The Trials Of Parking In Hartford
October 1, 2009
In response to the Sept. 30 story "Parking Ticket Issue Addressed" [CTNews]:
One parking ticket issue continues as a huge annoyance for everyone forced to attend Hartford's many courthouses around Washington and Lafayette streets, whether they be visitors, victims or family, or civil or criminal litigants. The issue is that Hartford refuses to permit them to purchase tickets for more than two hours. The new machines can easily be programmed to permit a four-hour purchase.
Attendees get stuck in court or in mediation and cannot leave. Then, at 11:45 and 4:15, Hartford sends out its meter readers to slap them with $25 tickets that can quickly double or triple. It is certainly no way to generate goodwill among people forced to frequent these courthouses.
Yes, Hartford needs revenue as a result of having to accommodate so many government buildings that it cannot tax. Nevertheless, such antics cause more and more people to vote with their feet by staying away from Hartford as much as possible. A simple correction is in order.
John L. Bonee III, West Hartford