Parking Maids

Monday, May 03, 2010

Mr. Frank O'Leary
Treasurer, Arlington County
2100 Clarendon Blvd.
Suite 201
Arlington, VA 22201

Greetings Mr. O'Leary,

With all due respect I am writing you this letter to bring to your attention a disturbing and disheartening issue in Arlington County. Knowing you and knowing your many years of honest and efficient service to the County demonstrated in your personal relationships with Arlingtonians and also manifested in the many Awards you have received for your fine job; it is a bit uncomfortable for me to send you this personalized letter, but I think this is an important issue you need to be aware of. This is not the first time this situation has occurred to me, but also has occurred often to other people I know in Arlington to include friends, family, and neighbors. I truly believe that the slogan you abide by: "The people who work in this office do their best to serve the public in a courteous and efficient manner"; is a great code; however not all of the people who works for you stands by, respects, or even observes this constructive principle.

On Thursday, May 8, 2010 I arrived at N. Stuart Street at about 9:30 AM. It was only one parking spot open in N. Stuart St., and I parked there. When I tried to put my quarters in the meter, I realized that was broken. First, it was a coin jammed in the meter's groove and the display was blinking "Fail" or "Fault", I really do not remember. I pushed the jammed coin with another coin and the coins went into the meter, however, the display did not changed from failure. I tried two more quarters which the meter swallowed without displaying the time paid for. I realized that the meter was broken, so I wrote in a business card the word "Broken", I attached to the meter, and I left. I returned to my car just 30 minutes later and I found a parking citation of $25.00 for overtime at meter violation, with a remark of "NO IPARK DEVICE" (Parking violation number 44948176). I have pictures of the broken meter if you which to verify my claim.

What is appalling to me is the total lack of intellectual honesty and the unreserved disregard for moral and professional integrity of the civil servant in purposely ignoring the sign. In my book these functions are supposed to be carried out with responsibility, and foremost, with honesty. For the record, I have paid the ticket already because my time is not worth it of standing in front of a Judge that will be in the difficult and unmerited position of determining who is lying, besides, I do not have any desire of getting even close to such undeserving individual - the so called "civil servant". In my opinion, this behavior is not only unfair and unacceptable, but is also offensive and it does not do justice, serves well, does not represents the Arlington County government at all, and does not reflect the County at as a whole. Unfortunately, in this time and age we still have to deal with and suffer autocratic abuses from mendacious individuals such as the one in question here.

I hope this $25.00 underhandedly acquired by the dishonesty of this "civil servant", goes to serve a truly honest purpose.

Thank you for your time and consideration, with all due respect,

A very disappointed citizen, but not surprised.