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It’s time for a Chicago Parking Meter Revolt


Chicago, IL—I got a rude surprise the other day when I went to lunch with a delightful Belgium actress. We went to an old hangout, R.J. Grunts near Clark Street and Dickens Ave. I did not know about the new pay stations and there were none in sight.

I parked and we had a nice lunch. When I returned I discovered that some civilian issued my borrowed Hummer two computer-generated citations. I also failed to notice that the vehicle I was driving was missing a front license plate. I was sandbagged and became an extortion victim to the tune of $110.00.

Because of this crappy experience I have purchased my last meal in Chicago, ever. I will only dine in the suburbs from now on. I won’t shop or buy gasoline in that city. Chicago won’t get a dime from me ever again.

If I had any free time at all I would have destroyed as many parking pay stations as I could for sweet revenge. I know my cop friends have no interest in catching anyone destroying these devices that are strangling everyone with excessive fees and draconian enforcement.

The machines are there for one reason, corruption.   In days gone by getting seats in popular restaurants at noon was a challenge. Not anymore because, like me the former customers have little interest in supporting crooked politicians and their friends.

 I’m so glad I don’t live in Chicago anymore.
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Comments

Anonymous said…
I hear you, Paul, but not even Billy Goat'S??
July 14, 2012 7:16 PM
Anonymous said…
My girlfriend and I had somewhat similar experiences. I had a car towed for a street cleaning every 3rd Tuesday of the month (or something like that) even though the sign I might possibly have seen was gone (didn't matter they told me, there was one up the block) and they didn't even clean the street. My girlfriend went to a friends near Wrigley field on a game night and had a valid parking permit in her window but was ticketed anyhow and even lost a phone hearing, how ridiculous is that. Those were the last times either of us drove into the city and we avoid the place as much as possible and now with all the out of control crime I have no desire to visit the city I grew up in and was so fond of. The place is a dump and I hope the businesses are smart enough to get the hell out of there before it's to late.
July 14, 2012 7:39 PM
Anonymous said…
As big as a PITA paying a ticket on a vehicle you own is, you have no idea how FN difficult it is pay a ticket on a vehicle that you do not own. My understanding is they want written authorization that you have the right to pay the ticket! What is wrong with "Here is my money, I want to pay this ticket" and be done with it.

No. They want you to miss the deadline so they can double the fine and threaten your credit rating.
July 14, 2012 10:31 PM
Anonymous said…
They've declared war on anyone wanting to enjoy themselves or work in Chicago who dares to own a automobile. The speed cameras are coming at the end of the year which will be another attack on your wallet. This city and their arrogant lust for peoples money at any cost will backfire on them in the long run as more and more refuse to do any type of business in Chicago out of fear for being fleeced out of what little money they have left. Revolt Now!
July 15, 2012 12:40 AM
Anonymous said…
I've been bringing my business out to the suburbs for years now. I very rarely spend any time or money in Chicago anymore. I can't wait to retire and move out of this city as well.
July 15, 2012 5:26 AM
Anonymous said…
Paul, I'm with you. Eleven years ago I bought my "retirement home" on the far northwest side of Chicago. It was a nice neighborhood comprised mainly of cops, firemen and teachers. I thought that it would never change and that I could live there in retirement until the end. But then Daley and now Emanuel started messing with the law abiding,middle class tax payers like me. First it was raising my water bill. Then it was Department of Revenue workers walking around my neighborhood late at night looking for parking violations or city sticker violations. Then they reduced the manpower in 016 from over three hundred Officers to under two hundred. Then they installed red light cameras which I like but not for the reasons they were installed. Then they announced speed cameras were coming. Old 9.5 wanted them installed because of the, ahem, "epidemic" of crashes around schools. He wanted them "for the children". I was on the job for thirtyone years and that was the first I ever heard of an epidemic of crashes around schools. The City Council rebelled as best as they could for such a corrupt entity because Emanuel wanted them to run from dawn to dusk. He compromised and then ruduced their operating times. But then one of his staffers mistakenly leaked the fact that Emanuel was going to reduce the speed limit on city streets from thirty to twenty mph. So he was going to zing us anyway. That was it. I put my "retirement home" on the market and moved to Wisconsin. I love it. No more Daleys, Emanuels, corrupt Aldermen, no marauding gangs of young black men, just me, the wife, silence and an occassional deer or turkey. THEY forced me out. I didn't want to leave but I realized things were never going to change and that I was going to lose the battle with these idiots.
I know three other coppers that are in the process of doing just what I did. I suspect more will follow. And that's a damns shame because people like Daley, Emanuel and the criminals that seem to pillage and plunder at will with no repercussions are responsible for turning what was once a great city into another Detroit.
July 15, 2012 6:09 AM
Anonymous said…
What a great post!!! So true!!!
July 15, 2012 6:43 AM
Anonymous said…
Paul, you are so right. This City is nothing more than a Socialist-Run Cabal of Shakedown Artists screwing anyone they can 24-7. We need more than a parking Meter Revolt, we need a Tax Revolt and a revolt at the Ballot Box this November.

KUTGW [KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK]
July 15, 2012 6:12 PM
Anonymous said…
The only time I buy anything in the city is if I happen to notice I am low on gas. Then I buy just enough to get me out of the city and fill up. 95%+ of the cops and firefighers I talk to can not wait to get the hell out of the city forever. Crime getting worse taxes going up freedoms restricted more and more. Chicago will be the next Detroit.
July 16, 2012 3:22 PM
Anonymous said…
You guys will love this one. My wife and I deciided to go to the lake front at 31st beach. I've been going here for 40 years and part foist has been turned into a big parking lot. Now I see lots of corona and tequila bottles also 40 oz beer bottles. Anyway,we pay for two hours and ride our bikes . We only stayed an hour and decided to go to Kozys bike shop on des plains and Taylor. We get a spot rightout I front of the store. We had an hour left on our parking stub. We come out of the storetofind some dumb ass giving me a ticket. It old himi have time on my stub. He looks at me like the baboon he is and says that is only for the park district. So now you will need to buy two Stubbs. It took everything in my power not to crack this idiot.
August 03, 2012 10:49 AM
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