I stopped by the Clarendon Farmers Market yesterday. Turns out it wasn’t much of a farmers market unless that coffee guy has some interesting grow lamps and heat/moisture control in his basement. Anyway, I popped a quarter in the meter and the thing said something along the lines of “Meter Failed.” I can’t remember exactly what it said. I figured I had enough time to walk around for a few minutes but when I got back to my car I found that the meter said, “Expired.”

I don’t mind paying a quarter to park for a few minutes but I sure don’t like the idea of paying and risking a $25 ticket. Has anyone else encountered “bad” meters? I have had a number of them in the Clarendon area eat my change without giving me any time. Is there recourse for this? What about the one that I parked at the other day that said I had two hours but after an hour and a half had run out, leaving me with a ticket?

Are we just screwed when it comes to this sort of thing? Does anyone ever calibrate or fix the meters? Any place to report it to?