On July 5th, I parked my car at 23001 Ventura Blvd, fed two quarters into meter 386, and walked the two blocks to where I do cryotherapy. It was later in the evening and my mind was full from the day.
Twenty minutes later, I was walking back to my car, pleasantly feeling the chill in my body, when I spied a meter maid putting a ticket on my car. I was puzzled and as I walked closer, I reviewed the possible transgressions. No, my wheels were less than 18″ from the curb, my tags were up to date, and I’m absolutely sure that I dropped my 4 bits into the meter.
I inquired to the man stuffing paper under my wipers: “Hey… why are you giving me a ticket?”
He looked at me and then pointed to the flashing red light on the meter. I was confused and said “But I dropped 2 quarters into there.” His shrug communicated that he really didn’t care and he drove away. I took the ticket home.
The next day, after another session of cryo, I went back to meter 386 and dropped a quarter into the machine. The light flashed red for 10 seconds, 20 second, 30 seconds… no green. A-ha! I pulled out my handy Iphone, turned on record, and filmed that experience again. Drop in a quarter, record for a minute, notice that the meter remained red, press stop. Later at home, I upload the video to YouTube.
The next day, I wrote DPT a very nice letter and mail it per their instructions and ask that they cancel the $63 ticket.
Fast-forward 3 1/2 months to late October. I am cleaning up the garage when I spy two notices from DMV that didn’t make it to my attention. The DPT had mailed to my home address not my mailing address. I checked the copy of my change of address form and it clearly stated my address at my office. DPT had messed up. No problem I thought.
I went through the online system this time and requested an administrative review, submitted my evidence for my honorable step-by-step process, and asked that they fix the ticket. I re-submitted the URL for the “Bad Meter” Video.
Ten days later, I receive a notice from DPT that the original 21 days is over and I should just pay the ticket which was now $181 ($118 in late fees).
I thought for a moment.
No, thank you, I will not.
I call the DPT this time and am informed I must pay the original ticket and then call back to ask for a hearing. I pay the $63 online and submit the papers for a hearing.
Total time on this process is now reaching close to two hours. If I need to go downtown for a hearing, that will probably cost me another two to three hours. My rack rate for my consulting is $250/hour. You do the math. It just makes sense for me to pay.
No, thank you, I will not. Because its not right.
How many times in my life have I avoided something because its uncomfortable? How many times have I avoided conflict to take the easier route? How many times have I sacrificed my own needs for others.
Today, no thank you, I will not.