Somerville Parking

[firstfrost]

According to the City of Somerville web site:

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If you believe you have been improperly ticketed for a parking violation, and would like a hearing, you have two options:

Hearing by mail

Mail a copy of the ticket along with a signed operator statement and any supporting documentation to Traffic and Parking 133 Holland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02144. Dispositions will be returned within 21 days of receipt.

Hearing in Person

A hearing will automatically be scheduled for any violations if not paid in full within 21 days. You will receive an overdue and hearing notice approximately 45 days after the issue date of the ticket.

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According to the Parking Office, who I have just visited today, that's pretty much true, except that that the "21 days" in the first section is actually "90 days". All the other deadlines are the same. You see the problem?

Comments

[readsalot.livejournal.com]

Did you ask them if they saw the problem with that?

Other than that, um, talk to an alderman?

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

I *think* the hearing ends up far enough in the future (if it takes them 90 days to process the mail, they can't be faster than that for actual *appointments*...) that the process doesn't break quite as badly as it might. But in the meantime, the more they pester the car owner and tack on late fees, the more she's likely to just pay the darned thing. Which is, I imagine, their goal.

Oy.

[twe.livejournal.com]

My sympathies. The only "good" thing I've ever heard anyone say about parking enforcement in Somerville was "At least they ticket rather than tow for street cleaning violations" but I gather even that might not always be true any more.

(There is a reason "off street parking" was high on my wish list when house hunting. :)

Re: Oy.

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

This was actually a guest-permit ticket, so off-street parking doesn't help there. But your neighborhood apparently doesn't care about guest permits, so that's a bonus feature. :)

Re: Oy.

[twe.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the lack of guest permitting in my neighborhood is nice, and I do in fact have space for a second car if one pulls into the garage. It's not normally worth the bother, except when snow is likely. (The Somerville Snow Emergency Follies last year were pretty crazed.)

Re: Oy.

[greyautumnrain.livejournal.com]

I hear you on that one. Originally I was not keen on psychohist's plan to eventually widen the driveay so that it fits two cars side by side, as it would mean losing garden space. Now I think its a fine idea.

Re: Oy.

[harrock.livejournal.com]

They periodically go on jihads. A few years ago, when we lived near Porter Square, I was at home one day and they started sending police cars around with loudspeakers warning everyone to move or be towed. Of course, many of the victims of this would have been at work by the time this so-called warning was issued...

[twitch124.livejournal.com]

I'm stuck in the same situation right now. Possibly a week ahead of you, possibly not. :(

[kirisutogomen.livejournal.com]

So if you do something, they schedule a hearing slower than if you do nothing? Very Zen.

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

They seem to be entirely incapable of noticing that I've done something when it comes to scheduling a hearing. I'm just guessing that the hearing is still way far in the future. (I don't know for sure, because they won't actually correspond with *me* about it, only the owner of the car, who is inconveniently in Virginia.)

[merastra.livejournal.com]

Suck. Good luck with that and don't give in and just pay it.

[jcgbigler.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'd decide up front how much your time & effort is worth. In my case, my time and quality of life are worth more to me than being right, so I personally would be unlikely to contest a parking ticket unless it was more than about $200.

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, it's about quality of life. I have time to burn, but being Done Wrong To makes me unhappy. A valid parking ticket, I'll say "my bad" and pay. An invalid parking ticket will rankle far and beyond the $40 it costs - which isn't even my money, it's my guest's. :)