parking

“They told me that if a person can’t find parking and has a zone sticker, they are allowed to park in a no parking zone.”

By Prince Of Petworth

parking

“Dear PoPville,

This car parks nightly, illegally, in front of my building. I called and spoke to parking enforcement today. They told me that if a person can’t find parking and has a zone sticker, they are allowed to park in a no parking zone. That’s insane! It really isn’t difficult to find parking around here, and after seeing this car dozens of times in this spot over the last year, it’s obvious that they’re treating this as their own personal parking spot.

311 routed me to parking enforcement today, and they routed me to a supervisor – who is in vacation until mid-January. That supervisor’s voicemail gave a another for another supervisor, and that number is of course disconnected.

Have you or anyone else heard of this unwritten (maybe it’s written??) rule that parking restrictions only apply some of the time?”

“Am I in the wrong here? What are the parking etiquette rules?”

By Prince Of Petworth

parking-etiquette
Photo by PoPville flickr user angela n.

“Dear PoPville,

I need help with parking etiquette in DC. A neighbor reprimanded me and called me a “bad neighbor” for parking in front of the house he lives in on an unzoned public street after I couldn’t find parking on my zoned parking street that is adjacent to the one he lives on. Parking is an issue on my street because some residents have multiple cars and park them on the street. Today I couldn’t find a spot on my street so I parked on the adjacent street that is unzoned. When I stepped out of the car, a man who had pulled up and parked across the street grabbed my attention and explained that he rents the place that I parked in front of and he doesn’t like it when “you people” park in front of our house when you don’t live there. (more…)

“The city is apparently so against towing this car they’ve decided to just rip up the street *around* the car.”

By Prince Of Petworth

tow
300 block of L Street, NE

“Dear PoPville,

11 months

This car has been parked in the same spot on our block for 11 months. It has been through numerous city signs designating this as a no parking zone (for construction and staging). Somehow it has escaped being towed. The city is apparently so against towing this car they’ve decided to just rip up the street *around* the car. Thanks, DC.”

“What is the DC policy governing parallel parking in front of your own garage in an alley?”

By Prince Of Petworth

no-parking
Photo by PoPville flickr user Wayan Vota

“Dear PoPville,

What is the DC policy governing parallel parking in front of your own garage in an alley? I have a neighbor who claims she is inconvenienced by my (very occasional) parking in front of my garage, despite the fact that she is able to get her car in/out without much difficulty and my car does not block passing traffic (including garbage trucks). Curious what the official or unofficial policy is on this matter.”

Beware Bumper Bully Enthusiasts

By Prince Of Petworth

bumper

“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.”

“Interestingly enough the area generally has abundant parking”

By Prince Of Petworth

poor-tree

“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.)”

“Scandal!”

By Prince Of Petworth

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A reader reports a:

“Perennial Parking Offender. A Senator who is always parked on Wisconsin south of Garfield in Cathedral Heights. Scandal!”

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Monday starts “new parking meter rate” in Penn Quarter and Chinatown

By Prince Of Petworth

1st-price-change-morning

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…)

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