Things to beware of while in the City of Atlanta. (to buy, codes)

[Atlwarrior]

1. Each traffic violation is completely enforce near GSU. Even near student housing areas also. Please do complete stop and don't turn if you see the sign saying so. Especially on Peachtree street near Five Points. Police are just waiting to pull you over.

2. Also Park Atlanta the street company that check parking meters are out and about at 6:55 am, waiting to give you tickets for illegal parking. This is really sad.

[demonta4]

So, just do what we're supposed to every day. Thanks for the advice! Really, a great thread.

[AtlJan]

Atlwarrior, Your post was so poorly written that I couldn't tell what you were trying to say. Moving on. . .

[bryantm3]

park atlanta really does suck. the meters are rigged so you can't add time to them. for example, if person A buys one hour and needs to add an extra 30 minutes, you are supposed to be able to go back to the meter and add 30 minutes. however, all the codes and stuff you have to punch in— even if you get it right, the screen will read out "time refilling is not available at this time" or "computer error".

so if you've got 30 minutes left on your spot, need an extra 30 minutes and don't have time to come back later, you have to buy a totally new ticket and pay an hour's worth of time.

when it comes to one person paying for the whole hour, the system is rigged also. person A can come and pay the meter and leave in five minutes, and as soon as the person leaves, the meter is reset, so person B comes along 5 minutes later, not knowing that the spot is supposed to be paid for the hour, and pays again. it's essentially set up so 1 spot can get about $30 an hour.

meters aren't supposed to work like that. remember the old parking meters? you dropped your money in, and the meter was set for the hour. if you left, someone else could use the rest of your time. and you could add time to your meter, not have to pay for the time you've already been there. this is what happens when we privatize police services. it's a bad idea.

[ElleKaye]

Fortunately, I have not had an issue with the parking meters I suppose mainly because I have rarely had to use them.

Still, I would agree there does seem to be a parking fishiness . I don't quite get what's supposed to be going on when or why and don't see any signs posted describing it. I met some friends off West Peachtree near 3rd. and while all the metered spots were taken, I found a spot that seemed just fine. Apparently, I could only park there during certain hours (not posted) without being towed. OK, I go move my car to a lot.

I think the lot was like $5 and when I tried to put the fifth dollar in the machine, it would not accept. I'm talking about crisp bills here, not the raggedy try to straighten out the edge kind. At that point, I had three impatient people behind me, but there was no way to cancel. It doesn't give change and it doesn't give back what you've already inserted. I had to start over using a card and let my $4 (lol) go. The man behind me really tried to help but it simply would not accept that last dollar, not even using one from his wallet If you are in a lot that has that type of machine, use a card from the beginning.