There has been a significant increase in the number of parking tickets written this year in several cities across the country. Many cities and counties have used the money obtained from parking fines to offset budget cuts and revenue shortfalls.
Some may feel the parking meter maids are criminals who run around cities giving fraudulent tickets. Others feel they are just doing their job based on pressure from their supervisors to meet quotas and generate revenue. The New York City government generates approximately $1.6 million daily from parking ticket revenue. In Chicago, a total of 1,345 parking tickets were written between June 21 and July 14, 2010. Montgomery County Maryland collected $8.1 million in ticket revenue thus far t his fiscal year.
Washington DC trained 25 new officers for the 2010 summer season and "Summer is our peak season for issuing tickets," according to Bill Howland, director for the Department of Public Works. "We're hoping to have some of these folks ready so they can issue more tickets." In Boulder Colorado parking meter maids are required to write an average of 900 tickets a month. Collections from parking tickets in Maywood Illinois increased 55% from last fiscal year. Here are 8 ways to avoid getting a parking ticket:
1. Keep change in your car at all times. If you regularly park in areas with meters, put more than enough money in the meter, at least 20 minutes extra than the current time. Some parking meters move their watches up 15-20 minutes to write fraudulent tickets.
2. Read the information on the parking meters including the hours in effect and any restrictions.
3. Read the parking signs for any restrictions with available times the space is to be used for parking. Check for permanent and temporary signs. If you park at a space with a parking meter and a parking sign follow the parking sign to be safe.
4. Be sure your vehicle registration and tags are clearly displayed on your car and are current.
5. Get a receipt when parking on a parking lot with an attendant. Receipts must be placed visible in the front windshield to avoid getting a ticket or being towed.
6. Don't park near fire lanes, bus zones, intersections, handicapped spaces, snow emergency routes, near schools or corners.
7. "No Stopping" and "No Parking" are not the same. You can stop in a no parking zone for up to five minutes to load and unload a passenger, but cannot in a no stopping zone which will result in getting a ticket even if the car is occupied.
8. When parking in parking lots or parking garages be sure to park in spaces that have lines on both sides of the parking space.
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