Monthly Archives: May 2010
Ask The Parking Ticket Geek
Hello Mr. Geek,
This morning I pulled over to the side of a residential street by my house to get a newspaper.
Though it is only 3 blocks away from my residence, it is a different residential zone permit.
I left my car running, got out, walked to the corner, read the sign, and then walked back to my car. There was a “meter maid” writing me a ticket after I had left my car for less than a minute.
It was as if she materialized from the ether, because she came out of nowhere.
She finished writing the ticket, took a picture of my city sticker, and handed me the ticket. She was very rude in her demeanor and comments. What is the best way to contest this unfair ticket?
Any suggestions?
Alan
Ride Of Silence Honors Chicago’s Fallen Cyclists
Event A Solemn Reminder To Share The Road, Drive Safely
On one side of the wrought iron fence, that separates Damen Ave. from one of the three baseball diamonds at Hamlin Park, young children practice fielding ground balls and running bases.
On the other side of the black fence a women’s bike, painted completely white and locked to a light pole, stands as a silent tribute to the life of Liza Whitacre.
It’s at this spot where 20-year old Whitacre fell underneath a truck while riding on October 21, was run over and killed.
Whitacre’s bike is one of five ghost bike memorials that will be visited by several hundred fellow bike riders this evening during the Chicago Ride of Silence.
iSpotSwap Finds Drivers Open Parking Spots
By Diana Novak
Chicagoans know it.
Finding an open parking spot can be a real pain in the butt.
Especially in congested parts of the city.
But now, a new phone application called iSpotSwap, may let you locate street parking spots from the comfort of your iPhone.
This free app, billed as a “parking social network,” uses your location, contacts list or an entered address to search for available parking spots close by. Once found, you can “watch” the spot from your phone, and your phone will let you know if its “free” status changes. The app can also let you know when other spots will free up with color-coded pins on a map of the area you are looking at.
ALERT!: Cubs Night Games Tonight & Tomorrow
Heads up drivers!
Wrigleyville parking chaos this evening and tomorrow evening courtesy of two back to back Cubs night games.
Our lovable Cubbies take on Colorado starting at 7:05.
However, parking restrictions kick in at 5 PM.
Cops and parking enforcement aides will be issuing tickets and tow trucks will be whisking away vehicles not displaying the proper permits.
Illinois Drivers Face Late Night Seat Belt Crackdown
Study Shows Late Night Hours Deadliest For Drivers
Buckle up drivers!
Illinois state troopers and local law enforcement will be cracking down on safety belt scofflaws in advance of Memorial Day by singling out late night drivers.
The state’s annual Click It Or Ticket campaign officially kicked into gear last Thursday and continues through the Memorial Day holiday–a traditionally extra busy time on Illinois highways. But this year, law enforcement is going to concentrate on enforcing seat belt compliance during night time hours with safety belt checkpoints.
The reason is, a recent Illinois Department of Transportation study shows most fatal car crashes not only occurred from midnight to 3 AM, but this high incidence of death is most likely because those same hours show the lowest compliance rate for buckling up.
Foreign Consulates Get Parking Perks
Talk about getting the parking hookup.
If you happen to work for a foreign consulate you can essentially get reserved street parking right in front of the consulate offices.
Often, these spots are in ultra-prime downtown areas right off Michigan Ave. The photo above, from the Chilean Consulate, is located in Lincoln Park off of Clybourn.
According to Brian Steele from the Chicago Dept. of Transportation, consulate parking requests normally come through the city’s Office of International Relations.
That department will reach out to the local alderman who will introduce an ordinance in the city council. When approved, CDOT will put up the signs.
Happy Birthday Parking Meter!
2010 Marks 75th Birthday For Hated Invention
The parking meter was born today, May 13th, in 1935.
Huzzah!
Or at least the idea for the parking meter was conceived today in 1935.
Carl C. Magee, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, filed for a patent for a “coin controlled parking meter” on May 13, 1935.
It would take just over three years before Magee was issued a patent for his accursed contraption.
Magee invented the parking meter with the help of Gerald A. Hale and Professor H.G. Thuesen of Oklahoma State University.
Aren’t you glad you now know the name of the evil genius that has enraged countless motorists for the past 75 years? Now you can curse him and damn him by name.
O’Hare Traffic Aide Pinched For $10 Bribe
Ten bucks?
A measly $10?
According to a Sun-Times report, that’s the paltry bribe a Chicago traffic control aide stationed at O’Hare Airport allegedly asked for and received for not issuing a driver a parking ticket on Monday.
Street Cleaning Warning Services In RedEye
Our friends over at StopTheBroomNow.com and StopParkingTickets.com got a nice write up in the RedEye today.
Both street cleaning e-mail/text alert services were spotlighted as a good way to make drivers who park on the street don’t forget about the big blue street sweeper that’s coming their way.
Perhaps I’m suffering from a double-case of deja’ vu, but somehow I thought I read something about these two services somewhere before. Nah, I must be imagining it.
For between $8 to $9.99 for the entire street sweeping season, it’s hard not to think the fee is a more than reasonable investment or insurance policy against the chance of picking up a $50 parking ticket.
Here’s RedEye’s full story, “Avoid parking tickets via email alerts.”
iPhone App Helps Drivers Find Best Parking Prices
By Diana Novak
Don’t get us wrong.
Parking in Chicago is still going to gouge you, but maybe now you can get a little less gouged.
iPhone users searching for parking in Chicago, will definitely appreciate a new app that allows you to find parking from wherever you’re located.
