Sturb Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 I have just spent the past 2 days at a Parking exhibition for work. Dull I know but what can you do? On the first day I went armed with my newly purchased seamaster red rep. Not a great rep but passable none the less. After walking round the other stalls during a quiet time on ours I was amazed at the watches people were wearing. I saw 2 SMPs (one medium sized) and a SMP Chrono. Loads of Tags and a few Rolex. I also saw a lovely Breitling although I am not sure what it was as I am not well up on them. The next day I thought I had better step it up and opted for the trusty SMP Chrono. It was a boring couple of days but seeing all of those nice watches you dont normally see made it that little bit more bearable. Oh well, cant wait till next year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
technobug Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 What exactly is a Parking Exhibition??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturb Posted April 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 The company I work for write the back office software for Parking enforcement and we also provide the hardware and software for the handheld units that the Traffic Wardens use. We had a stand at the exhibition. The exhibition is for people involved in the industry and has all sorts of stands. Car park products, parking meters, ANPR software companies, handheld companies. There are so may different elements of the industry. Oh and as expected, the nicest watches on show tended to be on the wrist of a Bailiff company director Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratedzeus Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 So... you get lots of hate mail in your company? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corgi Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 I've always secretly dreamed of working as a parking control officer. There's some genuine incomprehensible sadistic joy in writing lazy bastards tickets and knowing that with a few strokes of a pen you just made some annoying jerk's day that much more difficult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturb Posted April 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 So... you get lots of hate mail in your company? Nahhh, we just write the software so we get away with it The Traffic Wardens get all kinds of abuse though. Most of it though is unwarrented. I mean the amount of people I hear complain about getting parking tickets is ridiculous. Why did you get a ticket? Because I hadnt put money in the machine Oh right, whos fault was that then? Well I was only there for 5 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rek001 Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 In Chicago they've gotten VERY aggressive in handing out the parking tickets within the last 2 years or so, the city needs more money to pay for all the beautiful plantings, I guess. They have these parking enforcement flunkies roving around with the handheld tablets, just waiting for your meter to expire, spitting out HUNDREDS of dollars worth parking tickets ever hour, they get them off welfare, pay them minimum wage and they make the city an awful lot of money. You show up 2 MINUTES late to your meter and you have a $50 parking ticket - same fine as if you parked and blocked an alley or on the sidewalk (WTF???) I just got a $100 ticket for parking within 15 feet of a hydrant in my neighborhood, which I DIDN"T, I was a good 20 feet away but try to prove it. I've had to give City of Chicago coffers about $800 in the last 2 years in parking fines, makes me sick to think about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodwc Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 I've had to give City of Chicago coffers about $800 in the last 2 years in parking fines, makes me sick to think about it. Now that little sum would have bought you a few great reps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rek001 Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 You just HAD to say that didn't you? That's exactly what I say to myself every time I write the check to the city, really makes me mad. But, now I go to feed the meter 15 mins ahead of expiration, so far so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodwc Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 You just HAD to say that didn't you? That's exactly what I say to myself every time I write the check to the city, really makes me mad. But, now I go to feed the meter 15 mins ahead of expiration, so far so good. I really wouldn`t rub that kind of crap in,.. on anybody, I just feel for you and think of all the bureaucratic a$$holes down at the council offices. It would make me feel like supergluing all the parking meters, but then it comes back on the ratepayers to have them fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubFrog Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 The most hated people in our city are the Meter Maids. These so called people are evil incarnate. They hate everyone and will give you a ticket if you are 1/2 inch over the line. You could be running to your car to move it or add a coin to the meter and they'll ticket you for 1 second past the limit. Most of them haven't even gone to grade school...so there's not much intelligence involved. Knowledge of that is my only satisfaction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturb Posted April 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 In Chicago they've gotten VERY aggressive in handing out the parking tickets within the last 2 years or so, the city needs more money to pay for all the beautiful plantings, I guess. They have these parking enforcement flunkies roving around with the handheld tablets, just waiting for your meter to expire, spitting out HUNDREDS of dollars worth parking tickets ever hour, they get them off welfare, pay them minimum wage and they make the city an awful lot of money. You show up 2 MINUTES late to your meter and you have a $50 parking ticket - same fine as if you parked and blocked an alley or on the sidewalk (WTF???) I just got a $100 ticket for parking within 15 feet of a hydrant in my neighborhood, which I DIDN"T, I was a good 20 feet away but try to prove it. I've had to give City of Chicago coffers about $800 in the last 2 years in parking fines, makes me sick to think about it. I certainly see your point and in some cases it is very valid. In this country there are very strict rules in place to TRY and stop unethical ticketing eg: you can only issue a ticket to a car with an expired meter after a minimum of 5 mins observation, each ticket must be supported with minimum of 3 photographs therefore if you were not parked in contravention they cannot issue to you (if you have the sense to appeal) Also we have just introduced differential charging which means the fines are more relevant to the offence. I have met hundreds of parking attendants and I can say they represent a pretty broad section of society. There are nice people, nasty people, intelligent people, stupid people. Just try to remember a lot of them are just trying to do their job the same as you or I. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rek001 Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Sturb, do they really take 3 photos when ticketing? I've seen them giving out tickets and have never noticed that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturb Posted April 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Sturb, do they really take 3 photos when ticketing? I've seen them giving out tickets and have never noticed that. In the UK they now have to take at least 3 tickets, one of which must be taken with the ticket on the vehicle after issue. They have to take pics of the vehicle committing the offence, the street furniture (sign/line/meter etc) that indicates what the offence is and the ticket on the vehicle. If you appeal any parking ticket that doesnt have 3 supporting photos (unless it is a CCTV issued ticket) you will win the appeal right away. It is interesting to see how different authorities view parking enforcement. For example in London it is 90% about making money and there are literally hundreds of wardens on duty in the middle of the night but then the county of lancashire uses parking enforcement mainly to keep the streets clear of obstructions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rek001 Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Interesting. So if I challenge a parking ticket in the city of Chicago by asking for photographic proof (which I'm quite sure there is none) I can possibly get off? I really appreciate your advice, this is such a problem in Chicago. I've become a bit stressed out when I use a parking meter, I've had such bad luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturb Posted April 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Interesting. So if I challenge a parking ticket in the city of Chicago by asking for photographic proof (which I'm quite sure there is none) I can possibly get off? I really appreciate your advice, this is such a problem in Chicago. I've become a bit stressed out when I use a parking meter, I've had such bad luck. I have just had a quick look on google but cant find anything about the parking laws in the USA. We do have 1 customer in the States (Spokane) so I will make a few enquiries on Monday and let you know what I find out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southcoast68 Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 I've always secretly dreamed of working as a parking control officer. There's some genuine incomprehensible sadistic joy in writing lazy bastards tickets and knowing that with a few strokes of a pen you just made some annoying jerk's day that much more difficult. I agree 100% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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