Crazy Parking Rules

During a visit to downtown Hartford, Connecticut, wife Lois and I parked by the large park near the State Capital building. We were confused on parking rules. On the west side of the street, there was a kiosk where a parking permit could be purchased to be placed on the car dashboard. On the east side of the street, where we were trying to park, there were parking meters spaced at every third parking space. The meters cost $4 of quarters for two hours. There were no meters for the second and third parking spaces. There was a sign which said there was a two hour maximum parking time along the entire east side of the street. 

 

Since we were short quarters and getting change required walking several blocks in the 95 degree humid heat, it would be easier and cheaper to park in a space with no meters. That didn't make any sense. Having earned an $80 parking ticket in Georgetown many years ago after missing a cryptic sign that said no parking between 4:00 and 5:00 PM, we were skeptical of such a deal. So, we started to ask all the locals walking by on lunch break.

 

Everyone offered different advice--all conflicting. After talking to a handful of passers-by, I saw a car with Colorado plates parking in one of the "free slots." As the driver got out of his car, I ran up to him and said that I was from Colorado Springs. He said that he was also from the Springs. I asked him if where he was parking was free, and he said that his uncle had told him that it was.

 

I walked back to Lois and we received more conflicting opinions. Then a meter maid walked by. Someone who would know. She said that she only ticketed meters, but thought that the un-metered spaces were free. Nobody had told her why there was such a parking arrangement.

 

We needed to make a decision. We planned to tour the Capital, and thought that we need two hours. We only had ten quarters which we had by now pumped into the meter. So, we took the risk, leaving the meter with one hour and ten minutes showing and driving forward one space to a free zone.

 

We toured the Capital and returned to a car that had not been ticketed.