Feb 25 2009Even Parking Meters Are Out To Get Us
Thought you were safe from robotic parking meters? Think again. Apparently the clever little bastards are pretending to be broken, then, once you've limped away without feeding them, auto-correct themselves and POW, parking ticket.
How is this possible? One explanation, according to DDOT, is that 74 percent of D.C.'s 15,453 meters are designed to self-correct, but are also "at the end of their useful life." So a person who parks at a meter displaying a "fail" message may return an hour later to find a working meter flashing zero time and a ticket on the windshield -- a process that may repeat several times a day.
"It was a news flash to me that we had this huge number of meters that are self-repairing," Ward 1 Councilman Jim Graham, chairman of the public works committee, said Thursday.
First of all, I think it's time for a new Ward 1 Councilman. And secondly, I live here in DC and just write BROKEN in black Sharpie across the glass of all parking meters. Law breaker or handsome vigilante -- you decide. But if you decided law breaker you should reconsider. Because -- you see this? No, down here. Yeah, the knife in my hand -- It's got your spleen's name on it. Well, it will. What's your spleen's name? Okay, now what'd I do with the Sharpie?
Parking Meters Out to Destroy the Human Race [nbcwashington]
Thanks spudtheimpaler, you in DC? We should drink beer together.
Reader Comments
1. Frist - February 25, 2009 9:43 AM
Frist!
2. Timbo - February 25, 2009 9:43 AM
My spleen's name is philbert
3. Face from Nick-jr - February 25, 2009 9:53 AM
lame
4. E of R - February 25, 2009 9:58 AM
Typical elected offical....
5. poodles - February 25, 2009 9:59 AM
my spleen's name is Philbert Jr.
6. naas - February 25, 2009 10:02 AM
DIE PARKING METERS DIE!!!
7. Meh - February 25, 2009 10:04 AM
Hey GW WE should have a beer together and try to beat Zelda II
8. poodles - February 25, 2009 10:09 AM
CVS is slangin dope on every block worldwide - Scarface
9. Not First - February 25, 2009 10:15 AM
Not First!!!
10. $.02 and a pocket full of FAH-Q - February 25, 2009 10:20 AM
I have no issue communicating without the use of profanity. Quite frankly, the english language offers much more colorful adjectives. The point being made is simply that in this country, where this blog is hosted, we have freedom of speech. The same freedom of speech that would protect this blogger (GW) in court. I find it rather disingenuous of him to post NSFW content and genitalia jokes, then censor our comments about them.
**
These stupid meters and traffic cameras are the biggest rip-offs. The kicker is we paid for them to screw us. Whores.
11. poodles - February 25, 2009 10:24 AM
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2009/02/24/wian.pot.tax.cnn
12. pavmentaled - February 25, 2009 11:04 AM
#10... Stuff It. How's that for not using profanity.
Stuff it and Stuff you.
Colorful enough?
13. $.02 and a pocket full of FAH-Q - February 25, 2009 11:45 AM
12 - No actually, it's not colorful enough. Perhaps you could liven it up with a bright coral? Maybe a seafoam?
14. BK - February 25, 2009 12:22 PM
i pretty much this this is bullshit, and a typical government ploy to get more money out of us. just saying.
and it's bad enough D.C. is taxed without due representation.
15. James - February 25, 2009 12:37 PM
Dude, you live in DC? I work at Big Monkey Comics on 14th St NW, you should stop by sometime.
Also, god bless the Metro, cause god knows I can't afford a car in the DC Metro area.
16. NoTalent - February 25, 2009 1:07 PM
This is only the beginning, word on the street is they'll be getting gatling gun attachments so that they can mow down litterbugs and jay-walkers.
17. Thrasher - February 25, 2009 1:31 PM
Isn't that considered entrapment?
18. kaluma - February 25, 2009 2:02 PM
Great news, It is such a great invention! I am wondering when will the world economic crisis be ended? I feel very disappointed...Maybe find a rich guy on "C e l e b m i n g l e. C0M" is the best choice? I was told that some celebrities are dating there too.
19. Rob - February 25, 2009 2:48 PM
$.02 and a pocket full of FAH-Q- if you died, nobody would care.
20. Hawk - February 25, 2009 4:38 PM
Let's see if it can reset itself after I piss in the coil slot!!
21. Skeeter - February 25, 2009 9:59 PM
This has totally happened to me. I definitely died laughing when it did. I got a picture. Makes for a great story.
22. formerly SPELLINGNAZI© - February 25, 2009 10:22 PM
@19: I disagree.
I find it amusing that, at least in the case of the red light cameras, that they've been found to reduce law-breakers so much that they are losing revenue from fines and are actually considering taking them out to encourage more people to break the law...so they can make money off it: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23710970
23. Watch - February 26, 2009 4:55 AM
easy fix to this, go around and put black duct tape over the part that displays the time on all the meters in the middle of the night .
24. spudtheimpaler - February 26, 2009 6:27 AM
Live in London, Ocean fail.
I'll have a beer in your honour tonight for every mile between us.*swoon*
25. mightykipper - February 26, 2009 8:11 AM
3,675 beers - assuming you leave work at say... 5:30, and find a 24 hour bar, drink until 8:30 the next day to give yourself at least a chance but still let you make work (although frankly, what would be the point)... that's 251 beers per hour... or 14.34 seconds per beer. Totally doable.
26. grfxho - February 27, 2009 6:52 PM
I'm experiencing a mixture of emotions at finding out the geekologie writer lives in the same metropolitan area as I do. On one hand my inner geek rejoices... on the other hand, my feminine instincts believe this indicates some sort of potential danger...
At least the Superficial writer(s) are far away from me! ...right? RIGHT?!
27. Jenn - February 28, 2009 4:49 PM
i'm in DC... *wink*