New Haven Independent

Posted by: JP | March 27, 2009 3:40 PM

Why not do this everynight and close the budget gap.

Posted by: Kells | March 27, 2009 4:08 PM

This is exactly why people are leaving New Haven!!!

Posted by: William Kurtz | March 27, 2009 4:13 PM

Please. Special enforcement in residential areas? I got a ticket on Howe St. two weeks ago at 6:30 and saw another meter maid out there giving tickets last night on High Street at quarter to seven. Fair is fair; the signs say 7:00, but the unspoken rule that you didn't have to worry after 5 or so is clearly off the books.

Posted by: Transportation, Traffic & Parking | March 27, 2009 4:16 PM

From the office of Transportation, Traffic and Parking for the City of New Haven.

After closer inspection, we realize that we made an error in Zone 5. There is a 2 hour parking limit during the day, where Zone 5 permit holders are exempt; however, we do not enforce Zone 5 after 7:00pm. We do enforce all residential zone parking at all times of day, as well as all parking meters until 7:00 pm Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays.

We will be automatically dismissing all tickets that were erroneously issued in Zone 5 after 7:00pm on Thursday, March 26, 2009 and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

All residents that live in any Residential Parking Zones are encouraged to contact the Office of the Tax Collector to obtain a Residential Parking Permit.

If you have any questions, please contact Transportation, Traffic and Parking at 203-946-8075

Posted by: overtime allowed | March 27, 2009 9:05 PM

City might have generated some money. But did it pay off if the person worked overtime? Time differental? How about the PA cars in fair haven I haven't heard any plan on this. This could create tax revenues in the city. Advoiding taxes on the out of state registrations that were illegaly obtained. I need a new car lets impound the cars that aren't supposed to be on the road or that were illegaly registered.

Posted by: pdh | March 28, 2009 7:39 AM

In Cambridge, MA, where I used to work, the parking agents patrolled the residential zones 24/7. A pain for out-of-town folks like me who were not eligible for residential parking permits -- but great for the residents who wanted to park in their own neighborhoods.

Of course, in New Haven, we can't even get the city to enforce our residential parking ordinance during the day!

Posted by: Anon | March 28, 2009 6:24 PM

I was over at Yale this morning (Saturday) and was specifically told by a police officer that I did not need to feed the meter on Saturday. I did not get a ticket or anything, though. So do we or do we not need to feed the meters in New Haven on Saturdays now?

Posted by: citizen | March 28, 2009 11:17 PM

I own a business downtown and have lost at least 3 customers within the past month directly due to frustrations over the ticketing, especially on Friday evening after 5pm. In 3 years I never saw a meter enforcer out past 5pm and definitely not on Friday evenings. The office of Transportation, Traffic and Parking is not helping with the issue of consumer retention for downtown businesses. Who will pay the city taxes when businesses close shop and move somewhere else, an idea which is being seriously considered by 2 other businesses I am friendly with. I am frustrated as hell and want some answers, not more tickets.

Posted by: l | March 29, 2009 4:18 PM

I moved here from NYC - tickets 24 hrs a day for $65, $95, $150, plus $100-350 for towing! NH tkts are $15, and towing is $70. Get over it. This is NOT why people are leaving NH, to respond to another poster. People leave NH because of crime, aggressive drivers and plain old rudeness and quality of life.

Posted by: JML | March 30, 2009 12:49 PM

Notice how the ticket does not have the envelope to remit payment. This makes it difficult to be a good citizen and pay on time. But why would they want that when tickets double and triple in short time. Yes you can pay by credit card online now - for an additional fee!

Posted by: Alex | March 30, 2009 4:30 PM

Using parking enforcement to raise revenue is a terrible tactic. It creates massive ill will, chases customers away from downtown and encourages college students to leave town rather than stay around after they graduate. I know sooo many people who have left the city because of the belligerent parking and towing enforcement tactics. It was a contributing factor to my leaving and I have never lived in a city where parking enforcement was so irritating.

The city is raising false revenues because the true net cost is more than the cash brought in.

Posted by: walt bradley | March 30, 2009 5:16 PM

I have lived in westville for 3 years and have never gotten a zone sticker - been towed ticketed and broken into - but no sticker. how do i get one? do they even exist?

it seems very unsporting to me that the city should arbitrarily start enforcing laws that have gone unforced for years. will i now be facing a litany of sodomy charges that have been on the books since the pierce administration if my girlfriend happens to mention our late night activities in front of a city official?
do i need to be worried i'll be slapped in the stocks if i get get caught dancing on sundays or teaching women to read?

Posted by: abg | March 30, 2009 9:26 PM

so they'll be dismissing all the Zone 5 tickets they gave out... what if the ticketed people already sent in the money? what if they don't read this and don't know to contest the ticket? will the city be issuing written apologies for the fact that it doesn't know its own laws?

shame on you, Dept of Traffic & Parking

Posted by: ctscoots | March 31, 2009 1:07 PM

Anon - some blocks downtown have free parking on Saturdays. There are signs at the beginning of the blocks to let you know.

Posted by: annoyed | April 1, 2009 12:42 PM

So on Saturday, I paid the meter like a good citizen (because the sign said so) but no one else had paid. Oh well - I just didn't want to chance it. Not one ticket was issued that I saw. Today the few 12 hour spots that are typically available weren't available because of supposed street sweeping (as of 12:30 not yet done) and special event parking. I love how they go to such great extents for street sweeping and then don't do it. So they decide to ticket people in the two hour spots for not moving their car after two hours. Doesn't leave much choice. The lack of common sense when it comes to enforcement is irritating at best. Oh and don't bother sending an email to the "complaints" address - the person is on vacation for two weeks.