Edward Peruta
Hartford’s $3 million-plus new parking meter system is illegal, according to a lawsuit filed last month.
Torrington lawyer Rachel M. Baird said that when Hartford installed the state of the art “Pay-and-display” parking meters it neglected to change city ordinances, which don’t allow for these kinds of meters.
Her lawsuit, on behalf of Edward A. Peruta, seeks class-action status for everyone who has been ticketed since the new meters were installed in November 2008. Peruta is a well known Connecticut activist.
The lawsuit, which also seeks a permanent injunction and compensatory as well as punitive damages, was transfered to U.S. District Court by lawyers for the city, who had no comment on the suit.
Baird notes that Hartford’s municipal code – which has not been updated – specifically requires that parking meters require that coins be deposited and that “after the deposit of the coin, shall also completely turn, or cause to be so turned, the crank handle on the meter for the purpose of starting the timing mechanism.” (The complete suit can be accessed from the bottom of this blog)
Hartford replaced about 1,600 coin meters with the new ones plus 250 kiosks where parking tickets can be purchased and then placed on car windshields to prove that the parking was paid.
Anyone seeking to join the suit can email Baird at rbaird@rachelbairdlaw.com
perutaHPA_Complaint_FINAL_110409
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A fine statement about the Hartford Corporation Counsel’s office! Wonder if this is covered by Errors and Omissions insurance?
I would be surprised if it is found that this lawsuit has any merit.
Why is that Gerry?
Gerry tell us why you think that way.
This shows you when you put people in charge who don’t have clue what they are doing?
All they had to do was change the city ordinances.
Whether legal or not, the new meters are the best thing to happen to parking in the city of Hartford. It provides the best documentation that you have paid for parking and takes away the discretion of lazy meter readers
Rick
Thanks for taking the time to write. I don’t quite understand your point. How does it prove you paid for your ticket? Can’t you just remove a ticket from another car and put it on yours? And why does it take away discretion from meter readers? Maybe I am missing something.
George,
You’re kidding right? You put the ticket on your dashboard and shut the windows and lock your door! No one can steal your ticket unless they break in, which most folks wouldn’t do for a $2 dollar parking space. It is a timed ticket, so there is no arguing about how much money you put into it and whether the meter reader ticketed you before the time was up, presuming of course you returned on time. If you are late, you could be screwed under the new system too. As far as the lawsuit goes, just another self-serving way to generate income for the attorney. Why not just point out the legal problem and suggest they fix it, rather than trying to make money off the Hartford taxpayers? Pathetic.
No Doreen, I am serious. I have yet to see a ticket on someone’s dashboard. Every ticket I have seen has been under the wiper blade. Not sure that a meter reader would actually look in the car to see if there is a valid ticket.
according to the hartford parking authority web site, the purchased parking ticket should be placed inside the car, on the dashboard.
George,
I always place my printed receipt inside the car on the passengers side of the dashboard as the instructions say. Some of the receipts even have an adhesive backing that you can stick to the dash or windshield.
the receipt reads the period of time you have paid for (ie 1pm to 3pm). If a meter reader were to give you a ticket that is between that period of time you would have documentation to fight the ticket.
Also, the receipt is tranferrable to another location if used within the time period paid for.