The good guys thread

[Karen]

I wasn't trying to be a downer...just pointing out that most metered parking is with a maximum limit, 2 hours, 1 hour, 4 hours, whatever. So, by re-feeding the meter, you are defeating the purpose of the meter. Do people do it? I am sure. Would I actively encourage people to do it? No. It is a law, one that I might not agree with...but the law is the law.

Google, "refeeding the meter" and you may find that it is illegal in many, many places.

It varies street to street in in this area whether there is a limit or not on the meters. If there is, any extra coins you put in past that amount do not count. So if you get delayed for something beyond your control, you can get a ticket if your errand takes 2 minutes over the 1-hour limit, for example. There are other meters that allow up to 6 or 12 hours, and cost different amounts, it really depends on how close one is to public transportation, retail stores, etc. And there are also streets with no meters, that require permits, and those with no requirements whatsoever. It's a mixed bag, and imagine can be confusing for visitors.

[Cataholic]

It varies street to street in in this area whether there is a limit or not on the meters. If there is, any extra coins you put in past that amount do not count. So if you get delayed for something beyond your control, you can get a ticket if your errand takes 2 minutes over the 1-hour limit, for example. There are other meters that allow up to 6 or 12 hours, and cost different amounts, it really depends on how close one is to public transportation, retail stores, etc. And there are also streets with no meters, that require permits, and those with no requirements whatsoever. It's a mixed bag, and imagine can be confusing for visitors.

Karen- I am not familiar to a parking meter not having a limit. Can you explain how that might work? I do know that re-feeding the meter in the city of Boston is illegal. That was about a two second google search. I forget where you two moved to, but was pretty sure you didn't live in Boston.

I am thinking all the parking meters in the US but the ones you are mentioning are the kind that have limits, and the limits are to limit the time a person parks in one spot without moving one's vehicle. That is the purpose behind the meter (in addition to raising money for the municipality). So, if there is a meter in place, and you refeed it, it is illegal.