Another Parking Meter FAIL

By Marcus Gilmer in News on May 27, 2009 6:00PM

Blame it on the rain? Those new parking meter boxes that are all the rage downtown have now decided to stop working. Many of the boxes, including several near City Hall, ceased working today, forcing the police to declare a moratorium on parking tickets, according to the Chicago Tribune. City Budget Department spokesman Pete Scales told the Trib that the problem was affecting 125 of the 556 pay boxes: "They are telling us all the repairs will be made by the afternoon."

Juan Salazar of Chicago forked over $3.50 in quarters on the 300 block of West Randolph Street at about 9:10 a.m. before going to the Daley Center to address a porch violation ticket.

"I put money in, but it didn't give me a receipt," Salazar said. "Another lady called them but didn't get an answer."

Salazar then went to other boxes on nearby blocks to see if he could get a receipt, but he couldn't find a working box.

Like many who parked in the Loop today, he placed a note on his dash stating that the meter system wasn't working.

Another customer told the Trib she called the operator number listed on the box and was told she could park there for up to two hours for free due to the ongoing problems. Under the city's current billion dollar privatization agreement, these boxes would replace the old school single meters by 2011.

I, for one, welcome our new malfunctioning pay box overlords