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Save Money by Reducing Parking Tickets

Recently a friend told me that the parking tickets in Detroit went up from $20 per infraction for an expired meter ($10 if you paid it within a week) to $45 with no pay by date discount. That really caught my attention. You see, I was that person who conducted a cost benefit of risking the parking ticket versus paying a guaranteed $10-$20. If I had the change, and the meter was working, I would definitely feed the meter, however there are other times when I was running into a place for a few minutes, the meter was broken, I didn’t have change, or the meter wasn’t accepting credit cards when I would take the risk. I did this because generally the risk was worth it because at worst I would break even and at best I got free parking!

However, the recent change in rates really changed my perspective.  At a cost of $45 per ticket the risk is no longer worth it, given that most lots are between $5 – $20 assuming there is not a sporting event or a special event. Now, when I am attending an event and face with the “should I feed the meter dilemma”, these are the 5 questions I consider:

  1. Is there free parking? This is the ideal situation because it doesn’t require any cash outflow. However, I need to know where the free parking is located and how far I have to walk. Depending on the attire of the event, I may be wearing heels, which poses an additional challenge. Also, I need to consider how late it will be when the event ends because I don’t want to have to walk far, late, and in heels to save a few dollars.
  2. If I can’t park for free, how long do I anticipate being in the event? Knowing this will help me understand my parking options and how much change to get if I plan to park at a meter or in a lot. I try to think about the break-even point where it makes more sense to park in a lot instead of feeding the meter. With this knowledge, I still need to know if parking at a meter is a viable strategy.
  3. Do the meters have meter maximums? For example, in Detroit, there are many meters where I can only park for 1 –2 hours, and the machine will not let me buy time longer than the meter maximum. Therefore, if I know that I will be at the event for more than 2 hours I will generally explore other parking options.  Depending on the event, it may be a viable strategy to run out and continually feed the meter. However, if I chose this route, I must remember to set an alarm to ensure I don’t forget.   One more consideration is the process used for ticketing. Some places will mark my tires and even if I feed the meter, the police will still ticket me for violating the maximum.
  4. Can I take public transportation?  This is a great option because I don’t have to worry about parking, and taking public transportation is very inexpensive especially if you have a monthly pass. However, depending on the city, I still need to be concerned with question #1.
  5. Can I use a service like Uber or take a cab? With this option, I don’t have to worry about parking, I can generally use credit, and I get dropped off in front! Sounds awesome! I just must be sure to watch the cost, and understand the cost of using this service versus the benefits.

A little planning ahead goes a long way, because eliminating parking tickets doesn’t require a budget cut. Imagine, you get to keep something that you really enjoy, because you plugged this simple money leak, that only requires being a bit more careful about how you park.

List of cities and the amount per parking infraction

Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of all types of parking tickets. It is meant to be a guide to help you to understand how quickly parking tickets can add up to big dollars if you aren’t careful and/or have multiple infractions.

LocationAmount of CitationTime to Pay Before Price Increases (days)
NYC

$65.00 for Manhattan 96th St. & below

$35.00 for all other areas

30
Chicago$50- $10060
Boston$2520
Los Angeles$6830
Miami$2330
Washington, DC$2530
Houston$3030
Dallas$3530
Atlanta$2515
Cleveland$2515
Philadelphia$2615
Pittsburgh$2515

Aisha Taylor is a #1 Amazon Best Selling Author of the book “5+5 FNPhenomenal Ways to Save $100 This Week Without Killing Your Lifestyle”, and the Founder of FNPhenomenal (Frugal –n- Phenomenal). FNPhenomenal helps women to break the vicious cycle of making money, but not keeping it. FNPhenomenal provides education about money management, empowers women to take control of their lives, develop a healthier relationship with money, and pursue being phenomenal.

Visit Aisha online at www.FNPhenomenal.com

Follow Aisha on Instagram/Twitter: @FNPhenomenal

Facebook: facebook.com/FNPhenomenal

If this posts inspires you to get your finances in order, don’t let the work stop here.  Consider enrolling in one of my online courses. I have one on budgeting and one on saving.
 

Author Bio

Kara Stevens, founder of The Frugal Feminista, is the bestselling author of Heal Your Relationship with Money and two transformative books in her financial self-care series. A leading voice in financial wellness, Kara empowers women of color to heal financial trauma, build lasting wealth, and embrace abundance with confidence. Her work has been featured by Time, Forbes, and The Washington Post, inspiring women worldwide to rewrite their money stories. Follow Kara on LinkedIn and Instagram.

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The information contained in The FrugalFeminista.com is for general information or entertainment purpose only and does constitute professional financial advice. Please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your specific situation.