To view the hilarious response I received from Magistrate Tegan Slaton, click here.

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December 8, 2001

To Whom It May Concern:

On the date of November 28, 2001, I received a notice detailing a parking violation I had committed in the city of Key West. The notice indicates that there was "no parking in the assigned space," with an additional note "Rem1: sign posted."

I would like to contest the validity of this notice. However, since I was merely a visitor to Key West (as a writer/photographer doing research on Florida for an online publication), and I reside in Seattle, WA, it is impossible for me to contest this penalty in person.

I believe the notice should be rescinded and the fine which was levied against me dropped because the "assigned space" in question was not effectively designated as such. There were no street signs (I do not know if the "sign posted" reference on the notice refers to this or not) visible that indicated the restrictions placed on this parking spot. The only marks visible and/or legible from my car prior to parking were the faded white lines denoting the individual parking spaces. By all appearances, the space looked perfectly "legal" to a visitor not familiar with the city of Key West.

It was not until over an hour later, while I was walking through the city, when I noticed a parking space with similar white lines, accompanied by words (also painted on the ground) which indicated a residential parking space. I immediately returned to my car, to find that my space too, displayed these painted words. Unfortunately, the paint was old and faded, which made it virtually undetectable from my car when I first occupied the space.

I submit to you that the manner in which this parking space was marked and designated as a residential space was insufficient and ineffective in terms of warning potential violators. Given the obvious magnitude and importance of Key West's tourist industry, I find it unfortunate that visitors unfamiliar with the area can not be more easily accommodated and warned, at the very least with clearly marked street signs. I would hope these less-subtle markings are not deemed sufficient simply to catch the occasional "sucker" such as myself in order to help the city's funding during a slow tourist season.

Please respond when convenient. Given the difficulties involved in arranging a hearing in-person, I would hope that my request in the form of this letter can be reviewed and considered, and a response issued forthwith. If, in said response, my appeal for the dropping of the fine is denied, I will pay the $20.00 amount owed immediately.

Thank you.