I ended my nearly two-month hibernation to go to an afterwork event in the Flatiron District in New York City on Thursday, Feb. 26. I was in Newark, N.J. earlier that day and I thought about just parking my car in Newark and taking the Path or New Jersey Transit trains into New York City. I went against my better judgement and drove into New York City instead.
I get there around 7:30 p.m. or so and parked on W 22nd Street between 5th and 6th. The sign said you can't park there after 10 p.m. Cool. I figured I would be out of there way before 10 p.m. anyways. I met up with some friends and we having a good ole time. Around 10:15 p.m. or so, my friend asks me for a ride home...and I said sure..."give me 30 more minutes." About 20 minutes after this conversation, I said I was ready. After getting our stuff, we left and walked back to where I parked my car. I walked past the spot where my car was parked and did a double take. Did I really park on this street or was it the next street over? After 10 more minutes of walking up and down the street. I realized my car was either stolen or towed.
It turned out to be the latter. I didn't have my cell phone on me (it was in my car). So, my friend called some number to get the number for the Manhattan pound. When no one answered the phone at the Manhattan pound, we jumped in a cab and took the ride over to West 34 Street and the West Side Highway. Apparently, the Manhattan pound is a 24-hour operation. When we get there about 11:15 p.m. or so...there was a line out the door. I finally get up to the window and I couldn't remember my license plate number (I now have my license plate number written down on the back of my insurance card). I knew the first three digits for sure and told them the make, model and color and they punched it up into the system. Now...for the jaw dropper. The cost to get my car out $185. Fawk.
I left my credit card at home. I didn't have my debit card on me either. I had only $25 in cash on me after leaving the afterwork spot. We are in a recession and I've put myself on a strict budget. It was also a bad time of the month for this to happen. I just paid rent and all my bills and just loaned my mother a good some of money. Needless to say, I was stretched thin. My friend didn't have that type of cash...so I had to leave my car in the pound overnight. The guy said if I get it out before 10:45 p.m. Friday, I could avoid the $20 per day storage charge. So, I had one of the police officers escort me to my car so I could retrieve some of my belongings. I got my cell phone, my laptop and my coat. I noticed on my windshield is a ticket for $115. Fawk. I shook my head in disgust as the officer watched me. I then left the pound.
At this point, I felt like a broken man. I'm tired. I'm hungry. I have a headache. I now have no way to get home to where I live in Jersey. My friend bought us some food and offered the couch for the night. So, that took care of my immediate problems. But I now had to call my mother and ask for a portion of the loan back. So, I call my mother around 12:30 a.m. and got an earful on being irresponsible (I probably deserved that) but she promised to get up at the crack of dawn and go to the bank and put $200 into my account.
I spent the night in Newark and couldn't fall asleep. On Friday morning, I took the New Jersey Transit train from Newark to New York Penn Station. I figured I've given New York City too much of my money already and I did "the walk of shame" from 33th and 7th to 34th and the West Side Highway instead of taking a cab. The walk will be my constant reminder to never get my car towed in New York City again. I mean the ticket was fair and I would have gladly paid the ticket...if that was the only penalty. I was parked in an area beyond the time allowed but towing my car was fawking cruel. During the walk, I said to myself "New York City is strapped for cash and towing cars= quick, easy money." As the police officer drove me to my car, I asked him if this was a busy night. He said no...they only towed about 100 cars that Thursday night. He said on a good night (which is usually a Friday, Saturday or Sunday night) they tow about 400 cars. Let's do the math. 400 cars x $185 each = $74,000. Sheeet!
So, after the walk of shame to the Manhattan pound, there was no line. I figured...great...I'll be out of this place in 5 minutes. Not so fast. After telling them I was here to get my car...it took them another 30 minutes to find my paperwork. I paid and then had a police officer drive me to my car. After inspecting my car for damage and any missing items, I started the engine and began to drive out of the facility. I get to the exit gate and then I have to show my receipt to the gate keeper. I'm sitting there another 10 minutes as the gatekeeper is going over my receipt...I have no reason why. Finally, he gives me my receipt back and I felt like I was released from prison. New York City plus $300. Spchrist minus $300.
Never again.
I get there around 7:30 p.m. or so and parked on W 22nd Street between 5th and 6th. The sign said you can't park there after 10 p.m. Cool. I figured I would be out of there way before 10 p.m. anyways. I met up with some friends and we having a good ole time. Around 10:15 p.m. or so, my friend asks me for a ride home...and I said sure..."give me 30 more minutes." About 20 minutes after this conversation, I said I was ready. After getting our stuff, we left and walked back to where I parked my car. I walked past the spot where my car was parked and did a double take. Did I really park on this street or was it the next street over? After 10 more minutes of walking up and down the street. I realized my car was either stolen or towed.
It turned out to be the latter. I didn't have my cell phone on me (it was in my car). So, my friend called some number to get the number for the Manhattan pound. When no one answered the phone at the Manhattan pound, we jumped in a cab and took the ride over to West 34 Street and the West Side Highway. Apparently, the Manhattan pound is a 24-hour operation. When we get there about 11:15 p.m. or so...there was a line out the door. I finally get up to the window and I couldn't remember my license plate number (I now have my license plate number written down on the back of my insurance card). I knew the first three digits for sure and told them the make, model and color and they punched it up into the system. Now...for the jaw dropper. The cost to get my car out $185. Fawk.
I left my credit card at home. I didn't have my debit card on me either. I had only $25 in cash on me after leaving the afterwork spot. We are in a recession and I've put myself on a strict budget. It was also a bad time of the month for this to happen. I just paid rent and all my bills and just loaned my mother a good some of money. Needless to say, I was stretched thin. My friend didn't have that type of cash...so I had to leave my car in the pound overnight. The guy said if I get it out before 10:45 p.m. Friday, I could avoid the $20 per day storage charge. So, I had one of the police officers escort me to my car so I could retrieve some of my belongings. I got my cell phone, my laptop and my coat. I noticed on my windshield is a ticket for $115. Fawk. I shook my head in disgust as the officer watched me. I then left the pound.
At this point, I felt like a broken man. I'm tired. I'm hungry. I have a headache. I now have no way to get home to where I live in Jersey. My friend bought us some food and offered the couch for the night. So, that took care of my immediate problems. But I now had to call my mother and ask for a portion of the loan back. So, I call my mother around 12:30 a.m. and got an earful on being irresponsible (I probably deserved that) but she promised to get up at the crack of dawn and go to the bank and put $200 into my account.
I spent the night in Newark and couldn't fall asleep. On Friday morning, I took the New Jersey Transit train from Newark to New York Penn Station. I figured I've given New York City too much of my money already and I did "the walk of shame" from 33th and 7th to 34th and the West Side Highway instead of taking a cab. The walk will be my constant reminder to never get my car towed in New York City again. I mean the ticket was fair and I would have gladly paid the ticket...if that was the only penalty. I was parked in an area beyond the time allowed but towing my car was fawking cruel. During the walk, I said to myself "New York City is strapped for cash and towing cars= quick, easy money." As the police officer drove me to my car, I asked him if this was a busy night. He said no...they only towed about 100 cars that Thursday night. He said on a good night (which is usually a Friday, Saturday or Sunday night) they tow about 400 cars. Let's do the math. 400 cars x $185 each = $74,000. Sheeet!
So, after the walk of shame to the Manhattan pound, there was no line. I figured...great...I'll be out of this place in 5 minutes. Not so fast. After telling them I was here to get my car...it took them another 30 minutes to find my paperwork. I paid and then had a police officer drive me to my car. After inspecting my car for damage and any missing items, I started the engine and began to drive out of the facility. I get to the exit gate and then I have to show my receipt to the gate keeper. I'm sitting there another 10 minutes as the gatekeeper is going over my receipt...I have no reason why. Finally, he gives me my receipt back and I felt like I was released from prison. New York City plus $300. Spchrist minus $300.
Never again.
7 comments:
See I would say that I'm sorry for you but I can't because you was warned to move your metal by 10. But I will say that SUCKS you had to come off 300 bucks at bad time.
Lesson learned.
@Ladynay...I know...but the picture on the blog...still resembles how I feel.
Hey, I feel you man. $300 ain't nothin' to sniff at.
:-\
...and why were you in hibernation?
@Delect...I've taken myself off the market. I'm also officially turned off by the whole dating scene. I too often feel that women are just out to see what they can get out of man as opposed to getting to know a man. Or maybe that's just my view of women in the Northeast.
But who are you giving the finger to? You don't at all see where you went wrong on this...?
@anonymous...it is very obvious who the middle finger is for...as I'm writing a check to pay for the parking ticket.
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