Take a close look at the above photo. What time time does it say? 6:12 PM? Wonderful, after 6 o’clock, free parking, woo-hoo! Except it wasn’t 6:12 PM, it was 5:12 PM, and technically I was responsible for paying for 48 minutes on the meter. The only problem is that it wouldn’t accept credit cards. Of course I remember Crazy in Suburbia’s parking debacle on President’s Day a few years back, so I stood at the meter contemplating what to do. I had some coins so I put one in. Nothing gets registered. So I pondered whether to just take a chance, after all it’s not my fault that it won’t accept money right? Yeah sure, tell that to the judge is what I was thinking in the back of my mind.
As I stood there wondering what to do, two women walked by and told me it’s not accepting any money. Turns out they tried to put money in as well. So it’s free to park? Yes they replied, and I went happily on my way.
The city should really fix the time on the meters, (daylight savings adjustment probably), if only to not confuse people. If not, does anyone know whether it’s legally ok to park there for free if the time is not correct and it won’t accept money?