So a couple weeks ago I had a dentist appointment. I was in the truck this particular day and my dentist is located in down town State College, which means that parking is always a challenge.
For those of you that don't know Jim's truck has a light bar on top and several antennas. He doesn't like me to park in the parking garage because he is afraid it is too tall to clear it. Well the truck can clear it, but it makes a loud bonking noise and I cringe and go real slow every time I go under a beam.
Anyway, back to my story. So I park on the street this particular day. I am usually running behind or just right on the button. I have both boys in tow. I put all the change I have in my wallet in the meeter. Now mind you that parking is $0.75 per hour. It takes us a little longer inside the Dentist and I have a parking ticket when I return for $5.00. If you pay within 30 minutes they will discount your fine to $2.50.
Well I have 2 boys with me and the thought of driving to the muncipal building, finding another parking spot and hoping not to get another ticket because I am out of change is just not worth it. Plus add to that unbuckling and waiting in line inside that I decide I will pay the $5 and be done with. So I take my ticket home and put it in the bill pile.
So Jim goes to pay the bill and reads the fine print. If you wait more than 5 whole DAYS to pay your ticket it jumps to $25!!! Can you believe it, $25 for parking too long in a parking space??!! So I tell Jim, just send them $5 and see if they bother to ask for the whole amount or are just happy to get their money.
The mail came today with a letter telling me to please pay the remaining $20 along with the notice that "Failure to do so may cause issuance of a citation with the District Justice yielding additional fines and court costs." Do you think they would really take me to court over $20? The costs involved would be more than $20.
So what do you think do I complain to the Borough of State College, write a letter to the editor about the draconian and confiscatory fees for patronizing a business, act like the letter never arrived or just buck up and pay the $20.
2 comments:
Oh boy, don't you love government? I think you should either complain directly to the authorities referenced in the letter (see if you can talk them into forgiving the $20), or just pay the twenty dollars. I had a friend who spent the night in jail because he never took care of a traffic citation...
First, there are only a few inches between the top of the lightbar and the truck so yes I am cautious depending on the garage being entered. Second, I contacted the borough and they reduced the fine to $10.
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