Two minutes results in fine of $111.50

DEAR EDITOR:

I guess it’s called live and learn, but never thought I would have to deal with sneaky.

I stopped my car but with the engine running (though hard to tell as it is electric) stepped out to look around the corner to see if there was another spot closer to my destination. Elapsed time was probably less than two minutes. Got back in my car and parked elsewhere.

Several days later when driving, I needed to use my wiper blades. It was then that I noticed a white piece of paper folded lengthwise under the wiper blades on the passenger side of my car.

It turned out to be a ticket for stopping in that spot, stating that I “abandoned my car.” If I hadn’t used my wipers it is highly likely I wouldn’t have noticed it for days or weeks due to the positioning of the paper.

I emailed the company and explained what had happened and their answer was if I didn’t pay the $111.50 fine, it would be sent to a collection agency and ruin my credit score.

Sharing this experience with friends I was told to watch out, that if they find my car and tow it I would end up having to pay towing and storage to get it back.

This made me wonder, are they so hard up to make a buck they follow cars around just waiting to pounce with a ticket should the opportunity arise. What if someone steps out of their car for just one minute to assist a fellow human being who perhaps is in need of help – and why do they place the ticket on the passenger side instead of their driver’s side where it could be more readily seen?

How many others are out there getting tickets such as those who innocently stepped out of their vehicle for a minute or two and ended up getting this stiff fine?

I have lived in Kelowna for more than 30 years and have never run into a situation like this. Sharing this experience with a friend who lives close to Mission Park, I asked what she thought of the parking situation when she goes shopping in that area.

Her answer? “I never shop there. I go to Rutland (where I used to live) and do my shopping there – it’s easier and the parking is much better.”

Melanie Berg Kelowna