“Dear PoPville,
This Marylander decided to park in the middle of the driving aisle at Target in Columbia Heights. The note left by security is a hoot!”
parking
Thanks to a reader for sending from Trinidad Saturday afternoon around 2pm.
“Dear PoPville,
Have you heard anything about the status of the Resident Only parking program, where residents on their block can designate one side of the block as “residents only” (i.e., no free 2-hour parking like the normal zoned parking). The link for the petition on the DDOT website appears to be dead (See link at the bottom of the page labeled “Resident Only Form”.) I just called DDOT and they said that the resident only program has been suspended until they can go through the rulemaking process. As I understood it the program was apparently incorrectly implemented, and was supposed to be for special zones like around the ballpark. But it somehow became a citywide thing where any neighborhood could petition the city for resident only parking. So it sounds like for now there won’t be any more of those red and white signs going up. They did say that this does not affect the other programs where neighbors can petition to have zoned parking hours extended.”
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“Dear PoPville,
There is a car parked down the street from me and maybe I’m crazy, but it looks like it is clearly illegally parked. But it hasn’t been ticketed for days. So I call 311, because I’m that kind of jerk, and explain the situation. The woman on the phone was extremely helpful and took all the info and said parking enforcement would be out tonight. A few hours later she calls me back to say the parking enforcement officer said that since the car had a Zone 3 sticker it was ok to park there, even though the signs clearly state Zone 3 parking on one side, and no standing or parking on the other. I’ve never heard of this. I’ve wasted time looking for spots all these years when I could have parked illegally?
This is the response I got my my councilmember:
“I am following up with a response from DPW Parking regarding the vehicle in question (Grey BMW w/ DC Tags) being parked in the 3500 blk Alton Pl. N.W. The vehicle is displaying a VALID residential parking permit that expires April 26, 2016. The vehicle can’t be ticketed due to the guidelines of the “Moratorium” (In effect 24hrs. a day)…………..Vehicles displaying valid residential parking permits are allowed to park in “No Standing Anytime, No Parking Anytime, 25ft or more from the intersection. So yes the space is legal as long as the registration parking permit is valid and properly displayed.”
“Dear PoPville,
This was on a Sunday afternoon where parking is free. They block off spots then charge for them. There’s a small signed section which is for valet but even that’s only after 5pm.”
Hmm, I thought restaurants were allowed to apply for and pay for permits to do this? Anyone know if this is legit?
Photo by PoPville flickr user BrennaLM
We got another crazy parking ticket to deal with…
“Dear PoPville,
I got a parking ticket last week.
It has the wrong license plate # on it.
Should I pay it or should I just hope that there is no poor sap with the license # the officer wrote down who will have to deal with DMV to fight it?
Is there a way i can research whether there is an actual license with the one on the ticket?
It has a DU rather than a DC …”
Thanks to @herb_legrand for tweeting us the photo above from 20th and E Street, NW.
You can’t tell from the photo if the guy is parked illegally but if he is, well, I don’t think they understand how the system works…
Photo by flickr user Nic Taylor Photography
From DPW:
“The Department of Public Works today announced its decision to postpone the start of the 2014 residential street sweeping season to Monday, March 10, due to a heavy snow storm predicted for Monday, March 3. The employees who drive the sweepers are the same employees who drive snow plows and until the streets are clear of snow, the sweepers will be ineffective.
“In the District, the start of the street sweeping program is as much a harbinger of spring as jelly beans and crocuses,” said DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr. “We are disappointed that winter snow is forcing us to delay cleaning those streets that haven’t seen a sweeper since October 31.”
Director Howland suggested motorists use this extra week to familiarize themselves with the signs that designate which streets have restricted parking during sweeping hours. Signs are posted that identify the days of the week and hours of the day when parking restrictions will be enforced so the sweepers can clean the streets effectively. Parking enforcement of residential sweeping violations will begin Monday, March 10.”
Ed. Note: Wait, jelly beans are a harbinger of spring?
Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80
“Dear PoPville,
I’m wondering if you could do a GDoN for parking spaces. The last one you did seems to be back 4 years ago.
I’m particularly interested in the 14 and U st area, as things have changed since the last post. I’d be curious in hearing your, and others, opinions on how much someone should expect monthly lease/rents are for parking spots in various neighborhoods.”
“a $30 ticket can be issued for violating the restriction.”