Comments on: Feeding the meter v. risking a ticket: which is a better investment?

By: Steven Rosenberg

Steven Rosenberg — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 04:30:00 +0000

In L.A., feed the meter. They’re watching you.

By: Naomi

Naomi — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:39:35 +0000

if I’m going to be close to the meter, I figure out a realistic estimate of the time I need, & then set an alarm on my phone to remind me 5-10 minutes before the meter will run out…
I you’ won’t be close to the meter, I always estimate the time I need, generously, but realistically….
It’s like an insurance policy against getting a ticket…

By: Roundup for 1/22/10 | Saving Money Today

Roundup for 1/22/10 | Saving Money Today — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:13:49 +0000

[...] The BargainBabe calculates which is the better investment…feeding the meter or risking a ticket. [...]

By: strayers

strayers — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:26:06 +0000

Yes, feed the meter, even if extra, but not for any of the reasons listed in the article or comments. Parking without paying is breaking the law, it is stealing. If you disagree, go on and just take the groceries without paying. You can drive off with the gas you didn’t pay for in the car you didn’t pay for on the streets you for which you didn’t pay taxes. Go on inside your home you stopped paying for and wash your hands in the water you’re stealing.
Inconvenience is no excuse for ignoring the law.
Set an alarm on your cell phone, unless or course you’re not paying for that either.
Who care why you didn’t pay the meter — just take the ticket and be happy we aren’t living in anarchy.
Sorry, BB. There’s no good reason to raise this question.
If you want to save money, walk to extra blocks from the cheap lot. Use the park-n-ride mass transit; just remember to pay for it.
Sometimes, doing the right thing is the most frugal thing to do. Don’t be cheap with your self-respect.
Anyway, I don’t thing anyone wants to read the ParkingPerp.com blog (doesn’t exist).
Sorry so preachy.

By: bargainbabe

bargainbabe — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:05:45 +0000

Famouz amos, good point. A lot of meters have been extended to 8 p.m. in Los Angeles. I even saw a meter in Hollywood that runs on Sundays. I suppose it makes sense – there is a budget shortfall, after all.

By: Famouz amos

Famouz amos — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:55:43 +0000

Be advised that most meters on Ventura Blvd are now extended from 6:00PM to 8:00 PM. this gives the meter maids TWO additional hours to get you.

By: EllieD

EllieD — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:07:47 +0000

I suspect your memory of the time you had a bad parking meter experience when you went to dinner with a friend some time ago, and suffered angst over whether you should have offered to share the cost of a parking ticket, is still with you. It’s usually better to be safe than sorry, and go without the worry of whether you’ll avoid a ticket if you under pay. I guess some lessons will always be learned the hard way.

By: Frugalista

Frugalista — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:42:39 +0000

It’s not worth the risk. It’s not just about getting the ticket. It’s easy to forget to pay the ticket on time, garnering fees and potentially a dent in the credit score. A lot of parking meters in South Florida allow you to use credit cards, which works out perfectly.

By: di

di — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:32:17 +0000

why chance it? I got a ticket in OC one time, on the weekend, in the beach parking area $77, it was a stupid idea to think I could get away with no pay. Meter maids probably have a competition to see how many tickets they can hand out.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:30:38 +0000

I tend to overfeed the meter. I would rather give up a few cents each time I use the meter than being upset the few times I get the parking ticket (especially now that so many cities are increasing the cost of the tickets to increase revenue).

By: Maggie

Maggie — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:09:59 +0000

$50 downtown. Got one last week, even though I had a 15-minute down period between (unexpected additional) city meetings and totally forgot to go & feed. I’ve been lucky about the last 6-7 times, so I guess I was due for some bad parking karma, but ouch! At least in Santa Monica it’s only $35…underpay there, NOT downtown!!

By: May

May — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:00:49 +0000

I put enough money in the meter at the beginning. I am NEVER stressed about time. That in itself is worth an extra quarter.

By: elizabeth b tucker

elizabeth b tucker — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:59:17 +0000

I hate tickets and when we lived in west L.A. we would get tickets all the time, especially in Brentwood. I finally would stock the cars with rolls of quarters to avoid the no change problem. I cut our tickets by about 98%. A HUGE savings. And as important, the peace of mind of having money in the meter was incalculable. .25 is a small price to pay for calm.

By: JUNIE

JUNIE — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:56:03 +0000

Parking tickets are in the $50 range in Berkeley, California and the meter maids are diligent…

By: Mira

Mira — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:28:51 +0000

In Long Beach, tickets are $44!!
It takes ALOT of extra coins pumped in to get to that amount! (Like 660!! 440 nickels + 220 dimes!) Don’t chance it.

I find I don’t need to add 45 extra minutes, even 12 or 15 extra minutes gives a nice cushion — depends on what you’re doing that day.