The Day Everyone Forgot About Street Sweeping...Even the City of Denver

Okay, I have to admit it: The street-sweeping parking ticket I got on October 22 was valid. I was, in fact, parked on the street in front of my house, and it was indeed the fourth Tuesday of the month. I had to double-check that when I saw the yellow envelope, because it seemed too early — but sure enough, the month started on a Tuesday, and so the fourth Tuesday came on the 22nd. It took me by surprise.

It apparently took the City of Denver by surprise, too. I'm signed up for the city alerts that are supposed to arrive via text and email the day before street-sweeping to remind you to move your car to the other side of the street, and I've come to rely on those. After getting the ticket, I checked my junk mail and my screened texts; nothing. Same for the supposedly-automatic heads-ups for the other side of the street, which was swept on October 23; I should have received both a text and an email about that. But I got nothing.

Most Denver residents have been ticketed at least once for a violation of the street-sweeping schedule that runs from April through November; it's always seemed part of the price of living in the city. It's only $50, some might say; suck up and pay it.

And I will if I have to, but I'm disputing it first. There's a double standard at work here if we as citizens of Denver are held responsible for an honest error — just a slip of memory — but when the city makes a mistake, it's too bad and so sad. So I filled out the online form to dispute the ticket, admitting I was there but noting that both the city and I forgot the fourth Tuesday was early this month. We'll see how this challenge works out: The city gives itself thirty days to respond, which is a week longer than they give us to pay it before the cost more than doubles.

In the meantime, I reached out to the city to find out what technical glitch had held up the street-sweeping alerts. "Our Tech Services Division said they heard about it yesterday, and believe they’ve resolved the issue," responds Nancy Kuhn, director of communications for the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure. "We understand how frustrating technical disruptions can be, and while we do our best to avoid them, they do occasionally happen. There is a mention of it on the web page where people sign up for alerts."

That mention is marked "Important Disclaimer" and states that "The City and County of Denver, its officials and employees, are not responsible, nor shall it be a valid defense to a street sweeping ticket, if for any reason, including without limitation Service failures, reminders are not sent or are incorrectly sent, or incorrect information is displayed here."
After all, the correct information is included on signs on the street. But still, the city created the alert system because it recognized there was a need for a technical reminder of the street-sweeping schedule for absent-minded citizens, and when that system goes down, shouldn't it be considered a mitigating factor?

Don't take this small protest to mean that I'm against street sweeping, or the idea that we all have to do our bit to keep the byways safe and smart-looking. On the contrary, I'm all for it...especially when leaves fall. But I also realize that we all fail once in a while — even the city.

If Denver's going to sweep the streets, and it's promised to provide some warning to people who live and therefore sometimes park on those streets, both systems need to be functioning in concert. People can be good citizens and still sometimes make mistakes—just like the city can be doing its best and still flub things once in a while. Like the old George Costanza quote goes: You know, we're living in a society here! And that society here in Denver — and our own city government — should be characterized by a little grace.

And a little forgiveness. What would the revenue loss be to drop the disputed tickets on a day when the city itself messed up? I bet it wouldn't be much, and it would go a long way to create some equanimity in a relationship that's supposed to be the city in service to the public, not the other way around.