I got a parking ticket tonight. The story behind it makes for a good verbal presentation, but I’m not sure if it will work as well online. Or if I have enough energy to tell it. I’ll give the simplified version, which will still take a little bit of effort...

00:00 I pull into a parking lot. A policewoman was in the lot, writing parking tickets.
00:10 I park in an open spot about 10 feet away.
00:18 My friend and I get out of the car, and we walk ~10 feet to the payment machine. 00:22 I put my credit card in the machine, wait for the receipt to put on the dashboard.
00:24 We look over toward my car. Policewoman is standing behind it.
00:26 Policewoman starts writing in her ticket notebook.
00:27 I get concerned. I walk toward the car.
00:30 I very loudly tell the policewoman that I am paying the parking meter right now.
00:31 Policewoman looks irritated.
00:32 Speaking slowly and using small words, I indicate that I parked only moments ago.
00:35 Policewoman looks irritated still.
00:40 I explain that she was standing 10 feet away when I parked the car.
00:42 Policewoman asks why my friend did not stay at the car.
00:45 We answer that we were both only 10 feet away.
00:49 Policewoman says she cannot stop a ticket once she starts writing it.
00:50 10 seconds pass in silence.
01:00 I argue for another minute. Policewoman begins to show a bit of understanding.
02:00 I ask what time is written on the ticket.
02:05 Policewoman states the current time; my receipt says 2 minutes prior.
02:10 I realize there is no way that I’ll actually have to pay the ticket.
02:15 Policewoman says she will put a note on the ticket to explain the situation.
02:20 “Fine.” I relent. She resumes writing the ticket.
02:30 I walk to the car to put the receipt on my dash. A second ticket wouldn’t help.
02:50 Policewoman hands me the ticket.
03:00 My friend and I walk away.