The Beaches Put a Bounty on Parking

Did city politicians really have the community’s best interests in mind when they rolled out these parking meters? If you plan to head down there, be careful about overstaying your welcome. A simple stroll on the beach with your dog or a quick stop for lunch could turn into an unexpectedly expensive outing.

Just look at the job ads seeking parking enforcement attendants, complete with pay incentives to ensure they hunt down every single meter violation. These aren't hardened criminals—they’re paying customers who took the time to visit these beach towns and support local merchants. Offering bounties on visitors doesn’t exactly give off the impression that our leaders care about the public, though many of us already know better than to expect that.

On Indeed, the company Taggr posted this on their job listing:

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A classic economic rule says that governments tax what they want less of, and the message here is loud and clear: they don’t want people patronizing local businesses. Charging a reasonable fee for parking is one thing; predatory hyper-vigilance is another. In some cases, overstaying a meter by a few minutes can cost a driver more than dinner for two.

In the long run, this is neither good public stewardship nor sound economic policy. There are plenty of surrounding areas that offer free parking—or at least manage their paid spaces without gouging their guests. Two quaint, oceanfront communities should be welcoming their own neighbors and treating visitors with hospitality—especially in a state whose economy relies so heavily on tourism.

Now, I'm not a fan of parking meters but I understand, I think they're fine if they're affordable and not predatory. This job ad clearly falls under the predatory category.