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What next, making sense in the drivel zone?

By BILL STEVENS
Published February 5, 2007

I just made another contribution to Washington, D.C.'s treasury, and I can't tell you how good it makes me feel.

It was either that or face the prospect of some guy named Rocko knocking on my door.

Confession time. Yes, I admit it. I blew off that ticket in July. Ditto for the warnings the district sent me to pay up. Twenty bucks turned into $55 before I finally decided the capital must really need the money.

So, under protest, here it comes.

Normally I wouldn't drive up to Washington. Who wants to have a car in that mess? Besides, the Metro is convenient and safe.

But Daughter No. 1 had just moved into an apartment near Dupont Circle and needed most every furnishing. So we loaded up the red Honda.

Daughter No. 2 had just taken an internship with U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, so one day we took a ride over to visit her.

I was surprised to find a parking space within easy walking distance of the Capitol. Several quarters into the meter gave us two hours.

We returned to the car just as the time expired. It was such a convenient location, we added more quarters and went across the street to the National Botanical Gardens.

This time when we returned to the car, there was still plenty of time on the meter. But stuck beneath the windshield wiper was this little love note from the district police.

How can you get a parking ticket when there is still time on the meter, you ask?

There were no immediate explanations. The next day I took the ticket into a police substation and a rather unfriendly woman said it is a violation to add money to the meter. You have a two-hour limit in those spaces, she said, unimpressed that we insisted there were no signs to that effect.

Not to brag, but this was the second parking ticket for me in as many trips to Washington, D.C. The other was for parking in a No Standing Zone.

Yes, No Standing.

I couldn't believe my good fortune to find a parking spot next to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. The cop who wrote the $75 ticket explained that No Standing meant this: Not only can't you park here, you can't even stop here.

Imagine how confusing this must be to somebody who doesn't speak English.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. I keep telling myself that.

Just like I keep telling myself this: I will never, ever drive another vehicle in Washington, D.C.

Tell us your story

Crazy tickets

Share your own story about a ticket you felt was ridiculous. We'll publish the best. You can send them to North Suncoast editor Bill Stevens at stevens@sptimes.com.

[Last modified February 4, 2007, 21:21:38]