I got sucked into a $25 parking ticket. In large prominent letters, the sign on the parking meter said “2-hr. parking 9am-6pm.” To me, that says parking after 6pm doesn't require feeding the meter.
Wrong.
It turns out that, below the main “2-hr” sign, is a smaller, less clearly written one that ex-post I gather to mean that after 6pm you can stay longer – but you have to pay for it.
For me, this is intentionally deceptive.
Are we going to be spending more evening time in the District? Fat chance.
If parking enforcement doesn't get you, the potholes will. A couple of weeks ago I was driving east on Constitution and hit a pothole that ruined two tires. Cost me $792 to replace them.
That is horrible! DC will get you one way or the other. Even using METRO has become a hassle with all their “maintenance work” and state of the art escalators breaking down.
Bella Luna said:
state of the art escalators breaking down.
Temporarily stairs. Sorry for the convenience.
I have been avoiding driving in the District ever since I got a notice saying that my car was spotted twice in a six-month period parked on a DC street and, therefore, I had to report to the DMV with my license, car registration, and a copy of my lease, deed, mortgage statement, and a recent utility bill and register with their “frequent visitor” program. If I failed to do so, my car could be towed the next time it was seen parked in the District.
NoVapologist said:
I have been avoiding driving in the District ever since I got a notice saying that my car was spotted twice in a six-month period parked on a DC street and, therefore, I had to report to the DMV with my license, car registration, and a copy of my lease, deed, mortgage statement, and a recent utility bill and register with their “frequent visitor” program. If I failed to do so, my car could be towed the next time it was seen parked in the District.
Bureaucrats are so dumb. “I have a splendid idea! Let's convince VA and MD residents never to drive to the District to spend their money supporting our businesses and filling our tax coffers!”
chipotle_addict said:
Bella Luna said:
state of the art escalators breaking down.
Temporarily stairs. Sorry for the convenience.
ahhhhhhhhhhhahah…*loved* Mitch Hedberg!!!
NoVapologist said:
I have been avoiding driving in the District ever since I got a notice saying that my car was spotted twice in a six-month period parked on a DC street and, therefore, I had to report to the DMV with my license, car registration, and a copy of my lease, deed, mortgage statement, and a recent utility bill and register with their “frequent visitor” program. If I failed to do so, my car could be towed the next time it was seen parked in the District.
There must be more to this story. It makes no sense.
hbar said:
NoVapologist said:
I have been avoiding driving in the District ever since I got a notice saying that my car was spotted twice in a six-month period parked on a DC street and, therefore, I had to report to the DMV with my license, car registration, and a copy of my lease, deed, mortgage statement, and a recent utility bill and register with their “frequent visitor” program. If I failed to do so, my car could be towed the next time it was seen parked in the District.
There must be more to this story. It makes no sense.
Novapologist was sort-of right, because they hassle you if you're car is spotted twice in a month, not twice in six months. Regardless, it's still absolutely absurd that they would do that. From the DC DMV website:
“If an automobile has been observed a second time within a thirty-day period, a warning notice may be issued indicating the automobile is eligible for the issuance of a citation and/or impoundment unless one of the following actions has been taken.”
http://dmv.washingtondc.gov/se…../ROSA.shtm
Well I see they had the good sense to change it to “thirty days.”
At the time I got my notice (July 2011), the notice read: “Your vehicle has been observed for the second time within a 180 day period parking without DC tags. After fifteen days you become eligible for issuance of a ticket and/or impoundment for failure to secure DC tags.” At that time you also had to renew your “resident alien parking visa” every six months. I hope they got more sensible about that too.
As far as “more to the story”, they claim that they only look for violators in “residential” neighborhoods, but my usual haunts are Black Cat, 9:30, Politics & Prose, and other commercial/restaurant areas. I got the notice while parked at the corner of 14th and S. While there are indeed residences on that block, it's also about 15 feet from one of the busiest nightlife strips in the city. Also, they patrol for this using those license plate readers. Except for placing the notice under the windshield wiper, it's all automated.
Wow. It seems to be a case of “guilty until proven innocent.”
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