I got my first complaint.

[Andrew B.]

I might have mentioned this, but for those who haven't seen the thread, I am now a security guard at an outdoor mall nearby where I live. I don't do much other than emptying out parking meters and writing out tickets, but it's a fun job. Most of the SCs are people that I have to face directly, but I get a few that walk out right as the ticket is done printing.

On Wednesday, I got my first complaint about writing a ticket.

The players:

Me=
SC=
**=actions

*Goes about his business writing parking tickets, sees a car with an expired meter. Checks for a handicap tag or plate, sees none and starts writing a ticket. Finishes printing out ticket and places it under windshield wiper and goes on to the next car. SC comes out two minutes later.*

SC: Why did you ticket my car?
Me: You had an expired meter.
SC: If I just payed the meter right now, would you rip up the ticket?
Me: No, I am not allowed to do that.
SC: I'm not paying for this. Why couldn't you wait?
Me: Miss, if you have any complaints, call the number on this card. *hands her sup's card.
SC: *drives off*

I mentioned it to my sup today, he told me I did the right thing, and that there had been no complaints made afterwards.

I have a cool boss.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

Why couldn't she pop out 5 minutes earlier to feed the meter?

I always make note of what time my meter will go out, and go down there ten to fifteen minutes before hand to feed it. Then again... I've never parked at a metered space so long...

[PepperElf]

SC: I'm not paying for this. Why couldn't you wait?

I'd like to see how that one turns out for her. oh that's probably why she complained... because she did have to pay her valid ticket.

[Andrew B.]

I should note the Outdoor mall I work at is private property, the tickets don't go to the city, nor will they show up in any way, except on our computers. I know that last part because there is one person who has $115 dollars in tickets on his car, with the "fine" being $5/ticket.

[taxguykarl]

Congratulations on your first complaint. I'm sure you'll get plenty more in the years ahead.

[Jester]

Congratulations on your first complaint. I'm sure you'll get plenty more in the years ahead.

One day, if you work really hard enough, you might become LEGEND.

[LillFilly]

Oh, I miss ticket writing!

I had a guy offer me $20 to take the ticket back. The ticket was only $25; big savings! I bet you're going to have some GOOD stories. Wait till you get people arguing that if the car flashers are on then the car is not 'parked' it's 'sitting.'

[Andrew B.]

Thanks TGK and Jester. I probably won't have too many stories, but the ones I do have should be good.

[fireheart]

Oh, I miss ticket writing!

I had a guy offer me $20 to take the ticket back. The ticket was only $25; big savings! I bet you're going to have some GOOD stories. Wait till you get people arguing that if the car flashers are on then the car is not 'parked' it's 'sitting.'

Believe it or not, that's one of the excuses used by a lot of students at the uni. Along with variations such as if the engine is running, it's not "parked." (which is also illegal btw )

The uni actually made a list of the excuses they WOULDN'T accept.

This is the list.

They aren't kidding about what's on the list. There are HUGE signs about the size of my coffee table (and thats fairly big). Also, there are literally just over six thousand car parks on campus. You don't get pinged for a fine if you park somewhere before 9am or after 5pm and don't pay for a ticket either .

In terms of the short-term spaces, there are 2 types on campus: 4-hour and 8-hour. You cannot use 2 4-hour tickets in the 8-hour booth either.

[downforit2008]

Whenever I parked at one of those coin-fed meters, I made sure I did my business in enough time for how many minutes I had on the meter. In the several times I wouldn't be able to, I would excuse myself from whatever I was doing and run out with an extra 50-75 cents to feed the meter, which would get me another 30-40 minutes of time.

How hard would it be for other people to do the same? I never had a meter expire on me, so I never would have to throw a fit at the guy writing me the ticket, and even if one did expire on me, I would acknowledge it to be my fault and just pay the damn fine without complaint.

[Andrew B.]

Just yesterday, I had to explain to a woman that the meters are NOT OPTIONAL. Just because the money goes to charity doesn't mean that you don't have to pay. YOU pay for the premium parking, THE MALL gives the money to charity.

[KatherineB]

The 'parking' vs engine running thing has made me think: what is the actual difference between 'parking' and 'standing'? In Oz we have 'No parking' and 'No standing' signs (not sure about other countries, hence why I'm highlighting the difference). I was under the impression 'standing' was that the car has someone in the driver's seat but with the engine off.

And prompted by that, my other question is: would you ticket a 'parked' car that had a driver in it?

[Jester]

Standing has nothing to do with civilian vehicles. It's about taxis/cabs. They are usually allowed to "stand" at designated areas, where they can basically park and wait for fares. "No standing" means that taxis are strictly prohibiting from waiting for fares there.

[Pixilated]

Why couldn't she pop out 5 minutes earlier to feed the meter?

I always make note of what time my meter will go out, and go down there ten to fifteen minutes before hand to feed it. Then again... I've never parked at a metered space so long...

I've had meters expire for a variety of reasons -- once I had no change at all (damn this Age of Plastic!) so just resigned myself to the inevitable.

Feed ... the ... meter ... or ... get ... a ... ticket. It's not rocket science.

[KatherineB]

Standing has nothing to do with civilian vehicles. It's about taxis/cabs. They are usually allowed to "stand" at designated areas, where they can basically park and wait for fares. "No standing" means that taxis are strictly prohibiting from waiting for fares there.

Ah, interesting! Thanks!