BS: A chat with the meter maid

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 06:34 PM

Winfield, Kansas, where I grew up, had concrete ramps on all 4 corners of every intersection. I have no idea if they have kept that up as the town has grown.

The city had regular wooden concrete forms that they used pouring the cement over a 'chock' placed up against the curb. Quite nice.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 06:22 PM

In the UK, we have our own version of Baywatch !

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: robomatic
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 02:57 PM

And to compound the interplay of convenience with bloody nature, while Anchorage has many ramps, in Winter they are frequently focal points of slips, slides, and falls when coated with ice, thus becoming a convenience when the people whose fall they precipitated now need them for their crutches and wheelchairs.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Don Firth
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 02:12 PM

City officials and departments really need to talk to each other now and then.

I was told recently of a large city in eastern Canada where they had an excellent program of putting wheelchair curb ramps [in English English: "kerb"] on every downtown corner and reserving a space or two right next to it for disabled parking. Then, another city department was hot on reducing downtown automobile congestion and encouraging people to ride bicycles. For the convenience of the bike riders, they installed bicycle racks on every corner.

But they positioned the bike racks so they blocked the curb ramp.

Apparently, it never occurred to anyone to wonder what the curb ramp was for. But I was told that once the boo-boo was reported, it got sorted out very quickly.

There is a curb ramp just a few blocks from my apartment where the postal service has place a large mail drop box on the sidewalk, and bolted it down, right in front of the ramp, blocking it. I reported it to the city engineering department a few years ago, but nothing has been done about it.

On the other hand, a few years ago, I called the city engineer just out of curiosity to ask a question. This time, I got someone in the department with a brain. "Why," I asked, "are there two curb ramps on the northwest corner of 12th Avenue and East Howell Street [a few blocks from where I live], but no curb ramps on any of the other three corners?"

He told me, quite reasonably enough, that they would like to put curb ramps on every corner in the city, but budget limitations, etc., so they tend to piggy-back installing curb ramps on other street construction. Then, he asked me if there were any corners near where I live, or travel regularly in my wheelchair—or would like to travel—where there are no curb ramps. So I listed a few and he made note of them. Lo! And, miraculously, behold! Within a couple of weeks, curb ramps started appearing on the corners I suggested! Very convenient. And much appreciated!!

But, of course, there is always someone around who unthinkingly tosses his cigar butt into the punch bowl. A few months after one of the new curb ramps was installed, the city traffic department decided to remove the stop light hanging over the middle of the intersection and install lights on light standards on all four corners. On one of the corners, the newly installed standard blocks one of the new ramps.

Fun and games!

Don Firth

P. S. Curb ramps are not just for the convenience of people in wheelchairs. Parents with kids in strollers also use them, and more than once I've seen elderly folks, or others, whose balance may be a bit unsteady make use of the curb ramp rather than hazarding a step off a curb.

And then again, kids on skateboards seem to be under the impression that curb ramps are for their exclusive use. While heading down a curb ramp to cross a street, I've been sworn at more that once by some juvenile little twerp on a skateboard when my presence just happened to impede his kamikaze attack. On another occasion, I nearly collided with a guy on a bicycle, apparently unaware that riding a bicycle on crowded sidewalk was not only dangerous but illegal.

And then, of course, there are the people who blythely and unobservantly park their cars in such a manner as to block a curb ramp. Ticketable offense, incidentally.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 08:55 AM

lucky dog - getting a whole chocky bar! Did the kind policepersons leave the wrapper for the owner to discover? (snigger, snigger).

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: GUEST,HuwG at office
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 08:46 AM

Though not a great fan of the megastore and shopping mall (uurgh - Americanism alert!) I am now back in full-time work at a business park miles from any convenient small corner shop, and would starve to death unless I call in at Tesco just at the end of the road on my way back from work.

Tesco, to their credit, have disabled parking spaces just opposite the main entrance. Less creditably, they have arranged the traffic flow so that the halt, lame and crippled must negotiate a maelstrom of vehicles all fighting to be closest to the main entrance, or be the first to leave. Not that it matters. Unless the disabled all drive 4x4 turbo-charged armoured personnel carriers or red BMW sports cars these days, then I suspect those spaces are occupied by the callous instead. Tesco show little interest in patrolling these spaces, or indeed the teenagers using skateboards so as to create moving hazards for traffic, or the shopping trolleys which form impromptu slalom courses for vehicles and pedestrians alike.

There is a memorable police tale in the UK. A vehicle cannot be towed away, no matter how negligently or dangerously parked, if it contains an infant or an animal. One company car (it is sometimes very difficult to prosecute these, as it is easy to baffle authority as to who exactly was driving or in charge at any point) was regularly parked on a double yellow line ("No parking here at all. At all"), with a large doberman in the back. The police eventually forced a window open sufficiently to allow them to feed the animal, with a whole bar of Ex-Lax chocolate.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: jonm
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 07:42 AM

I am fortunate to be able-bodied. I often have a blue badge in my car and use it to park in disabled spaces, which sometimes gets me stern looks from the righteous.

However, I only do this if I am COLLECTING a disabled relative, which I do frequently.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: robomatic
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 07:37 AM

Ohhhh, noooo, linndle BLUEbottle has wetted cardboard shorts!!!!

exits left, singe-ing "iff meester puwe isst passing that dirrty big bus, why isn't he yielding to the right?"

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 05:47 AM

And you, Cur, have erased all doubt that I was correct in labelling you a dickhead.

Except to label you, Cur, a dickhead insults dickheads with the nous of a dead bluebottle.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: robomatic
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 07:50 PM

Mister poo (I never claimed to be original):

I did wonder if your initial post, about not yielding the passing lane to those who were, er, passing, was tongue deep in cheek. I decided to take it as writted, and you, uh, sir, have now erased all doubt.

I am sorry for your disabilities, particularly the one between the ears.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: GUEST,The black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 16 Oct 07 - 07:51 AM

Have you noticed any stealth disabled spaces?

I once parked in a space in a car park at night in the pouring rain. As I returned just as the rain stopped and the surface water drained away I found that I was in a disabled space. The only markings were on the tarmac and not visible because of the low level of illumination and the water.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 16 Oct 07 - 05:48 AM

Robomatic - it's Mr Pugh, or Sir, to you, you dickhead.

Thought that Phew was original ? Grow up. Are you really old enough to hold a driving licence ? Or were you behind the wheel of a pedal car ?

I use the outside lane when intending to turn right, but that won't mean anything to a Septic who drives on the wrong side of the road.

To the nice people in this thread, especially Don : I have found a good approach to those who park in a disabled space without lawful authority : 'You have my parking space - would you like my disability?' My wife and I have severe arthritis, and hold a blue badge each.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Oct 07 - 03:46 AM

It's amazing the difference in traffic where I live, during term and holiday times.

During holidays, my bus is on time, I can park outside my house and a 3 mile drive will take me 5 minutes.

During term time however, it's a completely different story. Then, the bus is held up and the same 3 mile drive will take me 25 minutes because of the sheer stupidity of people who drive their children to school (the majority of whom live within a mile radius) and who feel that across a corner on the pavement is a good place to park a 4X4 to let little Jimmy or Narinder out into the traffic, or double park immediately opposite the school gates, in the narrowest part of the road, so that their precious darling only has to run the gauntlett of crossing one road, rather than parking round the corner where there are no roads to cross but a whole 50 yards of pavement to walk.

If I had a penny for every time a car has parked or stopped on the yellow zig zag markings, right next to the sign that says 'No Parking', I'd be able to afford my own 4X4 by now.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: robomatic
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 07:17 PM

I have just returned from a lovely outing, but I got the call at 0800 this morning, and I absolutely, positively had to be 60 miles away by 0930. Hopped in the car, headed out to highway 5, got in the left lane and set the cruise control I can tell that the horrid Phew wasn't ahead of me because I not only did not have to blink lights nor sound horn, but everyone in my lane quite nicely moved to the right to let me pass, without exception. I, in turn, when I had no need to pass anyone, went to the right myself.

Got there at 0915.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Anne Lister
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 06:18 PM

We have disabled parents and in-laws to take around, frequently. They are issued with a blue badge to show they are registered disabled. There are specific parking spaces for disabled users and by law now these should be checked by the owners of the parking spaces to ensure the right people are in them. There's one restaurant we go to, fairly often, and we regularly find that all the disabled spaces are taken - which means a much longer walk to the restaurant. When we've asked about this, on more than one occasion the manager has said "oh yes, that's right - they're cars belonging to members of staff to stop people parking there illegally."   Duh .... My husband now has two little pads of notes to leave under the wipers of inconsiderate parkers. One pad is just a bright yellow "please don't do this again" type of thing. The other is remarkably sticky and takes a lot of getting off a window or windscreen - it carries a reminder that any one of us might have a disability at some point in our lives. I'd prefer to use the very sticky ones much more often but my husband is a tolerant soul.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: GUEST,Bill D..(on vacation in Rural Virginia)
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 05:52 PM

LOL, Dave!...That is great. It's fascinating to put a real face on those images. I can see that it would have really been difficult to make the hose connection if trying to go AROUND the car.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Dave Swan
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 01:45 AM

Bill, re: the photo you linked. That's a California plate and a four way hydrant valve, which is not often used anymore. I know the guys who did that. My colleagues responded as mutual aid on that fire. Great fun.

Just before I was hired, my department responded to a fire where a cop had parked his car directly in front of the nearest hydrant. The fire engine was able to push the cop car far enough out of the way to make the hydrant to hose connection. Apparently that maneuver wrecks the transmission of a cop car.

Pity.

D

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 11:47 PM

LOL! I like your attitude, Don. Let's see if the blasted World has the good sense to just push off now...

I just started a thread on UK expressions. Check it out. Lotsa fun.


The Glaswegian...you mean like that parrot, right, Kat? Remember the swearing parrot on YouTube?

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Sorcha
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 11:38 PM

Me, I like the ones who pull into the Left turn lane (US), turn on the left turn indicator, and then STAY there for at least 4 good left turn spots!

I've been known to go just one mile per hour UNDER the speed limit on a 2 lane road just to slow people down (and piss them off too!)

Yea, I'm one of 'those other drivers'! LOL! Aren't we all at times?

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 11:22 PM

LH, you'll know the gloves have really come off when some Glaswegian comes in and calls someone a c#%t!:-)

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Don Firth
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 11:17 PM

Out of gas?

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Peace
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 11:06 PM

OUT OF WHAT?

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Don Firth
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 10:41 PM

OUT! OUT! I'M GIVING THE WHOLE WORLD 24 HOURS TO GET OUT!!!

(That felt good!)

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 10:08 PM

Uh-oh. Now it's getting personal. When the word "prat" or the word "tosser" appears in an argument with anyone from the UK, you know the gloves are OFF! Anytime now someone is going to call someone else a "stupid git" and it will spiral down rapidly from there into a really ugly situation....

We'll have to call Jimmy Carter and have a peace conference in order to defuse tensions.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: robomatic
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 07:53 PM

Pugh wrote:
What pisses me off more than the arrogance of those who think "I am too important to be ticketed" is the dickheads in the UK (where the top speed limit is 70 mph) who teararse up behind me, and flash their lights - "Move over and let me through - my journey is more important than yours".
They look quite amazed, and vexed when, according to time of day, when I hold up one finger, or two, as the case might be.

I never move over for these arrogant prats.

You, sir, are the arrogant prat. Now, a word about where you are parking . . .

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 06:16 PM

To be serene is not to be oblivious nor to be helpless. It does not mean accepting things you don't find acceptable. Ever read any Taoist literature?

I prefer doing something constructive about a situation if I can...like rounding up the stray shopping carts, for example, as opposed to carping about the unknown persons who scattered them. And if I can't do anything constructive about it, then I'd rather focus on something positive instead (if I remember to keep my wits about me and not get hijacked by other people's negativity). But by all means, go on defending your position, Don. ;-) I'm listening.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Don Firth
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 04:18 PM

The bitching and complaining is not the goal. It's the means to an end.

A little bitching and complaining at something that needs to be bitched and complained about has a better chance of eventually creating a better world than being universally and placidly tolerant and accepting of absolutely anything and everything.

Trying to maintain an aloof and serene obliviousness renders one complicit.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Greg B
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 04:10 PM

What frosts me is when wife gets a disabled placard due to a legitimate
disability, but husband parks in the handicapped spots when she isn't
along, just because he can. Or the son or daughter. Or grand-kid.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 03:59 PM

For sure, Don. ;-) It cuts both ways, that's all. If one really wants to maintain a happy and peaceful state of mind and feel good...does it help to get on a talking jag where one is ranting on and on about the people and things in life that one hates? How does that affect one's state of mind as the minutes tick by?

I think that is the primary point that Gedpipes was raising...and the moment I saw it raised, I thought..."Hmmm. Well, I have to admit, Gedpipes, that you have a point there that is well worth considering..." ;-)

Understand? I empathize with both sides of the argument on this one. That's my philosophical nature...I like to consider both angles, and when I do I usually begin to see the funny side of my own and other people's tendency to rant.

Are we really defending all that is good and righteous here...or are we indulging ourselves in another little binge of bitching and complaining about other people?

A bit of both, I'd say.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Don Firth
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 02:26 PM

I may be wrong, but it appears to me that a couple of people here are being a bit snide about folks who feel a touch of satisfaction at seeing rude, inconsiderate, and illegal drivers and parkers getting their due come-uppance. Well, let me put it this way:

Strap five pounds of metal to each leg, arranged in such a manner that you can't bend your knees. Then get yourself a pair of aluminum forearm crutches. Now, with this apparatus, you can either proceed laboriously by swinging your legs forward one at a time, or lifting yourself up with your shoulders and swinging both legs through. The latter is much faster, but it means that every step involves doing a push-up, which can get a bit tough on your shoulders.

Now. Try walking a couple of blocks while wearing this rig.

This might give you some idea of why one can feel a bit pissed at spotting some car without a "disable person" designation parked in a slot that's reserved for those who are genuinely disabled, and that would allow you to go where you need to go by walking, say, forty feet as opposed to two or three blocks.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 11:53 AM

...the law is the law and he can't be expected to knock on doors to ask if the car blocking a driveway belongs to the owner of the driveway.

This is the 21st Century. Where I live, no cop has to knock on a door to see if a vehicle belongs to the resident. He has a laptop which can match a vehicle's license plate number with its owner's name and address in a few seconds.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Wesley S
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 11:22 AM

I'm always amused when I see folks - esp around Christmas time - fight like crazy to get the closest parking space to the entrance of a shopping mall. Only to spend the rest of the day walking around inside that same mall.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Gedpipes
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 11:14 AM

flashers over here often, but not always, get arrested.;-)

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 11:11 AM

Over here, turning on one's flashers is not just for someone in trouble. It is used as a warning that a car is stopped, etc. The UPS drivers use it all of the time as they park in the middle of the road to unload. It's unreal! So...we use them any time we may have to stop in an unusual place, but only if there is no alternative.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Gedpipes
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 11:03 AM

phew
would'nt it just be easier to move in and think some nice thoughts?

Mind you I do like the time-of-day finger image. I use five in a left to right motion.
Blue skies
Ged

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Becca72
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 11:01 AM

That is a pet peeve of mine...people who drive in the passing lane and won't move over. If you're not overtaking or making a left hand turn (in the US) in the very near future then you have no reason to be over there. Move to the right and everyone is happy.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 10:35 AM

What does the time of day have to do with how many fingers you use?

You have to be careful with those hand signs in Texas or L.A. People are liable to shoot at you, I've heard.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 10:26 AM

What pisses me off more than the arrogance of those who think "I am too important to be ticketed" is the dickheads in the UK (where the top speed limit is 70 mph) who teararse up behind me, and flash their lights - "Move over and let me through - my journey is more important than yours".
They look quite amazed, and vexed when, according to time of day, when I hold up one finger, or two, as the case might be.

I never move over for these arrogant prats.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Mooh
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 09:44 AM

I'm in a lousy mood to start with and this subject just grinds my gears.

We get morons parking illegally in front of the credit union down the block, engine idling, rap or some otherwise intolerable noise blaring at window shattering volume, at night. There are so many infractions going on with this that it boggles my mind.

Regularly someone blocks at least part of my laneway, usually while attending something going on at the church next door. Most of the year I can happily drive around around these, but when the snow banks are high it's not possible. I like to be as understanding as possible, but when it was regularly the same vehicle a few years ago, I called the cops to have the car ticketed or towed. A ticket prevented that vehicle again.

The situation around the closest Tim Hortons is bizarre. Coffee withdrawal makes truckers park on the four lane highway, cars park right up to the intersection corners, line up on the highway for the drivethrough, double park in their parking lot, with many of the vehicles idling. Someone will get killed or maimed before anything changes.

I need to go do something to make me happy again.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 09:04 AM

Yeah, Gedpipes. ;-) There are probably some karmic perils involved in rejoicing overmuch at the punishment or the comeuppance of others...wouldn't you think?

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 03:57 AM

In the UK, it used to be that orange Disabled badge holders (it's now blue I think?) had to be reviewed on a yearly basis to check their elligibility for the disabled privileges. The badge had to be displayed when parked in disabled bays, and the clock on it (you moved it to the time you arrived so the traffic wardens could monitor it) set so you could observe the time limit if there was one.

I always park as close as I can to the trolley park - it may be further to walk to the store, but I haven't got to leave a car full of shopping to take the trolley back!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Gedpipes
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 03:53 AM

There are such a lot of charitable people on Mudcat.
Blue skies

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Rowan
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 01:20 AM

Sinsull's story "I do recall with glee the day when a small fire required help from the fire department and Mr. Mercedes had once again parked in the yellow area for the hydrant" reminded me of a popular (around here, anyway) definition of schadenfreud.

It's the feeling of mixed pleasure and sadness when you see a beautiful Mercedes and a beautiful BMW, both breaking the law, crash into each other hard enough to be expensive but without damaging people.

Apologies for the thread drift.

And I recall being on the receiving end of some abuse when I reported a car for having parked across the only available access path required by a wheelchair-bound mate of mine. The owner of the car had a terrible case of osteoporosis/arthritis (or something equally crippling) and had parked there (instead of about 3' to one side) because she thought she was the only disabled person within cooee.

Ditto about more thread drift.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Don Firth
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 01:03 AM

Intending to do some shopping at the Northgate mall one day, I drove through the parking lot to the entrance near the store I was going to, and noted that both of the handicapped parking places were occupied. And both cars had DP plates.

Fair enough. I knew of another pair just a short distance away, not too far for me to walk on my crutches. If one of them was, indeed, unoccupied.

BUT—!!!

To the side of each of these handicapped parking places was an area marked with diagonal white stripes (like, I think, what the British would call a "zebra crossing"). Between the two cars with DP plates, someone had managed to wedge a car without DP plates—on the striped area.

Now, that striped space (which means "No Parking") was there so that someone with a wheelchair could wrestle the chair out of their car, slide over onto it, and go their way. Or where a van, so equipped, would have room to use a wheelchair lift.

As I was sitting there, marveling at this phenomenon, the owner of the rogue automobile arrived.

"Ma'am," I called, "these spaces are marked 'handicapped parking.'"

"Well!" she responded indignantly. "This one isn't!"

I called her attention to the white stripes under her car and told her what they were there for. And also informing her of what diagonal white stripes like that mean anywhere she encounters them:   No Parking.

I saw her shrink visibly. But she sure as hell wasn't going to admit that she was in the wrong. She didn't thank me (odd, that!), but I could tell she was aware that she was lucky her informant was me and not a policeman or parking checker.

The three cars were so close together that she had quite a struggle getting her door open so she could get into her car. You'd think she would have noticed the tightness of the space when she first got there.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 12:30 AM

I know in Colorado one has to have a placard or a plate. I had a placard when I was on oxygen and just renewed it for another three years as I continue to recover from years of being ill and having surgery as well as a chronic foot injury which is slowly getting better. With the O2, it was obvious, but I can't tell you the number of times I had to explain that I was NOT on O2 because I had smoked and/or had emphysema. Some people were really judgemental about it!

What I meant was someone looking at me may not know I have any kind of disability, so it is best not to assume someone is NOT unless it is really obvious as in Don's story about the joggers. I know other folks who have heart conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disorders, etc. who do not look obviously disabled, yet they have placards and deserve them, imo.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Don Firth
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 11:39 PM

I have "DP" plates on my car (Washington State, "Disabled Person"), and I was also sent a little thingamabob to hang from the rear-view mirror if someone without DP plates is transporting me in their car.

One day a few years back I had a long lunch hour at work and it was a very nice day, so I stopped at a drive-in to pick up lunch, then drove out to Green Lake (north part of Seattle). I drove into the parking lot by the field house, and it was pretty parked up. But I knew there were two handicapped parking spots (sign at each of them with a blue wheelchair symbol) very near the path to the field house, so I drove there. One of the spots was taken. And I noticed that the car had neither DP plates, nor the little thingy hanging from the mirror. "Aha!" I thought.

I pulled into the other spot to eat lunch and calmly watch the antics of the ducks and geese that frequented the lake. I also noted two cormorants standing out on the swimming raft with their wings spread. They'd obviously been "fishing" and were drying their wings in the sun. I didn't know we had cormorants around here 'til then. But I kept a weather eye out in case someone with DP plates drove up (because I wasn't getting out and I really didn't need the parking place), and was prepared to start the engine, pull out, and let them have it.

After some time, two young guys, mid-twenties I would judge, walked up and got into the car parked in the handicapped space next to me. They were wearing sweats and running shoes, and had obviously been jogging the three+ miles around the lake. They looked at me. I looked at them. I gave them the fish-eye, but other than the occasional surreptitious glance, they studiously avoided looking in my direction. Then one of them reached in the back to pick up a couple of cans (Beer? Coke? Couldn't tell). As he did so, he noticed the police patrol scooter with meter maid aboard, driving through the lot and heading our way. Quick like a bunny, they started the car, pulled out, and headed swiftly out of the lot.

The meter maid noted my DP plates and pulled into the now empty spot. She stepped over to my car and I rolled down the window. Her eyes did a quick flick and she noticed the aluminum forearm crutches on the seat next to me, then asked. "Do you know how long that car was parked there?"

"No," I said, "but it was here when I arrived, and I've been here for close to half an hour."

"You saw them, then?"

"Yes. A couple of joggers."

She grimaced. "I saw the way they took off. Guys like that really make me mad! They think they're so damned smart, but they don't realize that just vacating the spot a few seconds before the law arrives isn't going to help them.   I got their license number as they drove out. In a few days, the owner of that car is going to get a nice fat ticket in the mail!"

"Excellent!" I grinned. "Just how fat will the ticket be?"

"Eighty-five dollars," she said.

That was a few years ago and 85 bucks would smart a bit more than it might today. But the fine has gone up since then.

We grinned and gave each other the "thumbs-up" sign. She got back on her scooter, I started my car (time to get back to the office), and we went our separate ways.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Peace
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 11:37 PM

My GAWD.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Little Hawk
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 11:36 PM

It will end when Shane is pronounced Ruler of the World.

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Peace
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 10:58 PM

First it was the ozone, now it's the freezone. Where will it end?

Subject: RE: BS: A chat with the meter maid
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 10:14 PM

The chalk mark was easy to beat if the zone was not far from your place of work. Pull out and repark. The mark will be in a different place or covered.
Meters have been planted where the 2-hour zones used to be, so free zones are few.