19 April 2004 Monday

The 5:00 parking ticket. aka: Stupidest Thing Ever.

To Whom It May Concern:

I’ll try to mask some of my contempt, disgust, and hysterical incredulity as I tell this story. I’ll also make it as simple and short as is possible. I went to the movies today. My ticket stub and credit card receipt is clearly marked: 3:49pm. I put in quarters for well past an hour. But all of those details, actually, are not really necessary. All you need to know is this:

I parked at a meter that had a clear sign stating “2 hour (meter) parking, Mon-Fri 8am-5pm.” I came back after the movie to find a parking ticket on my windshield. The time noted on the ticket was 5:00. Actually, the carbon writing on it look to say 5:04—but it’s written over in pen (different from the rest of the ticket) to say simply 5:00.

Do I have to explain? The sign says 2 hour meter parking from 8am-5pm. Otherwise, free parking. The ticket said 5:00 in pen. So does the free parking kick in at 5:01? Even then, I had been sure to fill the meter with well past the hour before 5:00 that I would be gone for.

I don’t even want to write any more about this. The contempt and incredulity? How Why should I even mask that? What else is there to feel about such a pathetic situation/system? Not to even mention the “Chief of Police” who answered me at the front desk when I stepped into the Courthouse. -But the proper department was closed, of course. Mr. Chief of Police was very polite in explaining how, if I turn over the card, I can fill out the section that asks for my name and address, and I can mail it to the office that is clearly stated on the card, requesting a court date-as is clearly stated on the card. Thank you so much for that. Oy. <strong>thoroughly disgusted</strong>

Aside from that, I had a very nice day. Thank you.