Santa Monica, California is introducing new technology to end the practice of drivers using minutes remaining on parking meters from the prior cars. New meters use internet connections and sensors buried in the asphalt to wipe out remaining time once a car leaves the parking space. It seems a bit unfair. The city was paid to rent the space and I think I should be allowed to hand over my time to another citizen — after all I paid for the rental and could remain in the spot for the full duration.
I have often thought it bizarre that some cities threaten citizens with tickets if they add money to meters for cars of other citizens to prevent ticketing. I have heard such stories and I fail to understand the legal basis for such a citation.
This new technology is based on the premise that the rental space is specifically tied to the vehicle. However, I view it as tied to the space. When I rent a hotel room, I do so for a period of time and can presumably allow another person to use it as long as I do not exceed occupancy rules. Likewise, if I buy a movie ticket, it is for one set for the duration of the movie. I can give the ticket to another person to take my seat. Why should a parking meter be different?
The greatest loss, however, is the demise of one of the few remaining forms of urban manna. In a world where we are being clipped left and right for charges and fees, the parking meters remain one of the most common vehicles of good luck for urban dwellers who delight in finding 5 minutes remaining from the prior user. It is like the lottery for drivers — God shines down upon you with a small gift. Now that will be taken away — leaving us without hope of winning a meter lottery as part of our work day.
What do you think?
Source: NY Times
anon
1, June 14, 2012 at 3:31 pm
And leejcaroll and Kate Nicholas are absolutely right.
The main effect of these meters is to teach people who’s in charge. So even city government is not our servant, city government is our master.
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no anon, this would make our city govs our ‘slave traders’…or the smash and grab burglers that pawn stolen goods…but since we have a Constitution, and LAWS against slavery…and laws against selling stolen property….then this mkes those city govs fraudsters to those that they pawned the meters to…especially if they were interests outside the Country. Because at the end of the day….can you collect on the goods that ultimately don’t belong to you ?
[…]just as you do not rent the Ferris wheel at the carnival, but only your use of a seat for the duration of the ride. – Michael Murrey
Love Mike’s comment, but the carnival ride example doesn’t quite work. The people who would rejoice in free meter time would hope to goodness people don’t exit the Ferris wheel before their ride is over. On the other hand, those who would hate the concept of one second of “free” parking meter time going to “freeloaders” would love to see (and hear) the results of people getting off the wheel before their allotted time, or shall we say, at the height of their ride.
“Cool Hand Kendall” was “Cool Hand Luke’s” apprentice.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1345&dat=19851129&id=6ANMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2037,2521144
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19841017&id=07xPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=91EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4460,1917799
He later got six years for DUI, because he had a previous felony.
I can destroy the system. Figure out how to fool the buried sensor into thinking the car has moved. I suspect it is just a magnetometer that senses the magnetic field above the space. Walk by a few hundred spots with a big magnet, reset all the meters to zero. Parking tickets are instantly unenforceable.
They do it because they can
Doctor_Bob
So what’s the explanation for Mississippi?
Michael Murry read this shortly after hearing Sen Jeff Sessions talk about the freeloaders who are on food stamps. Darn those hungry people
“… going around at night under the cover of darkness and cutting the meters off.”
As I remember from the movie “Cool Hand Luke,” the ultimate ramifications of the parking meter vandalism did not redound to the best interests of the vandal. Something about “a failure to communicate.”
As to the professor’s point, I suspect that the City’s legal department would reply: “You do not rent ‘the parking space’ but ‘your use of it,.’ just as you do not rent the Ferris wheel at the carnival, but only your use of a seat for the duration of the ride.'”
And anyway, in capitalist America, no one purchases anything for themselves with the express intent of giving something to some freeloader for nothing. That sounds so …
communist Democrat.Mike, I think it goes back to the original discussion (http://jonathanturley.org/2011/12/14/religious-groups-in-santa-monica-call-for-changes-after-atheists-win-majority-of-places-set-aside-for-holiday-scenes/)
I think it was intolerance for the reasons I stated there.
What we now have is instead of multiple messages being distributed, zero messages being distributed.
Before the atheists and the Christians could speak, and now no one can.
To me that’s a strange victory for either believers of freedom of speech or for believers that atheism is more rational and tolerant than religious beliefs.
If a group of first amendment defenders (or government/taxpayer waste zealots) had kicked everyone out of the park, it would be one thing, but it was a group of atheists doing so, and that fits right into the liberal war on Christmas meme.
anon:
I don’t think the Santa Monica story speaks to intolerance by atheists at all. Instead, atheists merely played the game by the rules set up by Christians, and won.
BarkinDog, the last time I went downtown and had to use a meter the meter police also used the old ‘mark on the tire’ method just to make sure some defect of the meter didn’t get you more than your allotted maximum time. You’re glue trick wouldn’t work here. St. Louis meter police are serious about their pound of flesh. 🙁
Barkin Dog, Newman may not have invented it but he sure does a nice job of it. ‘course, I like about anything Newman did. : )
Are we sure that Santa Monica hasn’t privatized its parking meters?
NYC has a rather quaint deal. The towing operation is privatized. The guys travel around with their computers and tow away out of town cars. It cost hundreds of dollars to get your car back.
I live in a county where there isn’t a single parking meter. In the city, free parking for 2 hours on the main streets. No limit in the parking lot behind the stores or on the streets a couple of blocks of the main st.
I ll=ike the new ‘smart’ parking garages. You see a green light on the ceiling, you know there is an empty spot. much easier than driving rows looking.
But the meters talking back time already paid for? What if you want to park better or back in instead after you pay? not fair.
Superglue works quite well. Fill the coin slot when there is still time on the meter. The thing freezes up and you can park all day because the needle does not goe down. Do a whole row of them at once. But, I still like the pipecutter idea better. Newman did not invent the idea, Its not “Newman’s own”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1ZVW8Zn5fSM#!
1982 Sci-Fi Convention “Blade Runner” behind the scenes short film you’ve never seen. Bonus: Syd Mead discussing how the parking meters he designed would electrocute anyone trying to tamper with them (via FARK) (at 5:00 into the video)
And leejcaroll and Kate Nicholas are absolutely right.
The main effect of these meters is to teach people who’s in charge. So even city government is not our servant, city government is our master.
Followup to the Santa Monica beach nativity issue from December 2011
/2011/12/14/religious-groups-in-santa-monica-call-for-changes-after-atheists-win-majority-of-places-set-aside-for-holiday-scenes
http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-santa-monica-nativity-controversy-ban,0,461645.story
Santa Monica has banned the holiday displays.
Which as I said earlier is fine with me since it is otherwise a government funded holiday display in the public space, but it does, accurately, send the message that atheists are intolerant, warred on Christmas and won.
Exactly, Kate Nicholas. This is completely a ruse.
The obvious solution is a blank assignment. I prepare a form document assigning the unused time on the meter, determined when I’m leaving the space. The assignment is to the bearer, is dated (with my “checkout time” noted), signed by me and taped to the meter. The next person who takes possession of the space becomes the assignee and is entitled to any then remaining time on the meter.
Where’s the refund if you leave early? Certainly the “technology” exists for that as well. Turnabout is fairplay.
Just let the little meter run out…. Some are booting the vehicle without prior or outstanding tickets……. This is especially true for private companies running the parking spaces……