Q: Ace, I just got a parking ticket in the Water Street parking lot because I fed the meter I thought corresponded to my parking space. Turns out, that meter belonged to the Port-a-Potty that occupies the space next the space where I parked! Tell me I’m crazy, but what kind of public restroom needs a parking meter?!—John Dissed
A: Rest assured, John, your sanity remains intact. In fact, you’re not alone in your confusion, as Ace discovered by paying a visit to the portable toilet and parking meter in question, located on the corner of Second and Water streets. As Ace stood there taking notes, a gentleman walked up to the Port-a-Potty and began inspecting it.
He happened to be Bernie Garrison, recreational supervisor in charge of overseeing the City Market. According to Garrison, the potty, which is padlocked during the week, has been located in the Water Street lot from April to October since at least 1993 for the especial use of City Market vendors who arrive around 5:30am to check in and set up. Without it, the vendors would have no place to do their real business.
When queried about the recent kerfluffle, Garrison responded, “I don’t see how any kind of mistake could be made…I see this Port-a-Potty as No. 24,” referencing the number of the parking space the toilet occupies.
However, no sooner had Garrison left the scene than Shane Durrance, a photographer in town to shoot UVA students for Playboy’s “Girls of the ACC” spread (Ace kids you not—look for it on the stands in October), walked up to his SUV parked beside the toilet and muttered “F#%k!” There he found a ticket was neatly placed under his wiper (no pun intended).
“I don’t think anyone with common sense would know [the Port-a-Potty had a parking meter]…you would have to count down the row [of parking spaces] to know that,” sputtered Durrance, vowing to fight the ticket at City Hall.
Back at his desk, Ace called Maurice Jones, director of communications for the City. Jones disavowed any knowledge of the crappy situation. But a few hours later Jones called back saying he had looked into the matter, and that thus far two people had contested tickets involving the Port-a-Potty. One had been denied and the other was still being processed. Moreover, said Jones, “the treasurer’s office is taking steps to cover the meter so that the mistake won’t be made again in the future.”
Sure enough, the meter is now covered with a green cloth, which means, Ace figures, that in some sense fewer people will be pissed off.