San Francisco...parking fees hiked! Slew of new meters for Bay area...

Smart meter!

Yesterday morning, I tossed on my jeans and a t-shirt, laced up my sneakers, and sprinted down the street for my morning cup of java.

An article about parking fees - on the front page of the Examiner - caught my eye.

OMG!

The feature jogged my memory.

I forgot to move my car out of a "no parking" zone.

In a scant few minutes, a street-cleaner would be cursing me out loud, and a snarling meter maid would be careening up to the curb to slap a parking violation on the windshield of my beloved SUV.

Ouch!

So, I passed on the brew, and streaked down the street to alter destiny.

Whew! 

Mission accomplished.

As to the report in the Examiner, well, it wasn't good news for locals (or tourists either).

A proposed hike in meter fees - estimated to rustle up a million or so bucks a year - may be given the green light.

But, there are other changes on the horizon that may turn the bay area into a battle zone.

When it comes to parking, at least!

For instance, parking hours may be extended to Sunday in five highly-trafficked neighborhoods.

And, approximately 5400 snazzy new meters will be installed, with state-of-the-art features designed to reduce congestion, step up occupancy, and facilitate easy pay.

A pilot program (90 days in length) may test the waters to determine the impact (negative or positive) on a proposed plan to extend hours at Fisherman's Wharf.

Slated changes:  9 p.m. on week-days; 12 midnight on week-ends.

Pretty soon, folks will be paying toll fees through the nose to travel along city streets!

Google will be right there to map out the routes.

http://www.thetattler.biz

Parking Meters...new-fangled money-grabbing devices! Solar-powered in West Hollywood...

Parking Meters are big business today.

Years ago, drivers simply plopped their quarters into the slot - roughly calculated what to pay - then trundled on down the street.

It was a common site to witness a business man excusing himself from an interview to hastily run outside to plug some coins into the slot before the meter maid careened outside to a screeching stop.

Yes, many of us had to rely on the honesty of the Sheriff, if we wanted to avoid a ticket.

I witnessed an amusing scene one day when I went into a courtroom to contest a downed sign in Malibu.

When an elderly man's name was called out by the Bailiff, he shuffled up to the podium.

By his posture, it was quite evident that he was ready to do battle with the Judge.

When he barked out that the meter had 3 minutes on it, the Judge surprised everyone with her sympathetic response.

"Sir, if you came all the way down here and say there were three minutes left on the meter, I believe you. Case dismissed."

Everyone in the courtroom was ecstatic.

Maybe the rest of us would luck out, too.

In the old days, a driver could cruise around the neighbourhood looking for a meter that had not expired, scoot right into the spot, and save a few pennies.

Not nowadays!

In recent years, City Officials have introduced a new-fangled meter that has the capacity to issue tickets for the whole block. So, instead of a number of unsightly meters blotting the landscape, there is just one aesthetically-pleasing meter with a computer that prints a ticket according to the time-frame specified.


Unfortunately, this means there are no more free rides.

Also, the ticketing process is a whole lot more efficient.



Citizens can no longer play fast and loose and hope that the Meter Maid may be on lunch break.

In fact, I understand that the nifty little machine emits a signal that indicates when the time has expired. Chances are, parkers will only have a precious second or two to dawdle with, before the parking attendant dashes up with ticket book in hand.

West Hollywood and Beverly Hills recently unveiled a new meter known as FlexPay.

The state-of-the-art meters incorporate cutting-edge technology that provide convenient solutions such as ease of payment with a credit card. The system uses the same encryption technology that is used by banks and other financial institutions.

And, the meters are solar-powered.

What will they think of next?

Parking signs that transmit their restrictions telephathically to the driver?

If you want to avoid all this money-grubbing business, take the bus!