DCist: D.C. Parking Meter Complaints Way Up

onefemme

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:56:42 -0500

seriously. i reported back in the spring of a downed meter near my work, which was responded to two months later by the complete removal of the meter, providing two free parking spaces on a street of metered spots. which are usually occupied by metro employees, as the street is adjacent to a bus barn. what gives? those guys park for free anyway, just by displaying their day-glow vests in the back.

lrb

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:22:38 -0500

The increase from 1995 to 2007 is about a 3800% increase. That's not even close to the same thing as an "annual increase" of 3800%. It's not clear whether that was Examiner's mistake copied, but it's correct on their site now. Either way, lousy reporting by DCist. More to the point, an epidemic of broken meters doesn't mean DC should abandon stick meters. Furthermore, the increase in complaints may just be the result of an improved hotline. I don't know the complete history of parking meters in DC, but I know there have been improvements over the past 10 years in the experience of reporting broken meters. I will agree with Examiner and DCist that DC (DDOT and DPW) aren't taking adequate care of their parking meters. To momentarily be a huge cynic, this isn't that different than any other DC government problem in that it could be greatly improved through better management.

no_more_caffeine

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:30:55 -0500

Canadian Quarters

registeringsucks

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:14:19 -0500

The problem IS the multispace meters. None of the ones on K St. will accept any of my credit or debit cards. They just say "invalid card."

Deep

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:13:02 -0500

Hints from Heloise: When you want to get a free parking spot. Go to a dollar store or gas station. Purchase an air freshner and a permanent black magic marker. Use the black magic marker and write 'HANDICAP' on both sides of the air freshner. Let it dry. Hang it on your rear-view window. Now, you can park in the handicap spot. Your welcome.

monkeyrotica

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:07:00 -0500

Whatever you do, DON'T use tin snips to clip off two sides of a penny. Not only do they register as a quarter in most parking meters, they sometimes RUIN the mechanism. Not to mention it's a felony to deface public currency. And just a reminder: the old urine-in-a-squirtbottle trick does NOT break electronic parking meters, but it will cause Coke machines to dispense free beverages. The problem becomes one of what to do with urine-soaked Coke cans. A puzzlement.