Evening star., 1938-11-15
Drivers Learning to Master
|ntricocies of Parking Meters
Other Restrictions Remain in Effect
Despite Privilege Granted by Nickel

Amid evidences of much interest
and some confusion, Washington
began its parking meter experiment
yesterday as 80 of the devices
started collecting rentals for space
at the curb in the downtown area.
Although the meters were not con-
sidered officially open for business
until 2 o'clock. when Commissioner
Hazen went to the 900 block of F
street NV, with Traffic Director
William A. Van Duzer and Capt.
Harvey G. Callahan of the first pre-
cinct and dropped a nickel in a
slot, motorists had been using the
devices during the morning.
The meters now stand guard over
most of the available parking space
in the area bounded by Seventh,
Fifteenth, E and G streets NV,
offering either 20 minutes or one
hour of occupancy for five cents.
They do not supersede existing re-
strictions, rush-hour bans remain
ing In effect, and parking between
6 pm. and am. remains free and
unlimited.
The majority of drivers appeared
to have learned the principles of
metered parking by yesterday after
noon. Most of the devices were
showing green, indicating car
parked within the law, and only
a handful had yet to receive their
first nickel.
Some Complaint Heard.
Some motorists were heard ex-
pressing disgust with the idea of
renting space on a street, but the
greatest number of complaints came
from those who found themselves
without the required coin after park
ing and were afraid that they would
return to find ticket after going
In search of change. Police made
no effort to enforce parking regula-
tlonS with aid of the meters yester-
day. however.
A number of parkers did not
understand the significance of the
colored indicators and made in
quiry of pedestrians, who seemed as
interested in "how the gadgets work"
as people In automobiles Insertion
OF a nickel causes an arrow to COM
mence moving from zero to 20 or
go, depending on location, across
the face Of a green scale When the
time has expired, the scale f1ips over
and is replaced by one colored redD
A frequent query was, What is
to stop me from coming out at the
end of an hour and putting in an
other nickel?'
The answer is. Nothing. except a
police regulation prohibiting park
ing for longer period and the DO
licemen who intend to enforce it,"
The meters can't tell whether or not
1t is the same person doing business
again.
Some Find Free Parking.
Several motorists were elated to
find vacant spaces with meters show
ing half hour or more to go on
a paid-up hour. Those who had
business requiring only a few min
utes to conclude therefore were able
to park free on the remaining time
OF previous occupant
The last nickel deposited is shown
behind glass window, enabling pa
trolling officers to detect slugs. The
police will not act as collectors,
however, other men having been
employed for the purpose.
District officials will watch opera
ton of the meters carefully during
the experimental period, which ex-
pires next June 80, bearing in mind
that some cities have found it de-
sirable to discard the sentries after
a trial. In Houston, Tex, q num-
Der Of the devices were destroyed
by parties determined to eliminate
them, while they were removed In
Topeka, Kans., prior to an election
and later replaced. but with two
free spaces between each requiring
payment.
Make Profit After S45.
The meters will have paid for
themselves after collecting $45 each.
The District was required to pay
the manufacturer first, however.
The man who was applying alumni
mum paint to the meters on E street
between Ninth and Fourteenth
streets NV. unwittingly did motor
lists q good deed by tying his wet
paint" signs across the meter so the