For example, I had business in the county courthouse one day earlier this year. I backed my bike into a space on Second Avenue, and put a quarter in the closest meter, and as I did so, I noticed a parking enforcement officer just down the block. I went into the courthouse and took care of business in a couple of minutes. When I came back out, I had a ticket. Looking around I saw the enforcement officer scurrying away down the next block, and I saw another parking meter on the far side of my bike where, it seems, I should have put my quarter. I went down to the parking desk at the transit center and filled out an appeal form. After a week or so I got the judgement: Pay the $12 fine!

So, even though I paid a quarter, and even though the enforcement officer could have taken the opportunity to point out which meter I should have paid, the city of Durango fined me for putting my 25 cents in the wrong meter. The city didn’t even offer to return my quarter. Must be a huge source of revenue!

John Griffiths

Durango