WASHINGTON, Pa.,None — A Washington County city has suspended giving overtime parking tickets for all its metered spaces after a woman challenged a ticket based on a meter that hadn't been calibrated under state law.
Keressa Kuis went to court Thursday to argue that the meter was broken so she shouldn't have to pay the $78.50 ticket issued by a meter maid in Washington, Pa.
But Washington County Judge Paul Pozonsky interrupted Kuis to ask the maid whether the meter had been calibrated. The state Bureau of Weights and Measures is supposed to calibrate the meters every three years under a 1996 law.
When the meter maid said it wasn't calibrated, the judge voided the ticket. The city hopes to get state approval to calibrate its own meters but won't be giving out tickets until then.
However, as of Thursday evening, there were no bags placed over the meters, which means those parking unaware of the ruling can still waste their money by putting it into the meters.
Last week, the city's solicitor, Lane Turturice, said all meters will soon be inspected.
"I'm glad we now know," he said. "The city wants to be in compliance."
Turturice said the city just took over management of the meters several years ago and didn't know about the regulation. He said that newer electronic meters shouldn't have to undergo an inspection.
But, according to the state, every meter, new or old, needs to be inspected every three years.
Previous Stories: April 26, 2010: Pittsburgh-Area City Halts Parking Tickets; Meters Not Inspected
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