unexpected cost of a hospital stay

[shaggy]

And how do they know that you didn't leave and come back and park in the same spot? If you drive by my office every day, you may see my car in the same spot 3 days in a row. That doesn't mean the car never moved.

I have no idea, but I assume the address where the vehicle is parked is recorded. Residents can also call the police and report any vehicle that's been in the same spot for 72 hours.

I honestly don't have an issue with the law. Without it there would be abandoned vehicles all over town (like there were when I lived in Denver, before it had this law). Oh and incidentally, I did once have my car impounded when my husband had parked it on the street for more than 72 hours and didn't notice the ticket on the windshield. The funny part was when he went to pick up the car, the impound lot had lost it, so they ended up paying us because the car was never found.

The law has been on the books for a long time, so I doubt there is much use in fighting it.

[shaggy]

Growing up, we had 5 cars and a 1-car driveway. So if we went on a family vacation we were supposed to put 3 or 4 cars into a long term parking lot? I don't think so. That would have cost as much as the entire vacation.

I'll assume that wasn't in a major metropolis.

When I was a kid we had 5 cars and a 3-car garage, but it was in a town of 1500 people.

[disneysteve]

I'll assume that wasn't in a major metropolis.

It was in the city of Philadelphia. I think that qualifies as metropolis.

I understand not wanting abandoned cars but 3 days hardly qualifies as abandoned. If we do a weekend getaway over a holiday, like Labor Day, one car would sit that long. And week-long vacations are rather common. Heck in recent years our summer vacation has routinely been 2 weeks. I'd have to hire someone to move my car every couple of days.

[ruffy]

You would think they would come up with some with something that entitles someone to park at a hospital for the duration of their stay, especially if the person in not capable of having someone move the car...medical emergencies happen, but they shouldn't cripple you this much.

[asmom]

I can see the point of the law; the city doesn't want cars left abandoned on the streets, or have people perma-park and live in their cars.

Yes, of course that is the reason; I can see that. But 72 hours seems kind of intolerant. In Atlanta, some of the in-town neighborhoods allow the residents to get stickers indicating they live there so they are able to park on the street for the long-term. After all, what if you are have an extended illness and are unable to drive for a period of time. There must be some way of addressing those types of situations?

[shaggy]

It's the law in many states, including Pennsylvania, Washington, Illinois, California, etc. And many provinces of Canada.

But by all means feel free to consider it the worst law ever written and certainly worthy of a revolution.