Here's an old story with a new twist:The old part is this: There's a big event downtown -- let's call it a July 4 parade or, wait, I have it! a St. Patrick's Day parade. People drive downtown, park their cars, enjoy the parade, maybe have lunch, shop a bit -- and then after the parade is over ... surely nobody is still surprised by the ending? ....they find $15 tickets on their windshields for parking by expired meters.
You've heard this before, right? Or done it?
Well, here's the new twist, submitted for your approval by Robert Vallone:
I have a question for you to ask the city: Don't they have to feed parking meters?
I went downtown today to see some friends after the parade. I forgot that you have to feed the parking meters on Saturdays. I came outside and noticed many, many, many cars with $15 tickets on them. So now people who came downtown to see the parade and patronize businesses are out another 15 bucks.
You think the city could have taken today off. No matter, I forgot to feed the meter and I will pay my 15 bucks.
BUT as I'm leaving, I see the Parking Enforcement truck parked on Fifth Street at a meter......and it's expired!! So, the city parks for free, gets probably thousands of dollars off of citizens who came out to celebrate something positive in the city and they don't think twice about it. Great way to get people to come downtown. I thought you might like this story. I have attached photos.
I've seen it happen a number of times. It's plain stupid.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad and I'd bet 75% or more were young families who really can't afford fifteen dollars. That's why they took the kiddies downtown for some free entertainment.
Memo to low-income parents: The corporate Poobahs who run and ruin Racine don't want you Downtown in the first place. What they'd love to see is a crowd of well-heeled WASP Ivy Leaguers of the breed brought to Caledonia and Wind Point by The House of Wax.
ReplyDeleteMy advice to the victims of this crappy system is to avoid Downtown events and fifteen dollar fines. Just rent a decent movie for the kiddies and enjoy a tranquil afternoon at home.
ReplyDeleteThat's cold B........but true!
ReplyDeleteI parked in a ramp. It was only a block off the parade route and had long term meters. I don't know why people get mad when they get a ticket for breaking parking rules when the alternative is so easy.
ReplyDeleteOn the contrary, the city steps up enforcement when there are events. They have taken the short sided view and punish people that go downtown for events.
ReplyDeleteAsk the state HOG chapter how they felt about all those tickets for parking two bikes in a spot?
I also would like to point out that the female meter maid is pure evil.
Oh the stories about parking:
ReplyDeleteI know someone who had an event at Memorial Hall and paid to have the meters hooded. Some City worker made a error and cars in what was going to be a free parking area got tickets anyway. So he went to the city to fix the issue of course the City said "sorry but no refund" Compass who manages the building said "not our issue" of course what could have been an event each year moved to Kenosha.
We should have free 2 hour parking Downtown. but that would let too many of the wrong types of people come downtown during the day. At night please come downtown and drink yourself silly
If you want a real tooth grinder check out how city and state patrol squad cars park around the courthouse on Wisconsin Ave. They park in the drop off zone all the time. This is even when their reserved parking on 7th street a few spaces away are available. In rare but seen cases they will park on the side walk.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are wooried about a $15 parking ticket when you should be asking why we are going to give Tingle $30K for sleeping her way to the top. That is shameful
ReplyDeleteI want my 25 cents back. I paid to park by the library. The meter was frozen and didn't register my 25 cents. So I had to move my car and go to another spot and pay another 25 cents. Otherwise I would risk a ticket. I wonder just how many others that has happened to. We should have some way to mark them as broken. I had to use a crayon.
ReplyDeleteRemember what our Mayor says. It's only $40K. Well the tickets are only $15, so for such a minute amount of money. Give everyone the day off financially and wave the tickets. Our city is run by ignorants.
ReplyDeleteParty on!
ReplyDeleteRacine is ran by Joshua Abraham Norton!
ReplyDeleteLong live John The First!!
CRYBABIES!!!
ReplyDeleteCity vehicles do not have to pay the meters when on official business.
You want a cop to fumble around for change to feed the meter while you're getting robbed at gunpoint in a store 5 feet away???
You want a fireman to fumble around for change when he parks his pumper in an expired meter when a building downtown is burning to the ground???
You lunatics in this city always amaze me.
Worry about the ten year plan, would ya?
I'm pretty sure that city vehicles are exempt from parking meter requirements. It makes sense.
ReplyDeleteAnd, having attended parades in other cities, it is not unusual for parking meter requirements to remain in effect during downtown events. It is the responsibility of the vehicle owner to find a location that does not expire in the amount of time they will be absent (i.e.:parking garage) or to pay the meter before it runs out.
This is hardly the largest violation of trust or injustice that we should be concerned with. It's just the one affecting middle and upper class Racinians who prefer convenience with their city provided entertainment. To bad they don't make as much fuss over real issues.
Pick your battles, Racine. And maybe look outside your comfort circle before doing so.
The $15 tickets are to help pay for the $200,000 Dickert has given his friends and family in nobid contracts and jobs. We have to pay for it someway.
ReplyDeleteThe ticketing for parade...silly.
ReplyDeleteWe were in downtown Kenosha on Friday morning...parking was free. No meters.
Figure it out, Racine leaders! We have so many problems, and so much is done with a whole lot of common sense.
I would like to defend the "parking meter lady". I once had an argument with her about a ticket that I received which I felt was undeserved. The next day, I thought better of my behavior, and spoke with her as she made her rounds in my area. I discovered that she was really a very nice woman. I think that she has had to adapt a quickly defensive personality due in part, to folks like me, who regarded her with anger far too swiftly.
ReplyDeletenext time everyone that got a ticket should put it on the city truck or car that is parked at a metered spot...
ReplyDeletethat was pure stupidity ..See the city could have made $15 if they didnt park in the spot that someone else could have used and gotten a ticket ..
ReplyDeleteFrankly, "pure stupidity" is the phrase which epitomizes Racine and its elite to perfection.
ReplyDelete"I also would like to point out that the female meter maid is pure evil."
ReplyDeleteA few weeks ago I ran out of a store to feed my meter. I fed a few empty ones along the way. The meter lady laid into me and said, "YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" I said, wait, I can't put coins into any meter I want? She crabbed and snarled at me a little more so I just ran ahead of her (because I am faster) and filled as many meters as I could.
Take that crabby lady!
Name one city that has over 50,000 people that doesn't have meters somewhere! And anyway, a quarter for a half hour? That is an amazing deal! Plus, in the metered parking ramps, you get 1 hour for $0.25! Go to a larger city, put a quarter in the meter and see how much time you get.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm pretty sure city vehicles along with city employees who work at city hall have meter-exempt parking permits, so they were parked there legally.
Why do people think that they wouldn't have to pay just because there is a parade? I live downtown and I have to pay the meters everyday when I get home from work. Why would people in this city think just because there is some event, that all bets are off?
You folks that say parking in downtown Kenosha is free amaze me. Visit downtown Kenosha and you will see why its free, there is nothing there, no reason to visit downtown Kenosha. Get real folks!
ReplyDeleteI think it would be nice if the city would disband its parking regulations for a period of time for people to attend events such as the 4th of July parade and the St. Patrick's parade since these events may take longer than the meters permit. On the otherside there is some long term parking available but unfortunately, many Racine residents are to lazy to walk - there are exceptions however, our seniors and those individuals with disabilities.
ReplyDeletethis town is full cheap people so what put a dime or nickel in the meter you people are just a bunch of whinning morons if you go to another city that have meters do you cry like babies too i bet youll pay more then 15 for a ticket
ReplyDelete10:15 - Who's the moron? How about you'll - you may want to try it next time moron. The issue is the meters may not go long enough to cover a given event. It has nothing to do with a nickel or dime - I'm done with you moron.
ReplyDeleteyou are like the person said prior there are places for long term parking and its just less then a block from the parade route..lets see last time i looked there are 4 ramps either metered or gated and at least 4 lots metered or gated all close by..
ReplyDelete