parking

Missing Visitors Parking Permits – “seems to be a much broader problem”

By Prince Of Petworth

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“Dear PoPville,

After moving to a new house we applied for a 2014 visitor parking permit in August of this year. It is now the end of October and we still have not received it. In early October we called DDOT who said they had “lost” our online application and would get it approved and in the mail the next day. Two weeks later the online system listed our application as approved but we still had not received it in the mail. After numerous calls and tweets to DDOT I was finally able to get someone to look into it. After following up again, I heard from a DDOT “communications specialist” via email that the problem appears to be more systematic and “it’s not only yours, unfortunately” that has not been mailed out. Apparently there are “outside bodies who mail these out”. They claim that “they’re looking into next steps” and unhelpfully suggested we just go get a temporary one from our ward police station (which is not at all near our house) that would only last 15 days. They provided no timeline as to when we might receive our VPP. I’ve repeatedly asked to speak with the person at DDOT who is handling this matter but so far no one has returned my calls. I’m concerned that this seems to be a much broader problem. Has anyone else applied for a 2014 visitor parking permit that never arrived?”

“And then this jackanape comes along and just parks RIGHT in between them so the doors can’t even open”

By Prince Of Petworth

parking

“Dear PoPville,

Is this person serious?

We got two moving pods delivered. We weren’t there when they were delivered but the driver placed them down with the openings facing each other and enough room between them to easily load large items. And then this jackanape comes along and just parks RIGHT in between them so the doors can’t even open. Do the signs technically say no parking from 7am to 5pm? Yes they do. But where’s the common courtesy?? We got one friend to help move heavy items but now we cant and we have no idea how we’re going to get those items in. Virginia plates for what it’s worth.”

Ed. Note: jackanape is my new favorite word.

Is it possible that the car was there and the moving company placed the pods around it? Still not cool but not quite as jackanapish if that happened. Of course, this is a good reminder to please not park between moving pods.

Visitor Parking Passes set to Expire Sept. 30th are now Valid until Dec. 31

By Prince Of Petworth

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From DDOT:

“The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced today that the Visitor Parking Passes (VPP) that will expire September 30, 2014, will continue to remain valid until December 31, 2014. District residents will not be ticketed for proper use of their 2014 VPP. The VPP program is designed to allow guests of District residents to park for more than two hours on Residential Permit Parking (RPP) zoned blocks. (more…)

“confusing parking signs. Is this art? graffiti? protest?”

By Prince Of Petworth

parking

@DMarx tweets us (I think from Columbia Heights):

“@PoPville Another person having fun with confusing parking signs. Is this art? graffiti? protest?”

I’m pretty sure this a “legit” warning (not art or protest) from a resident who just got pushed over the edge because people kept parking in the reserved handicap space.

From the Forum – Idea for Reducing Parking Congestion

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user JamesCalder

Idea for Reducing Parking Congestion:

“I’ve been living in DC for the past two years, but didn’t have a car until the past few weeks after my commute changed. (I’m currently in Columbia Heights.) I’m not familiar with what DOT has tried to reduce parking congestion (other than discouraging vehicle ownership), but I thought residential areas could benefit from this idea that I haven’t seen discussed here.

Most of the time, when I’m looking for a spot, I’ll notice that cars are poorly spaced. Often, enough so that one could fit 2-3 additional cars on a block if the cars were properly spaced.

I’d propose that DC paint lines or even short markers (~ft long) from the sidewalk out to mark parking spots sized appropriately for a normal length vehicle like this:

|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|

Most people will try to fit somewhat in the lines, which would help to reduce the likelihood that one or two poorly spaced cars eliminate spots.

Anyone have any thoughts or criticisms of the idea?”

You can see all forum topics and add your own here.   If you are having trouble uploading your question to the forum please try clearing your cache. If it still doesn’t work please email me at princeofpetworth(at)gmail

Using Your Child to Reserve a Parking Space? Seriously. How do people usually handle this situation?

By Prince Of Petworth

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“Dear PoPville,

I am aware that residents of busy neighborhoods such as Adams Morgan often “reserve” parking spaces using trash cans or lawn chairs. In those situations I tend to just play along and keep driving. However, today I encountered a situation that took this ploy too far: instead of using a chair, someone used a 10-year-old child.

I was searching for parking in Adams Morgan this afternoon, but spaces were scarce due to the street festival. Finally, I saw an empty space on a crowded side road and happily pulled up next to it. I then saw two (approximately) ten-year-old kids standing in the street near the curb. One moved immediately, but the other did not. When I asked him to move, he said he was saving the space and even laid down in the street. He implied I had run him over and said he had a broken leg! Amused but resolved, I informed him the several people walking nearby could see that I hadn’t hit him, and that he could not save spaces on a public street. After several minutes he eventually moved. There was no cursing and no yelling involved. When I returned to my car 45 minutes later, this note was on my car, presumably from the child’s parent.

I don’t pride myself on picking fights with children (I don’t consider this a fight), but there was no adult in sight and it seemed extreme for a 10-year-old to stand in the street to reserve a parking space (I’m assuming for the parent). Did I go too far in telling this boy to move? How do people usually handle this situation?”

Parking ticket despite displaying a visitor pass?

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user JoshBassett|PHOTOGRAPHY

“Dear PoPville,

I just got a ticket and I can’t understand why, or what to do about it.

My parents live just outside DC, and I occasionally borrow their car for a few days at a time and leave it parked on my street. This morning I had a $100 ticket for “failing to secure DC tags” despite a valid Visitor Parking Pass clearly visible on the dashboard. The pass doesn’t expire until Sept. 30.

The ticket also claims that they issued a warning on July 29th, though I never saw it. I don’t know if they put it on the car (in which case it must have blown away) or mailed it (in which case it must have gotten lost in the mail).

In any case, does that really mean that a car with Maryland plates can’t visit the District twice, 6 weeks apart? Since I had the parking pass I don’t know what else I could have possibly done. Does this mean my parents risk a ticket every time they drive and park at my house?

It wouldn’t be too inconvenient for me to visit the courthouse and argue the ticket in person, do you think it’s worth a try?”

Side Note: Another reader sends yesterday:

“I can’t say I’m in the habit of reading government reports, but this one caught my attention—DC’s office of the inspector general started looking into the red light cameras, speed cameras, and parking tickets issued by various agencies. One senior official in DC is quoted as saying that the traffic ticket system means that you are “guilty until proven innocent…and this system has worked incredibly well for us [DC? elected officials?].” Anyway, I thought it may be of interest to POPville readers, as many of us get tickets we think we don’t deserve, but pay anyway…and, as it turns out, we might be right.”

Short/Medium Term Parking Options for an Out of State Car?

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user mlckeeperkeeper

“Dear PoPville,

My mom has recently loaned me her out of state car (she’s on bed rest from a surgery) and I will have it in my possession in DC until March 2015. I’ve had it for 2 weeks and I just received my out of state registration warning (I was expecting it). It says that I have 15 days to apply for a ROSA exemption, a recurring visitor pass, or just register the vehicle in DC outright. I don’t qualify for ROSA or a recurring visitor pass (I’ve lived in DC for 8 years and have a DC license) and I don’t want to register the vehicle in DC as it’s going back to North Carolina in just 6 months.

Any suggestions from PoPville? I’ve looked in to off street parking, and that might be my best option, but rentals on Craigslist seem prohibitively expensive. Any and all suggestions welcome and appreciated!”

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