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pancakeNate t1_izooprc wrote

I saw cops ticketing around the cherry blossoms one morning, in a zone marked by some "no parking during these times but not these other times" signs. A large family (probably Indian, based on their dress and accents, not exactly relevant except for their ability to decipher the qualified sign) showed up and pulled in to park in what looked like an open spot, which was in the middle of a bunch of other people parked illegally. As they started getting out, I warned them that there was a cop nearby who was ticketing all the cars. That cop heard me, then proceeded to berate & tell me off for warning them about the ticket. It was shocking. He'd rather have written that family a ticket than have them just follow the rules when told.

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cptjeff t1_izot95v wrote

> He'd rather have written that family a ticket than have them just follow the rules when told.

Because the primary point of all of these rules is revenue.

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invalidmail2000 t1_izotxgn wrote

It's definitely not.

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cptjeff t1_izou668 wrote

Then why does every city agency behave exactly as if it is?

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this_shit t1_izpfak7 wrote

Used to live in DC, live in Philly now. Parking enforcement is a critical public service. Without it your city will turn into Philly: people park on the crosswalks, they park on the sidewalk. They park on people's private yards. They will turn the center lane of wide boulevards into a parking lane. They will double and triple park on the sidewalk. They will park in the single traffic lane of small streets. The sheer obstruction of cars in Philly is at a critical mass.

This is all because our parking enforcement agency restricts itself to enforcement in metered/permitted zones and literally ignores everywhere else. The police won't touch parking enforcement with a 10' pole.

The out of control parking is significantly diminishing quality of life. Some streets you have to walk in the road to get around cars parked on the sidewalk.

Effective parking enforcement is a critical public service.

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NPRjunkieDC t1_izotb5p wrote

They probably work on commission. His reaction is proof

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invalidmail2000 t1_izou331 wrote

Literally no police or any parking enforcement officers anywhere in or around DC work on commission.

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NPRjunkieDC t1_izoubk5 wrote

Then why be so pushy? And say you're OK but then ticket you. They seem to take more pride in their work then other city employees

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invalidmail2000 t1_izouh3o wrote

I can't look into every person's brain to describe their actions.

I can tell you though they don't work on commission.

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