Today was not a good day financially.It also wasn’t the best day for my cold feet.
The $176 Ticket Story
Once a week I volunteer for a few hours in downtown Seattle. I’ve been doing it since the summer, and I really enjoy giving a little back. Most of my day is spent stewing over my own little world and my problems. It’s terribly selfish. If I could volunteer full time I totally would. Maybe some day. Helping others always puts my own little problems (well, big problems. everything is relative you know) in perspective.
I usually take the bus, but was up late last night and wanted a few extra zzz’s so I drove. Not usually a problem, just that I have to pay extra for parking. Well, today I forgot my wallet at home. And my cell phone. So, I risk parking without paying. It’s usually about a 50/50 shot of getting a ticket, but with no wallet and me running late, I really had no choice. So, I park.
4 hours later, I come back to my car expecting to see a possible ticket.
Nothing.
No ticket. No car.
No car. “oh bleep!”
My Car is gone…
So, I’m now stuck downtown with no wallet, no cash, no car, and no cell phone. Anyway, to make a long story a bit shorter: I got home eventually. I found a Bank of America branch that didn’t ask for my ID (just my social security number) to access my account (even though I didn’t even know my account number!). So, I got $20 out and took the bus home. Later in the evening I took the bus downtown (which I should have done in the morning!) to pick up my car from the impound.
Result: $176 impound charge.
Who’s Fault?
100% completely mine. I had 4 unpaid tickets from earlier in the summer…and that’s why I got towed. I should have taken care of them, but they got moved to the bottom of my priority list in terms of payments. I have to get rid of this car…it’s just not worth it. Plus, I’m really enjoying my “bus-time”. I’ve been coming up with great ideas and thoughts while riding the bus. I need “creative-time” and don’t seem to be getting enough of it lately. I may just start riding the bus for an hour or two at a time to “think”.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
This happens to the best of us. I got charged $250 and change the last time I was too tired when I drove home from work and I parked in my neighbor’s space instead of mine. She must have had me towed in the next 2 hours.
I started riding the bus every day several months ago, and I’ve come to enjoy it. I work somewhere where the parking situation is poor (a hospital/university complex), so I think the bus often gets me home faster in the evening than a car could.
Ouch. That’s gotta hurt.
We’ve all done this. I think what I hate most is standing in line at the towing company thinking of all the things I would have spent that money on. I still have my car, but it’s 10 years old and paid off, and only gets driven when public transportation is not an option.
I don’t know if anyone had mentioned this before, but have you looked into the car sharing companies? You pay a small annual fee, then when you need a car you reserve one, pick it up from a nearby location and pay a very low mileage fee that includes insurance and gas. There are several, but I know that Flexcar has cars in Seattle. Might be a good solution for you.
happened to me on capitol hill. i parked all wrong. ah well suck it up, chuck. it’s good to hear you volunteer your time. you’re right: it puts your problems into perspective.
It’s quite admirable that you are willing to own up to it and put it on the web for everyone to see.
Hey, I feel your pain. A few months ago, Boston changed it’s towing rules and I got towed three times in five weeks. So stressful when you are on such a tight budget! I saw above someone mentioned Flexcar, here it is called ZipCar. Good luck to you!
I hate parking tickets and the concept of paying to park. My car got towed from a private lot visiting my girlfriend (now wife) on Valentine’s Day. They cut me a deal on the fine to get it out of the lot though, how thoughtful. My wife got her car towed parking in a snow zone and we actually found out what happens in lower Wacker in Chicago. In the city of Chicago there is almost no such thing as free parking. If you do find off street parking, you risk getting bumped from people who can’t parallel park.
So when are you going to sell the car?
I have been reading all over this blog and can’t find my answer. Did you get your car out of impound yet?
Yes, I had to pay the $176 impound fee, but I got my car back. It would have kept going up had I not paid it right away.