Friday, July 23, 1999
New quarters sometimes get parkers in trouble
BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
First the rates doubled for Cincinnati's downtown parking meters. Now you can get a ticket even if you plunk down the right number of quarters in the meter.
The problem: the new quarters that debuted earlier this year. They are lighter than the old ones and do not always register in the meters. (All 50 states will eventually redesign the “tails” side of the quarter under a program to promote the history of each state. The U.S. Mint plans to issue Ohio's coin in 2002.)
When Tony Weissmann of Franklin faced his third parking ticket in two months Thursday at the Hamilton County Courthouse, he whipped out his cellular phone and brought the problem to the attention of Cincinnati officials from the scene of the problem at Court and Main streets.
“The first two times I thought I was losing my mind,” said Mr. Weissmann, 40, a former South Fairmount Community Council member.
Mr. Weissmann was at the courthouse Thursday for a trial in which he was the victim in a head-on collision in October. Before entering the courthouse, he fed the meter more than $3 — beyond the required amount — to make sure he wasn't the source of the problem.
Though city officials have told Mr. Weissmann — who works in the Franklin safety director's office — his $14 ticket will be canceled, others are reporting the same problem.
“I'm probably getting five complaints a week, which is not a serious problem,” said Jerry Schnieders, assistant parking meter supervisor.
Parking officials began changing the rates July 8. Rates in the central business district, for example, increased from 50 cents to $1 per hour. Revenue from the higher rates is expected to help pay for construction of garages.
City Council's decision to replace the city's 6,700 meters is expected to end the problem with the new quarters. That process should begin in about two months. What happens until then?
“We'll just keep checking the complaints,” Mr. Schnieders said. Parkers who receive a citation because of a malfunctioning meter can call a number on the back of the citation.
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