Annapolis Parking Authority Doesn't Mess Around

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brewmeist

5-Year Member
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Mar 2, 2018
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I am so furious at my son right now, I need to vent, so consider this a PSA.

My daughter and her friend drove to Annapolis on Sat to go to the game and have dinner with my son. They drove him to his car after the game, which he has parked on the street in Eastport. The problem is, the car wasn't there.

He called the police to report it stolen, but I guess you can figure out by now, it wan't stolen. It was towed for sitting in the same spot for over 48 hours. He didn't feel like parking it at his sponsors like he was offered.

$150 fine. $242 towing/storage fee as of now. So we're up to $392. Make that, my son is up to $392 as of now. That goes up by $20 every day until it is picked up.

And here's the best part... ONLY the owner can pick up the car. I have the flexibilty to drive down there right now, but the car is registered to my wife. Hopefully she can get off tomorrow. But what if we lived in CA?? Fortunately we are only a 3 hour drive.

So please keep this in mind if any of your Mids feel like attempting the same. Make sure they know there can be some pretty ugly consequences.
 
I feel your pain, @brewmeist.

DD is about to get car privileges in Naptown. She’s earned them. But she’s required to put skin in the game, i.e. paying the difference in insurance, covering all maintenance, paying for any tickets, and sharing substantially in the cost of any driver-caused damage.

Ah, adulting. Don’t know what’s harder — our kids going thorough it or watching them go through it. 😂
 
brewmeist said:
I am so furious at my son right now, I need to vent, so consider this a PSA.

My daughter and her friend drove to Annapolis on Sat to go to the game and have dinner with my son. They drove him to his car after the game, which he has parked on the street in Eastport. The problem is, the car wasn't there.

He called the police to report it stolen, but I guess you can figure out by now, it wan't stolen. It was towed for sitting in the same spot for over 48 hours. He didn't feel like parking it at his sponsors like he was offered.

$150 fine. $242 towing/storage fee as of now. So we're up to $392. Make that, my son is up to $392 as of now. That goes up by $20 every day until it is picked up.

And here's the best part... ONLY the owner can pick up the car. I have the flexibilty to drive down there right now, but the car is registered to my wife. Hopefully she can get off tomorrow. But what if we lived in CA?? Fortunately we are only a 3 hour drive.

So please keep this in mind if any of your Mids feel like attempting the same. Make sure they know there can be some pretty ugly consequences.
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I am sorry to see this - locals know Annapolis counts parking sins as a major income stream, since so much of Annapolis’ real estate is take up by the non-tax-paying entities of USNA, state govt, city govt, county govt buildings, historic properties, etc.

We always tell our visitors and sponsor mids to read the signs on the street carefully and literally. The parking authority is relentless. Many of the parking tickets are progressive. You see the ticket on your windshield, and if you pay at the nearby electronic kiosk or online, it’s x dollars the first 48 hours. Then it escalates the later you pay it. This is a strategy to inspire tourists to pay up immediately.

Many do not realize you can park in the residential zones in DTA only up to a certain hour and not before a certain hour, to allow people who live on those streets, many without off-street parking, half a chance to park near their house. Those residents are zealous about calling the parking authority. They have Annapolis parking stickers on their cars, so non-resident cars are obvious.

Many 2/c elect not to bring cars for this very reason, the off-Yard parking options are Annapolis street parking roulette, the Stadium, kindly sponsors or a few other options.

I think the Navy should raze the old NEX/Commissary buildings at NSA Annapolis and put in a mid parking garage.

Bet it was Mason’s garage?
 
Capt MJ said:
I am sorry to see this - locals know Annapolis counts parking sins as a major income stream, since so much of Annapolis’ real estate is take up by the non-tax-paying entities of USNA, state govt, city govt, county govt buildings, historic properties, etc.

We always tell our visitors and sponsor mids to read the signs on the street carefully and literally. The parking authority is relentless. Many of the parking tickets are progressive. You see the ticket on your windshield, and if you pay at the nearby electronic kiosk or online, it’s x dollars the first 48 hours. Then it escalates the later you pay it. This is a strategy to inspire tourists to pay up immediately.

Many do not realize you can park in the residential zones in DTA only up to a certain hour and not before a certain hour, to allow people who live on those streets, many without off-street parking, half a chance to park near their house. Those residents are zealous about calling the parking authority. They have Annapolis parking stickers on their cars, so non-resident cars are obvious.

Many 2/c elect not to bring cars for this very reason, the off-Yard parking options are Annapolis street parking roulette, the Stadium, kindly sponsors or a few other options.

I think the Navy should raze the old NEX/Commissary buildings at NSA Annapolis and put in a mid parking garage.

Bet it was Mason’s garage?
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It was JP.

My son knew what the risks were, and I guess he didn't think anything would actually happen.

The scary part for me is that the owner needs to be there in person. I asked if my wife could sign a notarized statement allowing me to pick up the car. The reply was a clear "No." Three hours of driving one way is not the end of the world. But imagine needing to book a flight to take care of this?

I have a strong feeling the lesson was learned and that he will never do this again...
 
Wow on that ONLY OWNER part. I guess that’s yet another reason to get the car titled to the Mid, also.

Its also a challenge to get to the lot to pick it up during the week. No liberty. Wonder if usna would approve a leave to get it, or if it’s an automatic 5 days charge at the impound lot?

That sucks @brewmeist…especially with the offer of the sponsor parent. You know what they say about ‘assume’ 🤣🙄😬

I’m afraid to park anywhere in DRA, residential streets. Last time we were there, saw a couple spots. Read the sign. Couldn’t figure out WHAT IT ACTUALLY meant. Sort of along the lines of taxes, and FAFSA’s. Figured it too good to be true that there would be two close spots during AF week, and headed to the garage
 
if you need a place to park a car on the weekends in DTA, there's a muni garage by St Johns, just off of College St that is FREE friday till monday

it's bit of a walk, but much better than some of the other options

some of the mids drop their cars there on Sunday and leave them all week till they can exit the following week for free
 
DS has his car (2/C) but it is registered to us. Probably should change that asap, based on this. He bought parking at the Stadium but has to park it in a city garage by St. Johns on football weekends. He uses a Razor scooter to get from car to Bancroft and got confronted by USNA police for not wearing a helmet (Just go to Target and get one!). Rules, rules, rules.
 
ders_dad said:
DS has his car (2/C) but it is registered to us. Probably should change that asap
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A little free legal advice (its worth what you pay for it ... :)). Some states, including mine,hold the automobile owner liable for any claims arising from a consent driver's use (ie. someone who drives with your consent). If you can get away with putting the vehicle in your Midshipman's name (without skyrocketing the insurance rates), do it ! Even if you have all the insurance in the world, you don't want to be a party to a lawsuit if he/she gets in an accident.

For the issue of only allowing the "owner" to pick up the car from impound, a good Power of Attorney should work if you live in California and the car is in Annapolis. (On the other hand, impound lots aren't always the most legally savvy).


justdoit19 said:
No liberty. Wonder if usna would approve a leave to get it, or if it’s an automatic 5 days charge at the impound lot?
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What are the rules for having a car as a Midshipman now ? Back in the day, only First Class could have cars within 7 miles. Sure , there were underclass who surreptitiously hid cars in town ...but it would be really gutsy going to the Company Officer to ask for town liberty to bail out a car that they weren't supposed to have in the first place. :rolleyes:
 
Old Navy BGO said:
A little free legal advice (its worth what you pay for it ... :)). Some states, including mine,hold the automobile owner liable for any claims arising from a consent driver's use (ie. someone who drives with your consent). If you can get away with putting the vehicle in your Midshipman's name (without skyrocketing the insurance rates), do it ! Even if you have all the insurance in the world, you don't want to be a party to a lawsuit if he/she gets in an accident.

For the issue of only allowing the "owner" to pick up the car from impound, a good Power of Attorney should work if you live in California and the car is in Annapolis. (On the other hand, impound lots aren't always the most legally savvy).



What are the rules for having a car as a Midshipman now ? Back in the day, only First Class could have cars within 7 miles. Sure , there were underclass who surreptitiously hid cars in town ...but it would be really gutsy going to the Company Officer to ask for town liberty to bail out a car that they weren't supposed to have in the first place. :rolleyes:
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2/C’s can have them, no parking on the yard. Most (?) pay to park them at the stadium, or other private garages (such as hotels). My 2/C didn’t take one last bc of Covid.

1/C year they are SUPPOSED to be able to park on the Yard. But apparently this year there weren’t enough passes so my guy did not get one. So he is at his sponsors home. Salty about it, too 😂😂
 
The one benefit to parking off the Yard though is you're not subjected to USNA parking rules. A ton of gotchas for Mids that don't have a solid understanding of the parking instruction. Parking spots are double signed in some areas or were former 1/C spots that are now for another constituency. Parking offenses can land you on restriction and without parking privileges depending on the disposition.
 
Usnavy2019 said:
The one benefit to parking off the Yard though is you're not subjected to USNA parking rules. A ton of gotchas for Mids that don't have a solid understanding of the parking instruction. Parking spots are double signed in some areas or were former 1/C spots that are now for another constituency. Parking offenses can land you on restriction and without parking privileges depending on the disposition.
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Good training for the scarcity of parking and parking dangers pierside on major Navy home port bases.
 
justdoit19 said:
Personally looking forward to just being able to teleport, myself.
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I guess I am turning into that grouchy old man... My first thought after reading this is how crowded the tourists would make it, if there was no barrier to showing up at any time from any place.
 
It was a loooonnnngggg and expensive day, but at least I was able to stop by Walgreeens for my favorite bourbon, which I am sipping right now.

Update.... I asked the man at the towing company while dishing my cash to him.... What if we lived in California and couldn't get here in person??

He said that my wife, as the legal owner, could have had a notarized statement allowing a named person to pick up the vehicle once ownership is determined. Of course I asked this very question on the phone on Monday and was told something completely different.

The moral of the story??? Don't let your Mids park on public streets in Naptown. Ever.
 
brewmeist said:
I am so furious at my son right now, I need to vent, so consider this a PSA.

My daughter and her friend drove to Annapolis on Sat to go to the game and have dinner with my son. They drove him to his car after the game, which he has parked on the street in Eastport. The problem is, the car wasn't there.

He called the police to report it stolen, but I guess you can figure out by now, it wan't stolen. It was towed for sitting in the same spot for over 48 hours. He didn't feel like parking it at his sponsors like he was offered.

$150 fine. $242 towing/storage fee as of now. So we're up to $392. Make that, my son is up to $392 as of now. That goes up by $20 every day until it is picked up.

And here's the best part... ONLY the owner can pick up the car. I have the flexibilty to drive down there right now, but the car is registered to my wife. Hopefully she can get off tomorrow. But what if we lived in CA?? Fortunately we are only a 3 hour drive.

So please keep this in mind if any of your Mids feel like attempting the same. Make sure they know there can be some pretty ugly consequences.
Click to expand...
Thanks for bringing this up.
I was searching for a place to stay in AIRB&B around USNA and about 100+ were listed as available for next year’s induction.
When the parking filter was applied, less than 10 were listed. Since I’ve never been there, I am ready to walk everywhere and use Uber or Lyft if needed.
 
Just out of curiosity, do mids have to move their cars from bona fide parking spots on the Yard during home football games?

At West Point, those with cars are assigned a spot in one of the lots. However, when there’s a home football game, they have to clear out those lots and move the cars to Buckner.

Really inconvenient it seems.
 
MidCakePa said:
I feel your pain, @brewmeist.

DD is about to get car privileges in Naptown. She’s earned them. But she’s required to put skin in the game, i.e. paying the difference in insurance, covering all maintenance, paying for any tickets, and sharing substantially in the cost of any driver-caused damage.

Ah, adulting. Don’t know what’s harder — our kids going thorough it or watching them go through it. 😂
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When my son was allowed a car at usma we told him it gets registered in his name and he insures it. My surprised face when he opted to leave it home.
 
Not to make light of the OP's dilemma, but welcome to military towns. Seems like everywhere I was stationed had plots to make money off the military stationed there.
 
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