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A broken meter is a valid reason in other cities? Huh. Every parking meter around here specifically says if it is broken you can't use it. People are ticketed

A broken meter is a valid reason in other cities? Huh. Every parking meter around here specifically says if it is broken you can't use it. People are ticketed accordingly if they park there.

fixermark 13y ago
So in the region you're describing, the government would rather deprive people entirely of a shared resource than risk the resource be shared without regulation (and money to the government coffers). Unless they had some kind of rash of people breaking meters that they're reacting to, I'm calling shenanigans on that law. In fact, if they haven't had a _recent_ rash... I'm still calling shenanigans.
- pfranz 13y ago
  A few years ago there was an exposé on valets in LA intentionally breaking meters to control parking. I wouldn't be surprised if it still happens. A few months ago tighter regulations on valets went into effect (not sure how well those have been enforced, though). http://consumerist.com/2009/10/01/hidden-cameras-catch-la-valets-breaking-all-kinds-of-laws/ http://consumerist.com/2009/10/01/hidden-cameras-catch-la-va...
smackfu 13y ago
>If a meter is broken you are allowed to park at that meter for the posted time limit, but please report it! http://sfmta.com/ru/services/streets-sidewalks/maintenance-requests/broken-meter http://sfmta.com/ru/services/streets-sidewalks/maintenance-r... Although apparently that's not quite true, since there's another rule that says it is two hours max.
eli 13y ago
It's legal to park at a broken meter in DC, but I think you have to call in and report it as broken first and I wouldn't be surprised if you get a ticket anyway (especially if the meter isn't obviously broken). I would imagine this leads to a lot of intentionally broken meters.
adnrw 13y ago
Really? Seems a bit unnecessary to take the spot completely out of action because the meter is broken. Here (Melbourne), if a meter is faulty but the council doesn't know, you can SMS your numberplate and the meter ID to their faults number. The automated response tells you that the time limits still apply and gives you the number to call if you still get a ticket. If the council knows the meter is faulty and they haven't fixed it, they generally put a locked bag over it so no one can use it with instructions that the time limits still apply.
- jrs235 13y ago
  "Seems a bit unnecessary to take the spot completely out of action because the meter is broken." Yes it seems a bit stupid but governments often don't operate with efficiency or common sense as a primary goal or concern.
- 27182818284 13y ago
  >Really? Seems a bit unnecessary to take the spot completely out of action because the meter is broken. Yes, it does. Seems a bit unnecessary for the US to spend more than the next 20 countries combined in military, but the government doesn't always do the necessary part well.

A broken meter is a valid reason in other cities? Huh. Every parking meter around here specifically says if it is broken you can't use it. People are ticketed accordingly if they park there.

fixermark 13y ago

So in the region you're describing, the government would rather deprive people entirely of a shared resource than risk the resource be shared without regulation (and money to the government coffers). Unless they had some kind of rash of people breaking meters that they're reacting to, I'm calling shenanigans on that law. In fact, if they haven't had a _recent_ rash... I'm still calling shenanigans.

pfranz 13y ago
A few years ago there was an exposé on valets in LA intentionally breaking meters to control parking. I wouldn't be surprised if it still happens. A few months ago tighter regulations on valets went into effect (not sure how well those have been enforced, though). http://consumerist.com/2009/10/01/hidden-cameras-catch-la-valets-breaking-all-kinds-of-laws/ http://consumerist.com/2009/10/01/hidden-cameras-catch-la-va...

smackfu 13y ago

>If a meter is broken you are allowed to park at that meter for the posted time limit, but please report it! http://sfmta.com/ru/services/streets-sidewalks/maintenance-requests/broken-meter http://sfmta.com/ru/services/streets-sidewalks/maintenance-r... Although apparently that's not quite true, since there's another rule that says it is two hours max.

eli 13y ago

It's legal to park at a broken meter in DC, but I think you have to call in and report it as broken first and I wouldn't be surprised if you get a ticket anyway (especially if the meter isn't obviously broken). I would imagine this leads to a lot of intentionally broken meters.

adnrw 13y ago

Really? Seems a bit unnecessary to take the spot completely out of action because the meter is broken. Here (Melbourne), if a meter is faulty but the council doesn't know, you can SMS your numberplate and the meter ID to their faults number. The automated response tells you that the time limits still apply and gives you the number to call if you still get a ticket. If the council knows the meter is faulty and they haven't fixed it, they generally put a locked bag over it so no one can use it with instructions that the time limits still apply.

jrs235 13y ago
"Seems a bit unnecessary to take the spot completely out of action because the meter is broken." Yes it seems a bit stupid but governments often don't operate with efficiency or common sense as a primary goal or concern.
27182818284 13y ago
>Really? Seems a bit unnecessary to take the spot completely out of action because the meter is broken. Yes, it does. Seems a bit unnecessary for the US to spend more than the next 20 countries combined in military, but the government doesn't always do the necessary part well.