As anyone who lives in LA knows, parking enforcement are abundant and active. It's a given that you'll have to pay a parking ticket on a biannual basis. No matter how careful you are, there's always going to be a day where you're in a rush, neglect to read a sign, or your quick errand ends a minute after your meter expiration time, and they spring into action. I loathe them.
On Monday, I luckily spotted one as he was about to issue a citation. I ran to him and asked what the problem was.
"You're parked too far from the curb."
"But I'm in the gutter." Just barely, but worth a shot, right?
"Look at where the other cars are."
I couldn't imagine having to pay another $60 ticket.
"Please," I said, "I work for free. I don't even get a parking spot. I know it doesn't seem like a lot of money to you, but it's a lot of money for me right now." My eyes started to water. It was raining, so I pushed myself to cry a little bit. "My life kind of sucks right now." Yes! Tears.
He put down his ticket book and looked at me with concern. "What's wrong? Tell me what's wrong." I started babbling about going to college and then law school. Taking the bar. The crappy economy and he instructed me to open my car and sit down. He said he won't give me a ticket.
Then he started wiping tears from my face. I was horrified and disgusted, but I also didn't want the ticket, so I let the stranger continue to touch my face. Just keep it believable, I told myself, a couple more seconds. He told me he had a friend that's a job recruiter and maybe she can help me find a job. And I said sure, and wrote down my contact information. I didn't care at that point; I just wanted him to stop touching my face. He took my information and told me to take care.
I can't believe I did all that just because I didn't want to pay a damn parking ticket.
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