Parking Meters

After reading about what Frederick does with parking tickets ("A place for pardons," March 25), I have to write to you about my recent experiences. Being half Irish I celebrate what has become St Patrick's month. On Saturday, March 12, we met some friends at the James Joyce Irish bar on President Street to start our celebrating. Then on St. Patrick's Day we started our day at Mass at St Patrick's Church on Broadway. From there we go to Duda's Tavern on Thames Street for lunch. Here is how the city rips people off: When we found a parking space on Saturday, the meter would only let us pay for two hours.

Municipal parking meters have gotten a bum rap over the years. Since the first one was installed in Oklahoma City 76 years ago, their chief purpose has been to limit the amount of time any one vehicle can occupy a parking space. As any urban business owner knows, this is a vital task. Customers can't reach stores if parking spaces are never vacated. But alas — as any driver can tell you — the parking regulatory function of the meter has gradually been superseded over time by its moneymaking abilities.

Baltimore's Department of Public Works offices will be closed Tuesday for Election Day. Trash and recycling will not be collected. The make-up collection day in those areas that are regularly scheduled for Tuesday will be Saturday. There will be no bulk trash collection, according to the department, and citizen drop-off centers will be closed, including the Quarantine Road Landfill, the Northwest Transfer Station and the Eastern, Western and Northwestern sanitation yards. Parking meters will be in effect, the city said.

This schedule will be in effect today. Anne Arundel County offices: closed Courts: closed Libraries: open Public schools: closed Trash: regularpickup Annapolis City offices: closed Courts: closed Transit: regular service, free Parking meters: feed Trash : regular pickup Baltimore City City offices: closed ...

Employees' furlough day doesn't halt all city services Parking meters must be fed today as many Baltimore City employees observe a furlough day. City offices will be closed except for police and fire emergencies. Trash and recycling will be collected today, but citizen drop-off centers, including the Quarantine Road Landfill, the Northwest Transfer Station and the Eastern, Western and Northwestern sanitation yards, will be closed. No bulk trash collection is scheduled. City buildings, with the exception of courts and schools, will not be open, a city spokesman said.

Parking meters must be fed today as many Baltimore City employees observe a furlough day. City offices will be closed except for police and fire emergencies. Trash and recycling will be collected today, but citizen drop-off centers, including the Quarantine Road Landfill, the Northwest Transfer Station and the Eastern, Western and Northwestern sanitation yards, will be closed. No bulk trash collection is scheduled. City buildings, with the exception of courts and schools, will not be open, a city spokesman said.

This schedule will be in effect today. Anne Arundel County offices: closed Courts: closed Libraries: closed Trash: no pickup Annapolis City offices: closed Courts: closed Transit: no service Parking meters: free Trash : no pickup Baltimore City City offices: closed Courts: closed Libraries: closed ...