New Haven Independent

Posted by: Gville Gfly | January 30, 2007 2:49 PM

Just yesterday my husband and I parked on Temple Street near the library and Yale U. Press and the meter did not register the two quarters we put in. I was quite peeved because I figured with my luck, we'd get a ticket even though we'd tried to be honorable. We lacked pen and paper to write "broken meter" (does that ever make a difference anyhow?) which somehow made it more galling. We took care of business and left before anything happened but even so... I hate the parcxmart cards and if coins don't register... grrrrr....

Posted by: Michael Looney | January 30, 2007 4:04 PM

Yep, I've had this happen to me several times. I parked on Church Street along the Green the other morning to go to a short meeting, and one of my quarters didn't register. I've also had it happen at meters on other streets, too. It usually seems to happen when I'm in a hurry and I put two or more quarters into the meter in quick succession. Maybe the meter just needs time to "digest" the first quarter :) In any case, I'm probably out a couple of bucks so far. Obviously, it's not too big a deal for a single person, but if its happening to everybody, those quarters will add up.

Posted by: Christine | January 30, 2007 4:59 PM

I can tell you this happens to me everyday in Hartford where one quarter gets you 10-minutes. I've even appealed several tickets that were given to me before the meter had run out. One was overturned but one was not. I used my digital camera to document the blatant disregard for those who do business in the city. I don't think New Haven is unique when it comes to parking meter problems although I don't know that its a scam either. I think the meters are old and when this happens I call the number on the meter and report it so if my time does run out I don't get a ticket. Just document the disparity and phone it into the parking authority. Hartford has a unique situation in that it has outsourced the parking meter job to a third-party contractor, that also happens to lease parking lot space in the city, so when they give a ticket there's motive to drive people into their parking lots for profit. AARRRGGGGHHHH!

Posted by: John Strauss | January 30, 2007 5:31 PM

It's absolutely true. It happens all the time. (and thanks for your great website, I read it every day (even when it's not changed)).

Sincerely,

John Strauss

Posted by: Matt | January 30, 2007 5:52 PM

This has also happened to me, both around Broadway and Whitney and Trumbull area. It is extremely annoying.

Posted by: gary | January 30, 2007 6:19 PM

This happened to me all the time at New Haven parking meters. Now, since I bought a hybrid, I have a green park pass and don't need to feed the meter any more. What a relief!

Posted by: nfjanette | January 30, 2007 8:52 PM

I've experienced this scam in both New Haven and Hartford. Amazingly, when I reported the meter in Hartford, it was checked and in good "operating condition". What a surprise.

Posted by: guest | January 30, 2007 9:50 PM

Oh god, don't ask if it is true. You know it is true. Everybody who uses the meters knows it is true.

Posted by: guest | January 30, 2007 9:51 PM

Oh god, don't ask if it is true. You know it is true. Everybody who uses the meters knows it is true. They probably got the idea from hanging out at the slot machines at Mohegan or Foxwoods

Posted by: guest | January 30, 2007 9:58 PM

To Michael- I have tried fast and slow, soft and hard. It doesn't matter. They steal money.

To Christine-- these are brand new meters they just installed all over town. The old ones failed to register a coin once in a blue moon. These new ones. I am running 1 out of about 4 times. I use the meters in New Haven every day.

Posted by: guest | January 30, 2007 10:00 PM

These new meters are either defective through manufacturing or design negligence OR because they were manufactured by Boss Tweed Inc.

Posted by: guest | January 30, 2007 10:04 PM

Regarding the cards you can use instead of coins. If city wanted to, they could use the card to track wherever you have parked, which seems to me an invasion of privacy. It is just more data collection. Each card has identifying info on it. No the purpose, but its not the purpose of a lot of things used by government.n

Posted by: Esbe | January 30, 2007 11:01 PM

The Parcxmart card (or however you spell it) works fine for me and you don't need a pocket-full of change. It isn't very fast and sometimes it doesn't fit in the slot correctly the first time, but it has never outright failed the way actual quarters often do.

Posted by: dee | January 31, 2007 1:39 AM

Happens all the time. These new meters are a joke, and those cards are a complete pain, and often don't work themselves.

Why did they stop selling the 2-hour vouchers? That low-tech device was the most accurate of all.

Posted by: Cedar Hill Resident | January 31, 2007 10:13 AM

It happens to the people in front of my office on Chapel Street. We alway give them a sign to hang on this one meter.

Posted by: Leslie Blatteau | January 31, 2007 11:02 AM

Have a nickel handy to feed the meter first, because it will steal your first coin or two. What a scam. The parking lot next to the Doodle and Tyco is cheaper than meter parking on the street. Also, the 12 hour meters are still 25 cents for 15 minutes, rather than a mere 12 minutes. Why doesn't the city let Taft Cosmetics sell vouchers? They are just dying to give out those tickets.

Posted by: pissed off... | January 31, 2007 1:00 PM

worst still is the fact that if you dispute the ticket with proof, the only response will be that the meter was found to be in working condition and payment is due within five or so days. What is the point of have parking meters if they dont work. Why not just charge 15 dollars a day to park on city streets, thats what it amounts to. I have had my car towed from in front of my house for parking on the wrong side of the street after the november street cleaning notice clearly stops in november. I took photos as it was being towed and challenged the tow and ticket...the photos clearly indicated that there was no notice informing residents of the cleaning, and I sent it with a two page statement of proof. Two weeks later I recieved a letter stating " you have been found in violation of the traffic ordinances..." Not for nothing, but dont I get taxed enough without getting the shake down from traffic and parking...I work hard for my money, I cant give anymore, stop robbing me...

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | January 31, 2007 5:03 PM

Google In The New York City Parking Violation Scandal Of 1986 And You Will Find your Answer.

Posted by: Michael | February 1, 2007 5:30 PM

Yes, it happens, but I have found that, when you hit the meter BEFORE you put your money in, it registers the first coin - and it's good therapy anyway. The meter just is not awake yet.