Tuesday, December 11, 2007

study overload

I think all this studying is absolutely frying my brain. Test after test, never ending studying...I think my brain can only take SO much!! The other night after a few hours of studying, I walked out of Starbucks to go home, and literally stood there like an idiot for about 30 seconds because I could not for the life of me remember where I had parked!! So I feel like it is at the point where I can name and locate every single bone, muscle, landmark, organ, etc. but I can barely remember my name or address? Scary.

Last week, I was studying all day at Starbucks. With my handicap placard, I can park in metered spots without having to pay. So I parked across the street from Starbucks where I could still see my car from where I was sitting. After being there a short time, I looked up and saw a meter maid writing me a ticket. So I ran outside assuming the ticket was for the meter not being paid. After I frantically told him I had a placard so did not need to pay the meter, he looked me up and down and said "is this your car? You have a handicap placard?" I said yes and then he asked if I could prove it. I was SO caught off guard that I wish I would have said something back to him, but I just got the proof out of my car and showed it to him. Then he said "ok, well that is not why I wrote you the ticket...I wrote you the ticket because you did not turn your wheels." And I began to explain to him that I was not aware this was actually a law and thought this was only a recommendation-not that I could actually get a ticket for it. He asked if I had a California driver's license, obviously I said yes, and he said "well that is one of the first questions they ask you when you get your license. With tears in my eyes, I asked if he could just let me off with a warning, and he said no and walked away. I then got in my car to turn my wheels so I would not get another ticket, and I was SOO mad that I somehow got out of my car and locked my keys in the car WITH MY CAR STILL RUNNING. So luckily my roommate Kelly was on her way to work in about an hour, and so I met with her on her way and got my spare key. This did not add to my stress level with all the stuff I had to do.

For the record, I always turn my wheels when I park on a hill. However, this was NOT a hill. It was a SLOPE. So I didn't think it was necessary to turn them. I was telling my aunt this lovely little story and my uncle, who is an engineer, did some research on the subject. It turns out, it is only a San Francisco law, not a California law.

Parking on Hills
22509.
Local authorities within the reasonable exercise of their police powers may adopt rules and regulations by ordinance or resolution providing that no person driving, or in control of, or in charge of, a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand on any highway unattended when upon any grade exceeding 3 percent within any business or residence district without blocking the wheels of the vehicle by turning them against the curb or by other means.
San Francisco Traffic Code

Article 3 Section 58 (a) PARKING ON GRADES REGULATED.
It shall be unlawful for any operator to stand or park any vehicle upon any grade or slope exceeding three percent without effectively setting the brakes thereon and blocking the wheels of said vehicle by turning them against the curb or by other means.
Curb Parking

22502. (a)
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter every vehicle stopped or parked upon a roadway where there are adjacent curbs shall be stopped or parked with the right-hand wheels of such vehicle parallel with and within 18 inches of the right-hand curb, except that motorcycles shall be parked with at least one wheel or fender touching the right-hand curb. Where no curbs or barriers bound any roadway, right-hand parallel parking is required unless otherwise indicated.

Oh and it gets better. He was able to pinpoint the exact place I was parked, and determine the grade. So the law states that you have to turn your wheels if the hill is of 3% grade or more. Guess how steep the "hill" I was parked on was? a whopping 2%. So, I can fight this stupid thing, but it is just the hassle of the matter and the way this man treated me. It really bothers me that just because I don't look physically disabled, that people assume they know me. They don't know what I have been through or the fact that I probably experience more pain daily with my knees than they even understand. Some people are so rude and just clueless, and I have no sympathy for them.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Power to the people! Hahaha.... I'm sorry that happened to you, but it looks like you can fight it and win. :-) always, -zy

Modern Crush said...

AHHHHHHH! Holy CRAP! Whow what a story. I hope you do spend the time to fight it Chels, it is worth it and you deserve it, even if it is a little work. I fought a (I know not quite the same) street sweeping ticket once and won, and not only did I not have to pay the dumb $35, but I DID NOT let the uninformed, unregulated system take advantage of me. Phew. Tiny rant. I'm done.

Unknown said...

Hi Chelsea

I was reading about your experience regarding your parking ticket. I am in the same situation regarding parking on a slope and wanted to know how your uncle was able to measure the grade?

Z