to the top of Sleeping Giant when my phone rang. We turned around so I could take a quick shower and get dressed for work before we fetched the car from a lot under the eastern ramp to the “Q” Bridge..

  • towing: $77
  • ticket: $50
  • Having your daughter call, because even at 21 she still needs you: priceless