DDOT has proposed rules for the annual Visitor Parking Pass (VPP) system that was first introduced in 2007 in some parts of DC. Most residents within ANC6B became eligible late last year. On September 9, ANC6B will be voting on comments on the proposed rulemaking recommended by the 6B Transportation Committee. See the Committee’s September report for details.
Here’s some important information about current and future VPPs:
- The current VPPs show an expiration date of September 30, 2014. However, DDOT has extended this expiration date to December 31, 2014. The agency will be mailing a postcard notice of this to all households who received FY2014 passes.
- In the future, VPPs will be issued by calendar year. Thus, the next VPP will be for the year 2015.
- DDOT will not automatically mail out any 2015 passes. Everyone who wants one will have to “opt in” by requesting a 2015 pass either by telephone (202) 673-6813 or online.
- You cannot apply for this 2015 pass until the proposed rules are finalized … sometime in October. If you apply too early you will receive an FY2014 pass (if you don’t already have one). If you still want an FY2014 pass, order it soon. UPDATE 9/26: DDOT will accept requests for 2015 passes starting on October 1 and plan to mail out 2015 passes in December.
- Ward 6 residents who live on a Resident Permit Parking (RPP) block are eligible for a VPP but only one will be issued per “housing unit” defined as “a single family home (attached, semi-detached, or detached), a residential unit in a condominium, a residential cooperative unit, a residential unit in a flat, or a residential apartment in an apartment building.” (If the website VPP request system rejects your address, call the number above or the one on the home page of the website and a staff person can probably approve it as long as it’s a valid address.)
Other Permits The proposed rulemaking includes a section on on Temporary Home Heath Care Provider Parking Permits and Temporary Visitor Parking Permits. Both of these permits exist now and there are no changes in them; DDOT has included them in the proposed rulemaking so that all similar parking pass systems are in one place in Chapter 24 of Title 18 of DCMR. The Health Care permit is obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The Temporary Visitor permit is, as most know, obtained from MPD and is valid for up to 15 days.
Enforcement et cetera At a meeting with DDOT on the VPP proposed rulemaking, I was told that Parking Enforcement officials (Department of Public Works) will soon carry devices enabling them to scan the ID# on a VPP to determine if it is valid. Currently, DDOT sends information about reported and voided stolen or lost VPPs to DPW but it is not clear that parking enforcement officers use the information in any way. I was also told that 2015 VPPs will be mailed to the name of the person applying rather than “current resident.” That person will, then, become responsible for assuring that their VPP is not used fraudulently.
NOTE: This posting is an edited version of a Beat26 Newsletter I sent out to subscribers on 9/8/2014. See Contact Me above If you wish to be on that email list