Dear driver: We noticed you didn't make it back to your car in time, so we plugged in a coin. Your friends, the meter police.
Yes, this small upstate village near the Finger Lakes believes that a little unexpected courtesy - like leaving nice notes instead of tickets on cars with expired meters - can go a long way.Since the practice began in August 1992, visitors have been pleasantly surprised by a free nickel in their meter, Deputy Village Clerk Patty Couch told the Syracuse Herald-Journal.
The notes that the meter police leave on cars also request a donation to the "courtesy fund" so others can enjoy the same kindness.
So far, 1,902 people have made donations averaging $1.60 each, or $3,042, Couch said. One woman gave $15. The total amount of parking-ticket revenue dropped from $22,600 in 1991-92 to $9,700 in 1992-93.
But a file at the village office is packed with thank-you notes. One called the program "a sensible break." Another said the free coins represent "an eminently civilized alternative" to tickets.
Despite the loss, village officials consider the meters a necessary evil to keep parking spaces from being monopolized.
The decision to ticket or not to ticket is left up to the sole part-time meter reader, Helen Searle, who carries around the extra nickels during rounds. A nickel buys 15 minutes of meter time.