Adjudication Services

Department of Motor Vehicles

P.O. Box 37135
Washington, DC 20013

To Whom It May Concern:

I received a citation for parking at a malfunctioning parking meter, which had broken

through no fault of my own. I did not report that the meter was broken when I first parked, as

the meter did not appear to be malfunctioning at that point. After I received the citation, I

realized that the meter had malfunctioned. I am contesting the ticket and denying my infraction,

as I should not be responsible for reporting a broken meter when the nature of the malfunction

was latent.

At approximately 12:30 pm on Friday October 9, 2009, I parked at a metered space on

the west side of the 900 block of 16th Street NW. I had been waiting for the car in the space

before me to pull out of the space. I walked up to the meter and began to add quarters. When I

looked at the time, I saw that there were 0:73 minutes on the meter. I assumed that the person

before me left time on the meter, and this would be sufficient time for the duration of my

parking. When I returned to my car at approximately 1:20 pm, I was surprised to find a citation

on my car. I checked the meter and saw that it was Red and flashing “-0:70.” This made me

realize that the meter did not have 73 minutes on it but that the middle digit of the meter was

malfunctioning. At this point, I promptly called the broken meter hotline and reported the meter

broken. The confirmation number from the report line is 0903089107.

Under the District of Columbia Code, one is able to contest a parking violation if they

can show evidence “[t]hat the relevant parking meter was inoperable or malfunctioned through

no fault of the respondent.” D.C. Code § 50-2303.05(2)(D) (2001). According to the DC

Department of Motor Vehicles, evidence that the meter malfunctioned should be in the form of a
phone call to the broken meter hotline.

In my case, the requirement to report the meter broken when parking conflicts with the

statute that controls in this situation. The parking meter malfunctioned through no fault of my

own; however, it would be unreasonable for me to know that the meter had malfunctioned at the

time I was parking. I only became aware of the meter’s malfunction when I returned to my car

and saw the citation on my windshield. At that time, I called the broken meter hotline and

promptly reported the meter as broken.

In this circumstance, I acted prudently and as any reasonable person would. The meter

malfunctioned through no fault of my own. I reported the meter broken as soon as it became

clear to me that it had malfunctioned. I should not be responsible for the latent malfunctioning

of a parking meter. I respectfully request that Adjudication Services void this violation.

DATED: _______________________ ___________________________