Photo by afagen

Photo via D.C. DPW.

Cars parked on a street blocked off by a police barricade in Southeast D.C. last night into early this morning found an unwelcome surprise on their windshields today: Tickets.

Former Capital City Diner owner Matt Ashburn sounded the alarm on Twitter.

The D.C. Department of Public Works was quick to take to Twitter to explain that these cars, ticketed for street cleaning on the 1300 block of East Capitol Street SE, would have tickets voided. According to D.C. DPW, anyone who pays the ticket will be refunded the money in four to six weeks. Nothing official will be mailed to those who received tickets, DPW said in a tweet.

In a statement, DPW said the tickets were written after the barricade was removed. “When the Parking Enforcement Officer arrived at 9:30 am, traffic was moving freely, which is why the tickets were issued,” the statement continues. “The tickets will be voided administratively so motorists who received a street sweeping ticket will not have to contact the Department. It may take up to five days for the ticket to be removed from the records.”

“When the Department of Motor Vehicles voids ticket at the issuing agency’s request, there is no notice sent to the customer. Therefore, if the customer has paid and is owed a refund, there would also not be a letter sent by DMV. The customer would just receive the refund check within 4-6 weeks.”

Filed Under: dc dpw, street cleaning, tickets,