The Parking Meter Revolt Rolls On?
Recently, it seemed that the initial fury and furor over the parking meter rates had diminished.
It was as if, after initially boiling over with concerted physical attacks and vandalism of parking meters, emotions had diminished to a slow simmer. It seemed that the meter vandalism had ceased.
Then again, perhaps not.
It’s obviously evident that less cars are parking at meters.
Large swaths of metered thoroughfares seem virtually vacant at times, when just weeks ago, before the rate increases, the meters were filled with cars.
But was is less evident and harder to spot is out and out vandalism of parking meters.
Over the course of the past few weeks, readers have sent us more photos of vandalized meters, and we’ve come across them as well.
Meters clogged with expanding foam and super glue, stolen meter heads, and parking meters knocked over by cars.
One reader, named Gary, whom sent the photo of the bent meter, when asked if they thought it was the result of vandalism stemming from the meter rate increases said, “All I can tell you that this meter was straight a few days ago, but after the rates went up, I found this meter like this.”
“I have been noticing 2 things,” said one PEA I spoke to on the street when asked about the broken meters he’s been observing. “A. it has been an even mixture of vandalized and normal failed ones. B. there is a lot more parking spaces open now.”
Others are taking more passive and creative approaches to their protest, by covering meters up with fabric and using markers to express their outrage.
Whatever the case, this meter rebellion or revolt, or whatever you would like to call it, continues to roll on.
Despite multiple phone calls to Chicago Parking Meters, LLC, no one from CPM returned our calls to comment.
If you see a vandalized parking meter, snap a photo, send it to The Expired Meter and we’ll publish it.
Please e-mail your photos to: tips@theexpiredmeter.com














The Meters are being pulled for Pay Boxes.
Oh…the Pay Boxes have a CCTV System inside that monitors all activity in front of it and to a 90 degree angle according to the LAZ people.
In addition….
Do the drivers a favor….
when we see a meter that is bagged….if its working and not broken…….we record the plate number and the car goes on a CPD watch list.
And if the meter is expired….we still ticket the car.
I can’t tell you how much I hope this vandalism continues. I got a ticket on a meter that took all of my quarters, but didn’t give me time for each quarter. $50 ticket for a meter that I paid. And because it gave me some time, the meter appeared to be in working order.
I am not usually one to agree with vandalism, but when a private company can lease public property and take away fair use, it’s gone too far and it’s time to fight back.
In the last week, I have twice driven into the city to meet friends for dinner and ended up leaving (and thus not spending my money at local businesses) due to not having enough money for the meters.
I also got a ticket for $50. Just a few minutes after it expired the cop swooped down on it like a vulture. Is there a way to contests these bogus tickets? How can the city justify this robbery of the common person?
Lani-
How would it be a bogus ticket? Unfortunately for you, it was an expired meter. There’s no grace period. Either you were in violation or you weren’t.