“Dear PoPville,
I received a $100 ticket for obstruction of plates for having a bumper bully in use while my car was parked. Could not find anything online regarding the proper use of these in DC. I contested the ticket online (fingers crossed). I am hoping DC is on the side of allowing these things as I can’t fathom parking a new car on the street without them. Curious if other people have gotten nailed for the same thing and if so did they appeal successfully.”
Lippi writes:
“Got three tickets even with this note! What’s going on?! This is on K street NW between 5th and 4th. Outside of Vida, Taylor, Busboys, etc. Mt Vernon Triangle. “
“Dear PoPville,
I’ve seen cars with these “notes (don’t block this space”) and suspect it’s likely the homeowner who expects the spot in front of their house to be reserved just for them. Interestingly enough the area generally has abundant parking so even if you were in “this space” there’s likely one just a few feet ahead or behind. Seems like someone got fed up with it! (Also there were several signs placed in the area. All have been ripped down expect this one. Apparently “this space” letter-writer doesn’t appreciate getting notes about acceptable behaviors.)”
A reader reports a:
“Perennial Parking Offender. A Senator who is always parked on Wisconsin south of Garfield in Cathedral Heights. Scandal!”
From DDOT:
“New Parking Meter Rate Schedule in Penn Quarter/Chinatown
Beginning October 17, there will be a new parking meter rate schedule in the Penn Quarter and Chinatown neighborhoods. The parking meter rate adjustment is part of a pilot project to improve parking availability through demand-based pricing. The pilot includes all metered on-street parking spaces within the area bounded by H Street NW, 3rd Street NW, E Street NW and 11th Street NW.
For spaces in the pilot area, parking meter rates on individual block faces will either decrease to $2.00 per hour, stay the same at $2.30 per hour, or increase to $2.75 per hour. Prices are also different depending on the time of day. On weekdays, there are three time periods: 7 am – 11 am, 11 am – 4 pm, and 4 pm – 10 pm. On Saturdays, the rates will be the same all day. The maps below show what the prices will be on each block in the study area during each time period. (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
I’m emailing because it looks like parking enforcement went on a rampage on our block and ticketed a bunch of cars. This isn’t exactly outrageous or news, but what is galling is the fact that some cars were ticketed unfairly but one truck that was literally parked within 1 foot of a stop sign got a pass. That truck did not receive a ticket. I saw the parking enforcement officer drive right by this parked truck (picture attached).
On the other hand, the officer ticketed a car that was parked illegally for “parking within 3 ft of a driveway.” This is not my car, but what’s frustrating about this is that the driveway wasn’t even blocked at all. (I’ve attached a picture of this car) I’m friends with the owner of the driveway and every once in awhile, someone parks a car there to actually block the driveway. When they call to get a car doing that ticketed, they are always told there’s nothing that can be done since there’s no “No Parking” sign.
A car on the other side of the driveway got two tickets. He received a ticket for parking in an emergency no parking spot (he wasn’t; he was parked past the sign) and also for parking too close to that driveway. Again, he was not blocking the driveway either and there’s no sign.
What makes this even more frustrating is that people are constantly parked illegally on my block and neighboring blocks. Delivery trucks will block a street for a half hour or park on the sidewalk (when there are commercial spaces available nearby), and there are no consequences. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user John M
“Dear PoPville,
I have a question regarding Emergency No Parking signs and DDOT’s rules (and enforcement).
I live in Mt. Pleasant (18th St.) and I walked out of my house this morning to a bunch of orange cones surrounding my car (among others) and a construction crew or something getting ready to set up for work. I looked at the sign, which was dated for today and had a print date of yesterday (9/26). The cones definitely weren’t up with 24 hours notice — I left in the morning to no sign, and I came back around noon to work from home to other no sign there. I’ve moved my car, though I admit it’s not even clear if moved up it’ll be safe given how they were setting up.
My reading of DDOT’s website is that anyone who gets the signs must post them at least 72 hours in advance in non-metered areas. These folks have even violated the 24 hour rule. Does anyone know of any exceptions to this policy? Do contractors have more leeway? And if something happens to my car (ticket or whatever – though I hope not), do I have recourse? I’d also love to know why DDOT even allows these to be printed so late, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“Dear PoPville,
I wanted to share my frustrations regarding this city’s amateurish and broken parking ticket adjudication process, and also seek help from the community in resolving my problem. In particular, I want to highlight the lack of responsiveness by the “Ticket Adjudication Ombudsman,” the office ostensibly tasked with helping people who have already been ignored or frustrated by normal DMV channels.
To make a long story short, I successfully appealed a parking ticket I received in April 2015. I was ticketed and towed for parking in an “Emergency No Parking” zone, but had photographic evidence that the “No Parking” sign had not been put up 72 hours in advance, as required by law (in fact, the photographic evidence I was relying on was the very photo taken by the traffic enforcement officer, but that’s another story.)
I challenged the ticket twice to a hearing examiner, who summarily denied my motions without even acknowledging or addressing my defense. I then paid the ticket ($150) and filed a formal appeal, noting in my “brief” that the hearing examiner had ignored my defenses and photographic evidence. The appellate board sided with me and reversed the ticket; in the opinion, they specifically cited the fact that the hearing examiner had failed to even address my defenses and justify his/her decision, as required by law. The opinion said I should allow “8-10 weeks for a refund” of my ticket
Well, that was in early May, sixteen weeks ago. Two weeks ago, after still not receiving my refund, I wrote to the “Ticket Adjudication Ombudsman,” the outfit tasked with helping customers navigating the adjudication process and resolving customer complaints. Guess what? Even the Ombudsman hasn’t responded to me or even acknowledged my complaint.
How have others in my situation (there have to be others) dealt with this problem? Why is this city incapable of providing basic customer service to its residents?”
Side note: The following press release was issued by the DMV yesterday:
Due to a power outage in its vendor’s New York office, the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DC DMV) ticket payment system is currently not in operation.
At this time, DC DMV is unable to process ticket payments, research tickets, or access tickets. The agency is unable at this time to adjudicate any tickets that have been submitted by mail or online. (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
This car had been sitting behind my house clearly a abandon for months. As you can tell by the stack of tickets, the city clearly knows that it’s here. So when do they tow it? I assume there’s a good chance it’s stolen and someone is looking for it.
Also, this dog.”
Ed. Note: Last time we saw the greatest dog in the world we learned:
“This is Rex, the DC Dog Wizard’s pup, demonstrating the “place” command. Rex is a pretty agile dude and Scott is a pretty awesome trainer.”
From DDOT:
“The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is seeking comments on a proposed rulemaking which would establish a process for neighborhoods to modify or expand residential permit parking restrictions. In an effort to address concerns from neighborhoods that are experiencing parking pressures from surrounding activity centers DDOT is proposing to establish clear criteria for the modification of RPP parking and for creating resident-only parking on established RPP blocks. In addition, the proposed rules would clarify and update a number of current parking and parking related regulations.
The proposed rules may be reviewed and comments submitted here.
Although the published rules indicate the time for submitting written comments will close in thirty days, DDOT has officially extended the comment period to a full 60 days (more…)