Citizens Begin to Revolt
Under McJerseyShore, anything over one incident is considered a pattern. This qualifies a pattern, an outbreak, a flurry, and a wave:
- The saga of Chicago's contentious parking meters has taken a turn toward criminal damage of property.
Someone has been breaking parking meters' the display glass, credit card readers, and display brackets with a blunt instrument, according to an alert released by the Chicago Police Department on Thursday afternoon. The damage has caused at least a dozen parking meters, owned by the company LAZ Parking, to malfunction or shut down.
The offenders are unknown, officials said, but they have apparently been working all over the North Side.
Thirteen locations have had the parking boxes so badly damaged that they cannot distribute receipts for parking. To the vandals involved, we have only one thing to say - shame shame. If you keep doing this, we're going to have to wag our finger at you and mutter "tsk tsk" under our breath. And then, a strongly worded letter will be put in your permanent file, you know, just like Obama did to Putin.
Locations for free parki....oops. we mean damaged boxes can be found at the link up top.
Should this continue, we might match Detroit in another category:
Locations for free parki....oops. we mean damaged boxes can be found at the link up top.
Should this continue, we might match Detroit in another category:
- Restructuring consultants have recommended that Detroit increase its parking fines and crack down harder on people who don't pay to boost revenue for the bankrupt city, which currently pays $32 to issue and process a $30 parking violation.
Labels: crime
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
81 Comments:
Jeez, this is awful.
The planet-saving solar cell that charges the batteries (probably Solyndras) is right on top of the meter. I'd be awfully upset if someone were to damage these in any way, paint over them, or something, you know? Then the meter wouldn't work.
I will be walking the floor all night worrying about this. Honest.
That's why people like the suburbs. The parking is often free.
I'm surprised this hasn't ever happened to the red light cameras. I know you had a photo of one vandalized in another city, but not here in Chicago.
Car 54 be on the lookout for cool hand Luke.
All tyrants soon discover that you can only push people so far before they revolt.
Good work, patriots. Keep it up. When you fight tyranny, it's not a crime, but rather fighting for what's right and just.
The next step is to tar and feather all those involved with bringing this to us.
This is why they want the citizens disarmed. When their crimes become unbearable, they want you disarmed while they keep the guns.
First LAZ, now this. They sold off the State Lottery and I wasn't even looking.
Company running lottery seeks to halt release of business plan to media
6:20 p.m. CDT, March 20, 2014
"The company hired to run the Illinois Lottery has sought to bar the release of a marketing survey and business plan to the media, documents deemed public records.
"Last week, a Cook County judge denied the Northstar Lottery Group's request for a temporary restraining order blocking release of a study commissioned by the company but paid for with state funds.
"Now, the company has shifted its effort to the Illinois Court of Claims, which hears certain financial claims and lawsuits directed against the state..."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-company-running-lottery-seeks-to-halt-release-of-business-plan-to-media-20140320,0,6073844.story
Now get to work on those red light and speed cameras.
Won't they get reimbursed anyway? Hey guys you'll need a ladder for those red light/speed cameras since ur out there.
If any of you morons try to catch these guys or set something up to catch them you should be beaten in public... I'm with the citizens in this one.. If your a copper and you see something like this keep on driving as if you didn't see anything... Viva la revolt!!!!
The beat cars are on alert for this and will chase the offender at least 3 feet. The revolt is starting to curtail the highest taxes in the nation.
Thia was long coming. Rahm will buy the Saudi' new ones.
Whoever is doing this is an asshole. Say what you want about the high rates, but for the first time in years, you can actually find short-term parking downtown and in other commercial areas. Of course, if you try to park and can't find a functioning box, you'll get a ticket if you don't put the receipt in the window, and you can't get a receipt if some asshole has broken the box.
It's cheaper to drive to the suburban malls with free parking and lower taxes on products!
I want foot patrols near all the parking meters. I want these meters to feel safe. Someone get me some phone numbers for some citizens. I have to call them and tell them to knock it off.
When do they start on speed cams?
One democRAT to another; "We pay minimum wage to process parking fines for a total cost of $32.00, but we collect $30.00. I don't understand why we just can't seem to get ahead. Maybe we should raise the minimum wage"?
I understand that Commanders knocking on doors and telling people to knock it off seems to work.
Where are the foot guys who are supposed to watch what goes on? They do walk the street, right?
I cant believe this hasnt happened since day one. Keep up the good work...lol
Honey, have you seen my blinders?
Whoever is damaging parking meters needs to be stomped on hard and fast. Anyone that tries to interfere with revenue collection needs to be delt with in the harshest manner.
I have a theory that I posted on True News. It wouldn't pass muster here.
All they're gonna do is raise the prices to park in order to compensate for the damage...well done
I'd feel better about this story if the meters still belonged to the city.
waiting for the speed trap and red light cameras to be next. the people have had enough it seems
whelp, under the 'broken windows' crime fighting theory if you don't take the people shooting out your street lights off the street to send the message that this will not be tolerated then they move on to more serious crimes like smacking parking meters with a blunt instrument.
it's simple police work really.
/sarcasm
You haven't heard the last from Ernest T.Bass!
These rampant acts of vandalism cannot be tolerated in a civil society ... harrumph! ... harrumph! ... harrumph!
Whomever is doing this needs to be found, stopped, then severely punished. Grounding them for a week should be more than adequate. :-)
The sheeple are finally standing up, about time, speed cameras, red light cameras, excessive taxes,excessive tolls, we are tired of being ripped off! Wonder if we can vote like Crimea in the Ukraine and elect a real man like Putin to take over and kick some ass?
I'm not sure breaking a meter is a crime. It could have been an accident.
Speaking of Parking ......
--- 'Navy database tracks civilians' parking tickets, fender-benders, raising fears of domestic spying' ---
Washington Examiner -- By Mark Flatten -- MARCH 21, 2014
'A parking ticket, traffic citation or involvement in a minor fender-bender are enough to get a person's name and other personal information logged into a massive, obscure federal database run by the U.S. military. ~~(paragraph) ~~ The Law Enforcement Information Exchange, or LinX, has already amassed 506.3 million law enforcement records ranging from criminal histories and arrest reports to field information cards filled out by cops on the beat even when no crime has occurred.'
Holy shit!?!? I sure hope they don't have my 'permanent record' from high school.
;-)
Anonymous said...
That's why people like the suburbs. The parking is often free.
3/21/2014 12:18:00 AM
Your right, went to Lagrange last night to eat downtown Lagrange restaurants busy, they have a nice free 4 level parking lot and free yes free street parking even on the main streets. So instead of getting a ticket and possible atom the money spent on parking in Chicago is used here thus you meal is close to free!
i was at starbucks coffee in downtown elmhurst,ill free parking and the best nobody selling street wise
Great, he is going to get them from the Saudi's ? Now I have to pay to park my camel ? Will be straw, dates and fresh water available for an extra charge ? Don't forget the sign to be posted . . Watch out for camel dung.
Why did Jesse White cave-in to the
mayor(s) and make it almost difficult to get a meter-exempt
parking placard and the blue handicapped spots have disappeared
except for store parking lots and
even they are few and far between.
It's past time for Jesse to ride off
into the sunset and enjoy his retirement. The last decent secretary of state was Jim Edgar
after him the office went downhill.
All you bangers with guns that like
to shoot, do your civic duty and put
rounds into the redlight and speed
cameras and not each other or innocent bystanders (seniors and
children).
There is probably a clause in the contract that will put us taxpayers on the kook for those parking spots anyway. Think about it. They got us on the handicap spots and holiday parking. You think Daley wouldn't have given them damage to property too. When he, a family member or a friend are getting a cut don't think he didn't cover that base.
RESIST!
If I get a call of someone damaging these pay boxes, I will make sure I get there right quick - after I take my 15 minute personal.
Anybody watch "True Detective?" Apparently, Matthew Mcconaughey's character was right when said "Time is a flat circle. We humans are destined to repeat the same mistakes over and over again."
Check out this posting from back when Shields was elected:
Anonymous said...
I voted for Shields. I think anything different is better than the old regime. In my 15 years the citywide team has been in power, and not showed me anything. If this new regime does nothing, then it will be the same as the old. Good luck Mike...sour grapes Bella but when you came to talk to our unit you sounded like a used car salesman, and your experience speech fell on deaf ears. Mike do your best, that is all I'm asking. Good luck brothers.
Sounds like Shields and Angelo are gonna make great partners for season 2 of True Detective.
Mr. Mayor I just want to let you know that I will be out there looking for the people that are damaging these meters. How dare they damage these meters causing the company that rips off the publics money for repairing their meters.I think we should set up a unit to monitor the meters.We could call it 'SAFE METER PASSAGE ZONE'.
I'm surprised taggers haven't targeted red light/speed cameras yet. Taggers seem clever enough to climb anything, I doubt cameras and their flashes would be much of a challenge. Plus, it would surely get their art on the news.
All too funny but reasonable.
From what I heard behind closed doors is that when Mass Transit is disbanded the dumped officers will be put on fixed posts guarding the meter pay boxes. True!
The supertendint is now having people pay for parking fill out there own contact card when purchasing their parking.
Probably the same guy who knocked out the lions teeth in China town last week.
I hear mc sup is good at shooting street lights, maybe he can go after the red light and speed cameras to "up his game".
"Now get to work on those red light and speed cameras."
3/21/2014 01:45:00 AM
In Europe and the UK, people have been burning the "Gatsos," as they call them, for years now.
Saboteurs take out 700 speed cameras
The Observer, Saturday 6 September 2003
"They are the black knights of the road; balaclava-wearing highway hitmen out to burn, bomb, decapitate and dismember. But drivers need not fear, for it is speed cameras that this growing band of rebels are after.
Up and down the country, the [cameras] are being ripped down, blown up and even shot apart as part of a campaign orchestrated by a gang of web-surfing outlaws. They threaten to become the most popular gang of criminals since Robin Hood and his Merry Men stalked the countryside.
"More than 700 cameras across the nation have already been taken out and insiders warn that operations are about to be stepped up. Communicating through internet chat rooms, the activists move under cover of darkness, targeting devices they claim have taken a particularly heavy toll on drivers' licences and wallets.
"Even the camera widely touted as Britain's most successful has been unable to escape their wrath. On the southbound carriageway of the M11 at Woodford, Essex, tyre tacks were found leading away from the toppled device which had been nabbing 2,000 motorists a day. Police believe a lorry driver deliberately reversed into it."
"From the south coast to the Highlands no camera is safe..."
http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/sep/07/transport.ukcrime
Here, examples.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b9d_1237931872
http://news.cnet.com/2300-1028_3-6130201-3.html
They have also burned the company's service trucks -- the company has started using unmarked trucks for this reason...
Any vandalized meters in areas I like to frequent, per chance?
I can see Anita 'Skeletora Alverez' in front of the cameras, no pun intended. when or if they apprehend these youths. hey if they can call them teens on the south side they better call them teens on the north side.
To those responsible for doing this. As a police officer, if I see you damaging those parking meters I swear to the Almighty I will look the other way. Carry on with the peoples work. 19-B squad I don't see nothing.
Anonymous said...
Jeez, this is awful.
The planet-saving solar cell that charges the batteries (probably Solyndras) is right on top of the meter. I'd be awfully upset if someone were to damage these in any way, paint over them, or something, you know? Then the meter wouldn't work.
I will be walking the floor all night worrying about this. Honest.
3/21/2014 12:09:00 AM
Me too. Did you know they're pretty fragile too, as the outer layer is glass? Hmmmm.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Whoever is damaging parking meters needs to be stomped on hard and fast. Anyone that tries to interfere with revenue collection needs to be delt with in the harshest manner.
3/21/2014 07:55:00 AM
They should be pummeled with Peeps.
PARKING METER AIDES!
That is the answer. One stationed at every meter in the city.
Get out all the surplus brown coveralls from the CEDA program in which people who hung around "L" stations were hired to hang around "L" stations.
They will provide 'sistance to people trying to park.
...at least until the grant money runs out.
don't forget its for the children
$32 to process a $30 ticket? Gee, they must use the same math Rahm used when he was installing the speed cameras.
Bat shit Battaglia asked Dougherty at Tuesdays union meeting why we endorse politicians who vote against us? Dougherty couldn't or wouldn't answer his question. The next day bat shit is out asking for vote for Bill, Battaglia needs another brain enema.
One time I was replacing some locks on my house, searching the garage I found 2 that worked, but hard to open.
Me thinks, a spot of oil & these will work fine.
So I grab what I thought was a tube of grease, but not having my reading glasses, I grabbed the crazy glue instead. Well 2 years later they still won't open. Be careful, that stuff really is tough on stuff you want to work.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
(OT) just checked my Bank of America account no overtime check deposit, I know it's due on the 22nd but it was always in the bank the day before weekend or holiday, like the sell,back late hard check, is rahm bankrupting the police accounts?
3/21/2014 07:10:00 AM
Hate to break your bubble but if you remember when a parking meter was broken and you parked there you were given a ticket. I'm sure the same law applies to these meters and the companies meter maids will be more than happy to enforce that.
Anonymous said...
I'm surprised taggers haven't targeted red light/speed cameras yet. Taggers seem clever enough to climb anything, I doubt cameras and their flashes would be much of a challenge. Plus, it would surely get their art on the news.
3/21/2014 11:25:00 AM
That would not be a good place to hit. It's right at the intersection, no higher than traffic lights which everyone is looking at. You will be observed and caught quickly, fall and break yourself quickly or worse...draw media attention and have the city stalking you. They will throw everything they can at you and parade you around to show victory. You could avoid all that just by tagging the red line once a ride and having your tags seen from Howard to 95th Street.
Here's your report hope your insurance covers. Squad hold me down doing a report in the station.
Anonymous said...
Anybody watch "True Detective?" Apparently, Matthew Mcconaughey's character was right when said "Time is a flat circle. We humans are destined to repeat the same mistakes over and over again."
Check out this posting from back when Shields was elected:
Anonymous said...
I voted for Shields. I think anything different is better than the old regime. In my 15 years the citywide team has been in power, and not showed me anything. If this new regime does nothing, then it will be the same as the old. Good luck Mike...sour grapes Bella but when you came to talk to our unit you sounded like a used car salesman, and your experience speech fell on deaf ears. Mike do your best, that is all I'm asking. Good luck brothers.
Sounds like Shields and Angelo are gonna make great partners for season 2 of True Detective.
3/21/2014 11:18:00 AM
Whoever is on it won't be McConaughay and Harrelson. That adventure is over. The show is meant to be an anthology. Those 8 episodes are all there is of those two. Different cops, different locale etc. next year.
The City got around $1.5 billion for those meters which Daley spent already. All of it. He was supposed to use it to shore up pension funds, he didn't, and to put it in City reserves, he didn't. All gone.
The new parking meter project to take in at least $11.6 billion over the life of the contract. They are guaranteed their profit. If meters are broken or taken out of service, the city agreed to pay the difference, so called "true-ups."
Who negotiated this whiz bang deal? Daley's brother's law firm. Who does Daley now work for? The law firm that represented the parking meter people. Why the hell Daley is not in prison is a mystery to me.
He should be hanging by the neck from a lampost at State and Madison. Along with his entire family. Make all the French jokes you want but when the people got pissed off enough at being treated like that they started cutting off heads by the hundreds. The Daley Family of France all met the grim reaper via a swiftly dropping blade. Here we re-elect the bastards.
If I get a call of parking meters being damaged I will go lights on and sirens blaring. And I will keep to the speed limit as required.
3/21/2014 09:59:00 AM
Jesse didn't cave and the moron mayor had shit to do with the Highland Park State Rep that introduced the law change in 2012.
Rahm kept quiet because of the huge hit the city had been taking due to CPM billing for vehicles that were parking all day for free with HCP IDentifier plates and placards. To make the point: CPM can charge the full days rate of the particular pay box for every vehicle space taken up by M plates, CDOT permit holders, movie shoots, street festivals, etc. they come out with those wheelie things on poles to measure the spaces that are occupied but are not paying.
Hourly rate of 2.00$ per hour and box active 8am to 10pm? 24$ billed to city even if the vehicle moves after 3 hours.
Look at all the HCP stings the city has done or the Sec State Police have done over the past 2 years. And consider how they keep finding people using the HCP marked vehicles improperly. Or fake placards or placards belonging to a family member that either is dead or is no where near their vehicle or placard.
The abuse is the reason for the change. And it was about time.
And FYI... No one deserves to park for free on arterial all day.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Why did Jesse White cave-in to the
mayor(s) and make it almost difficult to get a meter-exempt
parking placard and the blue handicapped spots have disappeared
except for store parking lots and
even they are few and far between.
It's past time for Jesse to ride off
into the sunset and enjoy his retirement. The last decent secretary of state was Jim Edgar
after him the office went downhill.
3/21/2014 09:59:00 AM
Blame it on the phonies who abused the system. Disgraceful.
Anonymous said...
Whoever is damaging parking meters needs to be stomped on hard and fast. Anyone that tries to interfere with revenue collection needs to be delt with in the harshest manner.
Statements like this simply verify that it's ALL ABOUT REVENUE! Just like the red light cams and speed zone cams. All a big scam to get YOUR money, for the "privilege" of driving through Chicago. Solution: Take your business to the suburbs that DON'T have those offensive, pesky revenue-generating scamera systems. AVOID places like Fox River Grove ("Little Moscow"), Illinois, Shitcago, etc. Remember when most downtown street parking was free? Now there is none. Like the buffalo and the carrier pigeon, free parking is becoming extinct. My hat's off to the libertarians who are attempting to free this City from the forces of communism/Rahmism. This is the modern day equivalent of the Boston Tea Party. Make mine an Earl Grey, please :)
Take a look at your property tax bills -- check out the line item for Community College District 508 -- that is the code name for the City Colleges of Chicago.
Rahm has committed $251 million dollars to build a new Malcolm X College (the place that flies the Black nationalist flag) to replace the previous college building opened in 1971. The master plan is that the college will become the center of nursing programs in the CCC system.
Malcolm X College has been placed on probation because too few of its graduates can pass the licensing tests for nurses.
Remember this when they tell you that there is no money.
"First LAZ, now this. They sold off the State Lottery and I wasn't even looking."
Welcome to the downside of privatization: No accountability. These private firms are exempt from FOIA requirements even though the funding is public money.
"What we got here, is a failure to communicate."
It was Cool Hand Luke that dunnit.
"War is when your government tells you who the enemy is. Revolution is when you figure it out for yourself"
Anonymous said...
Take a look at your property tax bills -- check out the line item for Community College District 508 -- that is the code name for the City Colleges of Chicago.
Rahm has committed $251 million dollars to build a new Malcolm X College (the place that flies the Black nationalist flag) to replace the previous college building opened in 1971. The master plan is that the college will become the center of nursing programs in the CCC system.
Malcolm X College has been placed on probation because too few of its graduates can pass the licensing tests for nurses.
Remember this when they tell you that there is no money.
3/22/2014 10:15:00 AM
When you are in the hospital, ask where those nurses went to school. Malcolm X, watch out!
Rahm's answer as to why he was committing $150 million to build a new Malcolm X when the existing one os in good shape, at least the building is, was that he wasn't going to be the one to tell all those kids they couldn't get an education.
Now how full of shit is that? $250 million but nothing for the pensions we are owed.
I hope no one shoots up the red light /speeding cameras with a paint gun... Wink wink
Never discharge a stun gun into a parking meter. The meter electronics could be seriously damaged.
How long before we see the first YouTube video of a meter being trashed? Come on, give us something to cheer about!
So a parking meeter Rambo is running around out there.
I guess they need some more parking meeter police. Kind of like Detroit where it cost $32 bucks to process a $30 ticket.
Can't they see it's a lose-lose proposition?
Take the meters up and sell them. That way get some money back, free cops from parking meeter duty, and allow businesses to have more business (and thus more tax revenue.)
Yea, sounds like a conservative suggestion, right? And because of that they will never use it.
glad to hear SOMEONE in that city has gotten some balls.. I moved out of Chicago 9 yrs ago this month.. Even back then I was coming out to where I now live to shop.. lower taxes.. convenient parking.. less stop signs and red lights..also more stores conveniently located .. and people are generally friendlier
"Detroit...currently pays $32 to issue and process a $30 parking violation."
A whole big city doesn't get it.
A guy who ran a little store by himself told me, "You can't sell at a loss and make up for it with volume."
*
Never point a LASER at a camera - it will blind the camera, and if the LASER is powerful enough, it could permanently damage the camera sensor... Don't be a dumb ass and look at the LASER with your remaining good eye either...
Finally, make sure you DON'T get WD40 on the camera lenses or windows - it makes them really blurry which kind of defeats the purpose of the camera. We want the images to be crisp and clear ya know...
Oh, and no bleach on the plastic - I know you just want to clean it, the Shitty being a festering hell hole and all, but bleach on plastic just tends to cloud it up.
So don't do that... really.
3/22/2014 10:48:00 PM
Free up cops from Parking Meter duty?
You must have never worked in 001 or 018.
All the Gold Coast and Loop foot patrols and bike partols do between 8am and 5pm are check meters and write street cleaning or rush hour or go into the Parking Garages and Parking Lots and do tickets for expired plates and rear/front or tinted windows or cracked windshields (unit 212 in 001/018).
Paul said...
So a parking meeter Rambo is running around out there.
I guess they need some more parking meeter police. Kind of like Detroit where it cost $32 bucks to process a $30 ticket.
Can't they see it's a lose-lose proposition?
Take the meters up and sell them. That way get some money back, free cops from parking meeter duty, and allow businesses to have more business (and thus more tax revenue.)
Yea, sounds like a conservative suggestion, right? And because of that they will never use it.
3/22/2014 10:48:00 PM
What century do you come from?Google: "Chicago parking meter deal Daley LAZ".
You obviously don't know Chicago no longer owns its meters, no longer gets the revenue from its meters and the police no longer enforce the meters.
Post a Comment
<< Home