Walking down the bustling city streets, finding a parking spot is harder than winning the lottery. When you finally see an open space on the side of the road, do you sometimes think, "Just stop for a while, it should be okay if you don't pay those few dollars?" "Oh, friend, that's a bad idea!
Fines are not negotiable
Off street parking isn't a free lunch. There are rules for parking management in every city, and if you don't follow the rules, it's illegal! You may think, "Oh, just once, the police uncle won't be so serious, right?" "Wrong! Cameras and patrolmen are not merciful, once they are caught or photographed by electronic eyes, the fine will fly to your door immediately. Don't underestimate these tens and hundreds of fines, they add up, and in a few months, they will be enough for you to eat a luxurious meal!
Some places have progressive fines for vehicles with frequent violations, which means that the more times you commit, the more the fine doubles. If you are lucky and don't pay it several times in a row, the fine figure can make you feel distressed for a while!
Wallets are just the beginning
You think the fine is over? Naive! If the fine is not paid, your car may be ruthlessly towed. Towing fees plus parking fees, plus late fees, this set of processes, a few hundred dollars can easily become thousands! That's not all, if you want to redeem the car, you have to spend time running errands, going to the traffic management department to queue up, and it feels like going to the hospital to register.
Credibility
In the modern world, credibility is more valuable than gold. You may not know that not paying for parking can really affect your credit history. Some cities have begun to include traffic violations in their personal credit rating systems. Just because of a few dollars in parking fees, there is an extra black spot on your credit report, which may be affected in the future when you take out a loan to buy a house, apply for a credit card, or even find a job. Can you afford it?
Social image
Don't forget, where you park, it's also a shared public space. Your momentary convenience may leave others with nowhere to stop, cause traffic jams, and even cause disputes in the neighborhood. This kind of behavior will give you a reputation as "unruly" in the community. In the circle of friends, you may become the person who "always likes to take advantage". The reputation is stinky, and there are fewer friends, which are all invisible losses!
What to do?
Of course, knowing that mistakes can be corrected, and there is great goodness. Develop a good habit of paying in a timely manner, now that mobile phone payment is so convenient, don't be lazy when you move your fingers. If you really encounter special circumstances, remember to appeal in time and reasonably protect your rights and interests. In addition, you can set a reminder or simply choose a prepaid parking plan to avoid the problem of forgetting to pay in the first place.