(A) Any person charged with a violation of the town's parking ordinances shall have the right to appeal such violation by filing written notice of appeal within 72 hours after issuance of the citation giving notice of such violation. Notice of appeal must be hand delivered or mailed so as to arrive within the 72-hour time specified herein at the office of the Manager of the Wrightsville Beach parking program located at 321 Causeway Drive, Wrightsville Beach, N.C. 28480.
(B) The manager of the Wrightsville Beach parking program (the “Parking Manager”) or the Appeal Coordinator designated under the provisions of the Wrightsville Beach parking program shall render a decision on such appeal within five business days of the date of filing of the appeal. Written notice of the decision of the Parking Manager or Appeal Coordinator shall be mailed to the appealing party.
(C) If the appealing party is dissatisfied with the decision of the Parking Manager or Appeal Coordinator, the appealing party may request an administrative hearing to be conducted by an independent hearing officer. A request for an administrative hearing must be filed in writing with the Parking Manager within 15 days of receipt of the denial of the appeal as described in division (B). The written request for an administrative hearing must be hand delivered or mailed so as to arrive within the 15-day period specified herein at the office of the Manager of the Wrightsville Beach parking program located at 321 Causeway Drive, P.0. Box 626, Wrightsville Beach, N.C. 28480. A request for an administrative hearing shall be accompanied by payment of the amount of the outstanding citation plus an amount equal to the fee to be paid to the independent hearing officer. If the decision to impose the parking citation is reversed, the amount of the citation and the fee for the independent hearing officer will be refunded to the appealing party. If the decision to impose the parking citation is upheld, such payments shall be retained by the town. Any request for an administrative hearing which is not accompanied by payment of the amount of the outstanding citation plus the fee to be paid to the independent hearing officer shall be deemed untimely filed and the request for such hearing shall be denied.
(D) The decision of the independent hearing officer as described in division (B) above shall be final.
(E) As a matter of policy, the town will not accept the following as legitimate grounds for dismissal of parking violations:
(1) Lack of knowledge of the town's parking regulations;
(2) Conflicts or tardiness going to or returning from appointments;
(3) Inability to find a valid parking space; and
(4) Failure to have appropriate or sufficient money to deposit in meters or pay stations.
(Ord. 1591, passed 2-12-09; Am. Ord. 1650, passed 3-10-11)