Uh.... huh?

It's been awhile since I posted, so I'll try to piece together the things I remember.

The most recent, yesterday I went to go on break. I didn't notice anyone coming, so I closed up my booth and went walking around the building.  Well this guy comes RUNNING after me yelling "MISS.. excuse me MISS," At this point i'm a bit perplexed, as I don't think I have every been chased after leaving.  He proceeds to ask, "You just closed, how the heck am I supposed to get out of this place"  I look back (mind you it's about 50 yards away) and see his car sitting at my booth, running...  I just looked at him (probably bewildered) and said. "Sir, you need to go out on the other side. She's still open while i'm on my break."   I tell ya... some people just don't get it.

Also yesterday I had a guy go to the two empty booths, get confused, call the office (after sitting at the one for about 10 minutes) and ask how he was supposed to get out.  The office called me and asked if I saw anyone stuck.  By this time, i think the guy figured out that there were 3 booths and I was open.   *shakes head*

I have been getting this question a lot lately.  "Uh.. yeah.. do you know where i can park, and what spots are available?"   I don't understand why people think I know what's available and what's not...

This one too "Uh.. how much is it to park"  Mind you..the sign when they are asking me is right on the door below where i'm standing.

Oooh. I had a gentleman call me inhumane for charging him for being a minute over his time.  Let me explain. If you are here 2 hours it's 4 dollars.. if you are here 2 hours and 1 minute it's 6 dollars.   I had to tell him it's the rules.. sorry.  I think that's one of the most interesting thing i've been called.  The stupid thing about it all.  He only had 3 ones or a 50. We can't take anything over a 20 and he didn't have enough, so it would have been 6 regardless if he would have been there on the dot or not.

I guess that's it for now, but i'm sure i'll have more stories in the future.  The sad thing, most of the stories are just repeat.. every minute, every hour of every day.  Construction / closure of our garage is coming up, so I'm sure i'll hear a LOT more fun stuff and be able to post more in the near future.

Thanks for reading!

Just more random stories!

This week is incredibly busy, as there are last minute tax payers, board meetings and trainings going on. I'm sure i'll have many more stories to tell within the next week.  People are crazy and impatient...  Mind you, there are just stories pieced together.. so please note, I'm not really using any proper grammar skills!

A Lady parks her car right at the entrance (not close enough to pull a ticket).  She walks up to our booth and asks how this whole thing works.  After we finish trying to explain that she needs to pull her car forward, pull a ticket and the prices.. she proceeds to walk toward the ticket booth and pull a ticket.  She states it's not working.. so we explain AGAIN that she needs to pull her car up in order for the sensors to read and allow her to pull a ticket...
(on a side note) if you could just "pull a ticket" people could get out for free.. all the time. There is a way to do this, but it's not something you can do without notice... ;)

A guy pulls up to my booth..and in a great Boston accent says "There's only parking on da roof, and I ain't parking on no roof!"    This made me chuckle..as you don't normally hear that accent in these parts!

Here is a popular line.. "If i come back, do I have to pay again"?"

Dude, badly tweaking (twitching..and doing a chewing motion with his mouth)  with teeth missing and very unkempt says "I heard if..uh.. yea.. I pay my taxes. .heh  uh I don't have to pay for parking?"  I told him this wasn't true.. He did get out for free as he was only there 30 minutes.  I figure he won't remember that anyway and will go through the same process next year..

Lady pulls in to the entrance.. realizes she is to far away and backs up to pull in closer.  She ends up using her wallet to press the button trying to avoid hanging out or opening her door.  The ticket comes out and she ends up having to almost get out of her car just to pull the ticket.
Again..on a side note, this happens a lot.. Unfortunately, when the button is pushed, but the ticket isn't pulled right away.. it makes this awful buzzing noise.  I am pretty sure the longest someone has sat there staring was about 45 second.... that was pretty bad..

A lady gives me a ticket and pulls forward (as some do assuming they are under the free 30 minutes).  I tell her that there is a $2 fee.  She argues in her broken English and tells me "She told me 1 hr is free"  I told her I personally don't know who "She" is and that I can't let her go until she pays.  She asked for her ticket back..then realized there were about 10 cars behind her..and then handed me two dollars.  I had to explain to her that I needed the ticket back still.   Glad it didn't go up to $4.. that would have really confused her...

Another line we get quite often. "Hi, I'm a county employee--- were am I supposed to park. .and Do I have to pay?!?"

Older gentleman asks if this is the building to get marriage licenses.  (He looked giddy btw) We tell him yes. It's always awesome to see this... THEN he asked jokingly "So..where do I go to get divorce papers!"  lol  Glad people have a sense of humor...

Another man asks about where to get marriage license.  Then he states "I hope i'm not making a mistake ~ I figure after 20 years, it's time to tie the knot!"

There is a part of our parking structure that is a dead end and holds about 16 cars.  I don't understand why if you see someone backing out of that part, that you would go down and do the same thing.  I guess we really do live in a monkey see monkey do society... :)

A Lady comes up in the morning and says she went to a closed booth without realizing it (during peak hours). She got stuck and wasn't able to back up, so an employee helped her and swiped her card to let the lady out.   She felt so guilty and asked if she could pay for the previous day.  In the end, my boss said just to let it slide.  Nice to know there are still honest people out there!

The sign says (picture and all) to pull a ticket, but at least 5 times a day we get people just sitting there staring blankly and ask, " Uh... I just want to park, what do I do?"

I leave you with this..... It's interesting with all the different personalities that come through... You can tell those who are genuine.. or those who are jerky and plain ignorant.  Those people it's easier to be a hard ass too... It's kind of fun.

The "not so blessed" in intelligence people.

So, with being that we see people on a daily basis.. all types of people, I figured I would dedicate a blog to those people I just either want to out right slap, or facepalm to what i've seen (or heard).  Please ignore my grammar on this one, as its basically going to be written lines only of what i've seen (or again..heard)


One of our structures (THANK GOD I DIDN'T SEE) there was a man running naked up to find his clothes... not sure WHY he was naked in the first place..but.. yea..

I've heard of people peeing in our structure because they couldn't find a bathroom.. again..not one I've seen.

Dad is in front driving. Mom is in back.. daughter who is about 2 1/2 sitting next to mom in the middle (with no seatbelt on) and the car seat is empty. *shakes head*

Daughter in back in car seat, but barely strapped in.

3 kids in backseat all under the age of 5 (maybe.. i'm kinda pushing it) none in car seats.

People pulling up to our booth with a blank look on their face. They ask.. Am I allowed to park here. Even though the sign CLEARLY states. Public parking. (and fee information).

Oooh.. you only take cash? I thought I could pay with ATM.  What do you expect me to do now. I have no cash?!?!? (yea sir.. i'm really going to let you out for free JUST because you claim to have no cash.  Funny thing.. most of THESE people just magically appear to "find" cash in their wallet/purse/middle console)

I refuse to pay the 2 dollars you are asking me... sure go ahead and give me a citation ($40 bucks!)  I don't know about you.. but I would rather run into the building.. go to the ATM and get the money out (regardless of fees) and pay the 2 bucks...

*Big pet peeve*  People handing me their tickets... after pulling up to the booth with it in their mouth.

People handing me their ticket with the lit cigarette in the same hand.

People hitting the booth/pole.. or curb.

One lady broke our gate arm. She had a place to put her wheel chair on the back of her car. The gate got stuck between the car and the wheel chair. My booth mate asked her to stop.. and well she didn't. Now we have a very small gate arm..

Uh.. my card isn't working.. I'm not sure why.  I take it from them, swipe it.. and it works fine. (Happens almost daily!)

I only have $100... (we only accept 20 or less.. which is posted everywhere too).

Hmm... that's all i can think of for right now.. I know there are a ton more.. but man.. you get the idea!

Additional thoughts..

So i've decided to add a few more stories.  I feel I have to be somewhat careful what I say, as I could potentially get in trouble. HOWEVER, because I have a heart.. i'm sharing these anyway (at least this first story).

I seem to have that personality that people are just drawn to talk to me about their problems.  I have no issues with this, as I'm used to it, and am a good listener.  One day a guy walked up to my booth to ask me where the temp agency was for the county.  He was not even close to where it was, so I explained how to get there.  He continued to talk to me and told me he had .95 cents to his name and that he had been unemployed for 2 years. He shared with me that he was so close to just breaking down and crying.  I tried to encourage him as much as possible, as I have been in that position (thank GOD not for that long, but I get it!).  Anyway, later on that same guy came driving up to my booth, handed me his ticket. The ticket came up to 2.00 (if i remember correctly).  He looked like he almost wanted to cry.  He said he decided to go ahead and go over and talk to HR (which is downtown).  He said.. I have nothing.. what am I supposed to do?  I don't have a bank account, so I can't go to the bank.. you know I only have .95 cents to my name..
Now you have to understand.  Someone in his position, the only alternative is that he gets a citation ($40) and then we can let them out.  I felt compassion for him, and took care of his ticket for him.  Granted, we aren't allowed to do this (i'm sure) but I just couldn't do that too that poor guy when he had been through so much.
You have to understand... we get MANY excuses... i mean so many every day that I can't even count on fingers and toes.. but I knew in my heart of hearts that this guy was genuine.  I felt for him.  I still pray for him hoping to see him come through my line again... BUT this time as an employee!  Everyone needs a break from time to time... that was his. :)

Okay.. now to lighten up the mood and to finish off this blog.  The other day I had a gentleman, who was a county employee, in about his 60's come through my line.  He asked me if we gave senior discounts.  I kinda laughed and told him that we didn't, plus he wouldn't be included in that as he looked to be too young.  I at least got a good laugh out of him and his passenger to which he replied.. I do believe you need to get that prescription in your glasses checked.  :)

One last thought.  I'm thinking about keeping a tally of how many people hit our booth our pole. One gentleman yesterday hit the pole with his truck and drove off with a very nice yellow streak on his nice huge truck.

till next time!

First Post

So, I've decided that since I see so much random, sometimes funny and sometimes very sad, things at work, I would blog about it.  Hope you enjoy my stories.  I will add as I see more :)  I know this first blog is going to be a bit scattered as I have now 2 1/2 months as working as a parking attendant. It's never a job i thought I would have, but I enjoy it immensely!  

My first week working, while still training, somewhat on my own, a guy came through our line, I wasn't working on register at the time, but was watching.  He had been told his total after pulling up to the booth. The guy said that he wasn't going to pay, that it should be validated as he was a witness in a case (which they do get validations, but not from us). Mind you, by this time, he had parked his car at the booth and refused to move it. We explained what his options were, which were either to park his car and go to the courthouse to get the validations, go to the ATM to get cash (as we only take cash) or we could call parking enforcement and he would receive a citation.  He chose to have us call the parking enforcement.    He then looked at his ticket and said. "I didn't refuse to pay" (which is what the ticket was written for, as he was basically refusing to pay).  My co-worker then lifted the gate (as we do after they receive a citation), and once again, he refused to move and that we needed to call the authorities.  Which we did.  One of our parking enforcement guys FINALLY was able to talk some sense into the guy and he left... but man... what a first week that was!

One other thing that happens while working is that we get a lot of stories of why they shouldn't have to pay.  The funniest one I have gotten by far is an older gentleman was coming through my line.  He stated, with a huge grin on his face, that he had stolen the car and asked if he still had to pay the fee. (Granted I could tell he was just joking..). So smiling back at him, I said "Of course"  He gave me his ticket which I ran through our machines.  It came up as $2.00 which I told him, to which he stated "Wow..that's highway robbery!"  

Now just to finish off this first blog.  Many many times... we get... "Really, you only take cash... does that mean you don't take debit cards?"  Seriously people...there are signs EVERYWHERE!  

More stories to come.  I'm sure there are more in my head... I just need to start writing them all down so that when I do update this... the thoughts won't be so scattered!

Thanks for reading!