So I had to go to write a report on an exhibit at the local museum for class. Under the visitors tab of the museum's website, it listed a parking lot where visitors could park for free on weekends. Since this was my first time driving down there, I looked up the address of the lot on Google maps & zoomed into street view to see how it looked. It was located one street passed the museum amid apartment buildings. Just to double check, I called the museum and asked them about it and they said it was fine to park there for the whole day.
So I drove down but when I reached the place I saw a sign that said "Parking for XXXX Museum. Must have permits/passes." The stalls were unmarked though. I was confused because the website didn't mention anything about permits/passes for visitors. I parked anyways and walked to the museum. At the front desk I asked the again if I could park in that lot. I told the clerk, "Is it ok for me to park at the xxx street parking lot across the xxxx apartment?" I added in the name of the apartment nearby to make sure she knew what lot I was talking about. The lady replied that it was fine (this lady was different from the one who answered my query on the phone). She didnt mention anything about permits/passes, so I assumed it was safe to park there and started my assignment on the exhibit.
3hrs later i return to the my car to find a citation saying I was in violation because I didn't have a pass/permit. It listed the address of the company that gave the citation and I saw that it wasn't the same as the one listed on the museum's webpage. (The website showcased the exhibit, which just started a day ago, so I know the website is current.)
How should I go about contesting this citation? I feel like complaining to the museum because both the website and the employees gave me the same (wrong?) info about the parking lot. I'm hoping they can have some kind of arrangement where I don't have to pay. Or should I just call the parking company? (they dont even have the their # listed on the citation or the name of person who gave it. in the issued by area it just lists a 4 digit #). Or is the citation legit (and not a scam) & I should just mail in the $ to their PO Box?
So I drove down but when I reached the place I saw a sign that said "Parking for XXXX Museum. Must have permits/passes." The stalls were unmarked though. I was confused because the website didn't mention anything about permits/passes for visitors. I parked anyways and walked to the museum. At the front desk I asked the again if I could park in that lot. I told the clerk, "Is it ok for me to park at the xxx street parking lot across the xxxx apartment?" I added in the name of the apartment nearby to make sure she knew what lot I was talking about. The lady replied that it was fine (this lady was different from the one who answered my query on the phone). She didnt mention anything about permits/passes, so I assumed it was safe to park there and started my assignment on the exhibit.
3hrs later i return to the my car to find a citation saying I was in violation because I didn't have a pass/permit. It listed the address of the company that gave the citation and I saw that it wasn't the same as the one listed on the museum's webpage. (The website showcased the exhibit, which just started a day ago, so I know the website is current.)
How should I go about contesting this citation? I feel like complaining to the museum because both the website and the employees gave me the same (wrong?) info about the parking lot. I'm hoping they can have some kind of arrangement where I don't have to pay. Or should I just call the parking company? (they dont even have the their # listed on the citation or the name of person who gave it. in the issued by area it just lists a 4 digit #). Or is the citation legit (and not a scam) & I should just mail in the $ to their PO Box?