Rant #3,575: Every One's a Winner

Finally.

I finally have my peace of mind again

Yesterday, I was given my extra parking pass in my apartment complex, and finally, I can basically park wherever I find an open space.

As you know, this was not always the case, and I had to either find a visitors spot--me, a resident, parking in a visitors spot makes absolutely no sense--or I was out of luck, taking my chances in parking in one of the dozens of unoccupied spaces that dot the landscape here.

And one time--which I vowed to be the last time--I was towed, for a price of $260, in cash.

I was forced to get a handicapped parking permit--which I really don't feel that I need--in order to bypass these idiotic rules, because you cannot tow a car with a handicapped pass from a handicapped spot ... if you can find such a spot.

When i could not find a visitors spot, I parked in the handicapped spot, which drew the ire of one of our neighbors--our next door neighbor--who claims the handicapped spot in front of our apartments was "her" spot.

I did everything I could to explain to management that their rules made no sense--

But as I have said time and time and time again, it appears the only way to get action--in a variety of circumstances--is to threaten legal action, which I did.

Funny, within just a matter of weeks after I was towed, management bent a bit, especially after I complained to them again about yet another time I could not find a "legal" space for my car. 

That was about two weeks ago, and i threatened legal action again--

And last week, they took my threat to heart, and I received my pass yesterday.

Sure, they are charging a pretty penny for this "privilege," but at least for my money i get not only peace of mind, but I no longer have anxiety about whether I will get a space or not.

And this problem is at all times during the day and night, not just at certain times during the day.

So this situation, once again, proved two things:

1) You threaten legal action, and you get results.

2) If something is wrong, and so wrong in this particular case, you have to open your mouth and voice your displeasure.

I don't like to enrage management and fellow tenants, but I did what needed to be done.

And yes, I do believe my protests had a lot to do with the change in policy.

Visitors spaces should be for just that, visitors.

My family and I are residents. Just because we have two cars doesn't mean we should be looked at as visitors.

And when outsiders have the parking passes which are not being used by residents--including aides, family members and others who are not residents--well, I think I had a good case to argue legally--

But honestly, I am happy it did not get that far.

So while my pocketbook continues to get lighter, the placement of my car in an "illegal" parking space won't cost me ever again.

Next question:

Can I take the monthly parking fee off on my taxes?

Just asking ... .