Following are some examples of reasons individuals often offer in dispute of a parking citation they have received.  These are not reasons for dismissal of a parking citation.

SHORT ERRANDS
No errand, no matter how short or how important to the driver short of a bona fide medical emergency, is an acceptable excuse for illegal parking. A short errand is a very common excuse. It is not a valid reason for illegal parking.

LATE FOR BUSINESS OR PERSONAL APPOINTMENT
Being late does not permit the driver the privilege of parking illegally.

NO PLACE ELSE TO PARK
Other than being an invalid excuse, this, in fact, confirms the driver's liability. It is driver's responsibility to locate legal parking. Remember, there are more than 3,000 easily accessible spaces in Downtown Davenport.

I DIDN'T SEE THE SIGN - I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE SIGN
Drivers are required to look for signs when parking. This may mean checking an entire lot from corner to corner. Drivers are also required to abide by the directions on the signs. A person indicating that they did not see a no parking sign is not an acceptable excuse.

ONLY PART OF MY CAR WAS ILLEGALLY PARKED
A violation is not based on a certain percentage of the vehicle being illegally parked. If part of the vehicle extends into a restricted area, the violation is the same as if the entire vehicle encroached.

I LEFT SOMEONE IN THE CAR; I LEFT MY PARKING LIGHTS ON OR BLINKING; I LEFT A NOTE IN THE CAR AS TO MY WHEREABOUTS WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING
Many drivers seem to think that evidence of a short stay mitigates the offense. It does not. The presence of a passenger, a sign or blinking lights does not satisfy this purpose and, therefore, does not constitute a valid reason to dismiss a violation.

IT WAS ONLY A FEW MINUTES
This explanation is one of the most common claims. Even if true, parking in a prohibited area is still a violation.

NOBODY ELSE GOT A TICKET
The officer may have had to leave the area before checking all the vehicles or there may have been cars that had already moved. However, a parking citation stands on its own.

SOMEONE ELSE HAD MY CAR
The registered owner has joint responsibility with whoever was driving his or her car. Unless it can be shown by the registered owner that the car was driven without permission, the registered owner, renter or lessee is responsible for a parking citation.

THIS VIOLATION HAS NOT BEEN ENFORCED IN THE PAST
This normally is not the case. However, limited staffing or other priorities may give rise to violations not being enforced continually; but, nowhere does apparent failure to enforce parking laws constitute a valid excuse for illegal parking.

I'VE DONE IT FOR YEARS - EVERYBODY DOES IT
This is never a valid excuse for illegally parking. Nobody should be rewarded for getting away with prior violations.