Story Published:
Jun 22, 2009 at 8:56 AM PDT
Story Updated:
Jun 22, 2009 at 6:54 PM PDT
SEATTLE -- $160,000.
That's how much Seattle has spent on some high-tech camera and software equipment that the city hopes will mean a lot more parking tickets for you and me.
We're not talking about overtime parking here. This is designed to catch people paying more than once to park in the same place.
It's simple -- a specially equipped police car cruises along the street taking pictures of your license plate and tires.
When the parking officer returns after a posted time limit, the cameras scan the street again.
If your car hasn't been moved, equipment in the police car starts beeping, and voila: You've got yourself a citation - even if you've come out and paid for more time.
Seattle officials don't care that you're willing to pay for the time you park. They want to make it clear you've over-stayed your welcome.
Of course the city insists it's not out to get us. The city says it would much rather prefer that people simply leave one parking space and go find another.
In a money-grubbing pigs eye, they're not out to get us.
The city will just have to find a way to console itself with all those extra $35 tickets it'll be writing.
Pretty damn nasty, if you ask me.
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