to park or not to park? that is the question.

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i am endlessly amused by conversations that happen on my local nextdoor site.

here is one of my recent favs.

 someone is reaching out for parking advice about the sign above

and gets a whole lot of answers (100+),  yet no one knows for sure.

below is a sampling of responses for your reading pleasure:

The original question: What does this sign mean? Can you park for 15 min without being ticketed?

No Parking alone means no parking (like bottom sign to left of the signpost) No parking with frame below it describes the “no parking conditions” within the red frame the added tow threat makes it more confusing.

I just wouldn’t park there🤣

15 minute parking allowed from the sign back. The parking enforcement, when they come around, will take photos of your cars location and of a tire and it’s valve stem location. They come back 15 minutes later and issue ticket if not moved. If it’s one of the really crabby patrol people they will come back 15 minutes later and issue a second ticket.

 BEWARE THE KING CRAB!

every 14 minutes jack up ur car+ spin wheel to put valve in diff spot (see above)

Just like NYC – hand over your keys to a car jockey to move your car to the alternate side of the street on Tuesdays!

There was a sign just like this outside the old Kiwanis building, and for a long time that space was left empty because people didn’t realize they could park… 

The wording of the sign pointing to the right is inconsistent. I did not find an interpretation of the sign in the Uniform Vehicle Code. Like, “Are you going to walk to school or…

Why is it inconsistent? As I see it, the sign says, “to the right of this sign you can park for 15 minutes between the hours of 6 am and 6 pm; you will be towed…

It means exactly what it says “no parking”

Could be a fund raising effort for a parking garage.

It means don’t park there regardless

“Can you park for 15 mins without being ticketed?”  The answer is yes, if the question means whether it’s possible.

I’d trust the bottom line. See the tow truck picking up the vehicle 😂

My interpretation is that it really does mean no parking 6AM-6PM. The 15 minute limit is for standing (driver remains in vehicle). In practice, it is effectively a 15 minute limit…

I think the key is that the arrows on the signs point in different directions.  So  no parking at all from the sign  and then to the left.   The 15 minute no parking sign points to the right  so the limited parking is  from the sign  and to the right.

Well, just visit – https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/ , a mere 862 pages! I think the first rule is read from top to bottom. Then execute like a computer interpreting code; don’t try…

Seems perfectly logical! Good to know. Thank you!

You can not park there unless you have a loading zone (commercial) plate, and then only for 15 minutes. Most loading zones have unlimited parking for those with loading zone… 

I disagree. The sign in this post does not say anything about commercial permits or plates.

My interpretation of the originally posted sign is it’s basically a no parking zone, but they will let you park for 15 minutes during business hours. I’ve gotten away with parking…

But you can park for longer on Sunday?

Don’t think you can park there on Sunday

The sign is basically offering you an opportunity to bet; the city is betting you a parking space against a $25 ticket that you can’t figure out and execute what they meant…

This looks like East U adjacent to the business school. Isn’t it a bit cryptic? Appears to mark two zones, one to the left of the sign (see the arrow) in which there is no parking… 

I love how everyone says it means something different and is 100% confident about it.

The last comment, from the original question poser:  Being part of “everyone” I am not 100% confident.

 

‘nine out of ten americans believe that out of ten people, one person will always disagree with the other nine.’

-colin mochrie 

67 responses »

  1. Very interesting. This interpretation is the best~The sign is basically offering you an opportunity to bet; the city is betting you a parking space against a $25 ticket that you can’t figure out and execute what they meant…

    Liked by 3 people

  2. Haha! This is hilarious on so many levels. First, ambiguous signs should never happen. If a city is going to post such a sign, it should be clear. Next, I’m entertained by the level of vitriol (Maybe that makes me a bad person 😂) that takes place on these forums. Some people just can’t let it go. I’m not usually on Nextdoor, but I will confess that I’ll reread a lengthy Facebook post to find the point where everything went off the rails.🤣

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