Parking in downtown Halifax is painful, to say the least. Don’t bother going during the middle of the work day to look for a free space, the limited free spaces have long been taken up since early morning. And don’t get too excited when you see a free space at a meter, because it is likely that the meter is just broken, which is why no one has parked in it. I would like to point out that just because a parking space is broken, does NOT mean the space is broken. If the city is going to waste time fixing meters they should at least offer free parking in front of the broken meter. The space is not broken, it is merely empty space between two other cars that someone should be able to park in. —Screw you HRM
This article appears in Aug 18-24, 2011.
And you can’t park in it why?
Agreed, you should be able to park at broken meters for free. Not my problem if the meter is broken.
Umm, they do offer the space in front of broken metres. I fail to see the issue here…
Presumably because you’ll get a ticket Snubiz.. I hope that’s not the case but they must be vacant for a reason.
Simple solution: take the bus downtown.
There are park and rides all over the outskirts. Park your shitmobile and proceed to bus it downtown. Most park and rides are free, and you’re probably paying more than $2.25 to park downtown, anyway. And, really, bus service in the downtown core is pretty thorough, so it’s not like you’d have to walk THAT much (you’d have to walk if you parked miles away anyway, which is what you’d likely have to do).
Oh and FYI people: if you don’t pay your parking tickets (any ticket, really), HRM contacts Revenue Canada and puts a hold on any tax refund or GST cheque you may be entitled to.
Sneaky buggers!
I NEVER take the car to downtown Halifax. Bicycles makes so much more sense. Parking is free! Most metro buses have bike racks on the front for cyclers who are travelling from the outskirts to downtown. Once there, you have a set of wheels for downtown mobility. Get a bike and never pay for parking again.
Eh. Not everyone can and should be biking, OC.
I stand by my bus solution as the better option.
A ticket would be pretty mean!
I’ve parked at broken meters a few times. Haven’t gotten a ticket … but that could just be luck. I’m not sure about the policy on that one.
I tend to just use Dalhousie parking. It’s a pretty good rate for 1 yr. and I’m downtown a lot, so … It seems worth it to not have the trouble of finding a spot.
“I would like to point out that just because a parking space is broken, does NOT mean the space is broken.”
Logic says it does.
if you can show that there was no way to pay, the judge would throw the ticket out of court
True GV, but for working people it’s often not worth it to take the time off to go to court to protest a $25 ticket.
They offer you a day in court to contest the ticket. We live in an age where it only takes a second to snap a picture of a broken meter, or take a video which is time stamped on your cell phone. I don’t see a problem here!!
Don’t worry OP, the city will be converting all free parking spaces into pay parking spaces shortly. That way everyone gets to pay 🙂
True enough kitteh, but I was so obviously aiming my comment toward those who are capable of cycling as an alternative.
Calgary has an early review process where you can have a ticket voided long before you are required to go to court. Whenever I was incorrectly ticketed, I’d submit my appeal online, and all but 1 ticket was revoked.
Does anyone know if Halifax has a similar option?
i don’t think so gv, were stuck in the 50’s
Yeah, I’d be very surprised. You can pay tickets online, but not contest them I don’t think.
and if you park in them, you get a ticket. been there, done that, and got nailed for it.
go to the Customer Service centre in Scotia Square – the ticket reviewers work out the back there. Generally you can talk to them in person right away.
If you’re downtown Halifax and get a ticket then go to SS, pay $10 to park and fight your ticket
🙂
or park illegally then fight that ticket too….see the troubles here?
or better yet, Just take the bus like the rest of us ecologically minded (or poor) people
I noticed that it is free to dock a boat in Halifax harbor. You could paddle a kayak between Dartmouth and Hali for free, compared to $2.25 each way on the ferry.
I’ll rent the kayak, if you have the ores
The following is what is printed on the back of an HRM parking ticket with regards to Ticket Review Process:
“If you wish to dispute any ticket, a review form may be accepted, for (*in bold letters*)certain circumstances, at one of the Customer Service Centre locations listed above. Results of the review will be available seven working days from submission. For further information call the Parking Ticket Enforcement Office at (902) 490-4000 or Toll Free 1-800-835-6428 (in N.S.)”
So, no online option for ticket disputes. You have to call or go see their smiling faces in person. (You CAN pay online, however) Funny how they have all kinds of options to take your money but are so backwards when it comes to you questioning/disputing the reason for them taking it.
“It is a violation under By-Law P500 to knowingly park at a meter displaying _____________ “
The above was a quote from the HRM website (with the ______ included), however, By-Law P500 actually reads:
13. Unlawful to Permit Parking With “Expired” Visible on Meter
It shall be an offence and a violation of this By-law for the driver of a vehicle to permit the
same to be parked or left standing in any parking space while the word “Expired” is visible
in the observation window of the parking meter relating to such parking space or where the
meter has a digital display reading “00:00″, unless such vehicle is parking pursuant to the
provisions of Section 13 herein or the phase “Out of Order” is visible in the observation window of the parking meter relating to the parking space.”