Had my hearing today. Scheduled for 5:15pm. Got there by 4:55pm. Checked in. Waited until 6:10pm. Was done by 6:20pm. Good thing I walked there, and didn't try to take advantage of the hour of free parking, eh?
So, yeah. Not a court hearing or anything. It was just me and the Parking Hearing Examiner, who my uncle tells me is neither a judge nor a lawyer; he's just a guy hired to do this. We were in a room smaller than my bathroom, with chairs for each of us, a desk, a computer for him, and a tape recorder to record the hearing.
I stated my name, address, and connection to the vehicle in question for the record. I explained that I contend that where I was parked on the day in question was either a legal parking space or one that was unclear as to its legality.
"Well, which one was it?"
"I still don't know."
I showed him my diagram of the street and the parking signs. He showed me that No Parking Sign #2 meant that I was parked illegally. I explained how it was unclear, and showed him my 7 pictures. He looked at them for a bit, and then said, "Okay, I'm going to dismiss the ticket."
Go me! Go me! Working the system!
He said that even so, he still never wants to catch me parking on the left side of South 40th street between Spruce Street and Delancey Place again.
He gave me back my diagram and 3 of the pictures, but he kept the other 4 for the record.
Luckily, they were digital.
For reference, I was parked somewhere between where that red car is and where that white car is, just next to that bizarre green box on the sidewalk.
Yeah, so I really feel good about myself today. Now, if only I could get employed...
