The Benevolent Traffic Cops of Hanover

A rare demonstration of mercy over bureaucracy.

About a week ago, I received a parking fine. A catastrophe of apocalyptic proportions, I know.

Now, taxation in any form—even Pigouvian—is always an annoyance. But this time was worse; I actually did pay the meter. I saw the ticket on my windshield and immediately glanced down at my phone to check the ParkMobile meter. There was still thirty minutes or so on it.

What gives!?

Luckily, ParkMobile emails receipts of time purchased so all I had to do was screenshot the message, attach it to the virtual appeal form (can you believe the town government is functioning with 21st century technology? I could barely believe it!), and submit it for review. About 24 hours later, I received confirmation (pictured above) that my appeal had been accepted, and “at the administrative level” no less. Moreover, the town of Hanover went above and beyond to inform me that I had actually messed up: I had incorrectly inputted my license plate into ParkMobile. Instead of forcing me to pay for my mistake and letting me figure the situation out by myself, the bureaucrat(s) who reviewed the ticket and my appeal did the right thing twice: they reduced my balance to zero and let me know what to do so I wouldn’t be erroneously charged yet again.

TL;DR: there are honest government employees who are not looking to soak the taxpaying public with whatever fines they can technically get away with—at least, not all the time.

Credit where credit is due: shout-out to Hanover Parking!