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Expensive parking

38 Comments

Two traffic wardens give a parking ticket to a sports car near Harajuku Station.

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38 Comments
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Parking spaces are essential for automobile travel, almost as oxygen in the atmosphere is essential to life. As a result, most people seem to think that parking requirements are an essential feature of city planning, but, as Cliff Winston says, economists have only recently begun to study the cost of these requirements. For example, a large-scale econometric study found that minimum parking requirements significantly increase the number of parking spaces in cities that's why they are paying a big amount of <money> in just parking spaces only.

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NessieMay. 03, 2013 - 09:52AM JST

You will not get a ticket if you are with your vehicle stopped at the side of the road regardless of what signs there are.

Yes, in Japan you can hang out for long periods of time hindering traffic as long as you're with your vehicle. How wonderful...............................................................................................................................................................................

Perhaps you can think of your delivery man who needs to stop and hinder traffic as you say, while he brings you your goods. Or the taxi that waits for you outside.

You obviously don't have a car. Perhaps you are one of these cyclists who break all the road rules like cycling down the wrong side of the road, racing across red traffic lights, holding up left turning traffic while the light are red etc., etc. If anyone hinders, it is arrogant cyclists. ( not all cyclists )

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

You will not get a ticket if you are with your vehicle stopped at the side of the road regardless of what signs there are.

Yes, in Japan you can hang out for long periods of time hindering traffic as long as you're with your vehicle. How wonderful.

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Alex EinzMay. 01, 2013 - 10:20AM JST And yes.. all the drivers here might give me a flag down... but could you please explain me why do you even need a car in centre of tokyo ?.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ummm, perhaps it is to do with the fact that people have businesses and have to deliver and carry things. Why do people in every country have cars ??

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Yubaru, On a separate note, you obviously don't know the street signs and traffic laws in Japan. Better to learn than be sorry.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You will not get a ticket if you are with your vehicle stopped at the side of the road regardless of what signs there are.All Japanese roads are mainly no parking. There is a difference between stopping at the side of the road and parking a vehicle at the side of the road. I should know as I drive every day and have to stop at the side of the road for drop offs and pickups all the time. I encounter parking wardens all the time.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Chicago, Boston, New York? Very cold and Monsoons. We don;t understand why MGM will make $800 million Casinos that will be built in Springfield, Mass. when Japan may legalize casinos very soon., Well, rich organizations can spend money. As long as we park in casino properties, free parking anyway, We have murder9s) every few days but not terrorism here. Meters in vegas give red sign when time comes. When I go Vegas, my chauffeuer park inside of casinos. there she does not have to use my placard. Las Vegas people walk.

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In USA, any cities in any states, cops do not have designated officers for parking meters. Too many murders and gun related crimes beside narco crimes

Toshiko, head to the east, places like Chicago, Boston, New York, etc etc etc, have people that go around, that ticket and tow.

The term "meter-maid" just stuck even though some places may not have meters, but other places still do!

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They don't call policemen because many females are police, too. We just calls cops. they call police. Their duties are catch criminals. How cops are busy in USA? When I lived in So. Calif., it was peaceful. In Las Vegas, there are murder(s) every few days. Sometimes, they have to tell policemen and policewomen such as policemen shot unconscious disabled veteran to ensure public know police women were not involved. Polite way is police officers but people just call cops.

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Parking spaces only have lines to separate cars. Width is wide enough that any large cars can park.

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In Las Vegas, some places have parking meters. Most of parking spaces do not have meters. Too many cars. There are designated parking spaces for handicapped or very old people. I have handicap placard because I am old. When i went to renew Nevada residence ID, I was told to have a handicap placard. I often go to Los Angeles and back to Newport Beach but they don't call meter-maids because there is no parking meters.. In USA, any cities in any states, cops do not have designated officers for parking meters. Too many murders and gun related crimes beside narco crimes. Many cities do not have parking meters., Too many cars. Free parking everywhere. Each cities have different way cops operates. I live a suburb city next to Las Vegas. In our city, cops does not shoot suspects. Cops do catch DUI (driving under influence). Again, there is no parking enforcement officers. In USA, maids is considered discriminatory and if some organization use maids. theyr get sued by ACLU. (American Civil Liberty Union).. American people are outspoken. In Las Vegas, parking meters in city has been accused that they are robbery by City.

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I never heard Traffic Warden here.

That's a Japanese translation, typically in the US they are called "meter maids", and you'll usually see them in the larger cities.

They could otherwise be known as "parking enforcement officers"

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I live in USA. Although each states differ, I never heard Traffic Warden here.

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@Why does it take two wardens to write one parking ticket? LOL because this is Japan, hire two people to get the job done in the same as it would take 1. LOL

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There so needs to be a smartphone app to track these green dudes and give you an alert when they are in your vicinity.

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But I don't know why they need to two guys since they take pictures of the license plate and document the time and place.

They need a witness. One to issue ticket, one to say it was done "legally". 15,000yen a ticket, they could probably have a group of ten and still make money!

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sigh Parking is, I'm afraid, going to forever be a pain in the neck in Tokyo and all other big cities because of all the multi-story buildings jammed up against each other with almost no parking spaces provided, usually only a few spaces in an underground garage, and almost never any spaces around the building on the ground level.

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I drive a bit in Tokyo. It may be selfish to stop on the side of the road, but it is not illegal in most areas as long as the driver is in the car. There are some streets that don't allow stopping usually during the morning rush hour, but I always see delivery trucks stopped in these areas. Also, a lot of intersections have areas painted red before a left turn. These are no stopping areas also. I've had a couple parking violations so I've learned to understand the signs and know how to get by. But I don't know why they need to two guys since they take pictures of the license plate and document the time and place.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Parking tickets should be given automatically to anyone parking illegally, and they should be much much higher cost. More expensive tickets or even driver license revoke should be given to all the "hazard lights" parking idiots... Seriously, these days that seems to be the accepted parking method...luckily I have indeed seen em finally ticket those too.... The money should be used to build proper bicycle lanes...

And yes.. all the drivers here might give me a flag down... but could you please explain me why do you even need a car in centre of tokyo ?....

1 ( +1 / -0 )

that is NOT a sport car. That is an old guy's car.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

They are not parking wardens! They are revenue collectors!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Get these wardens spread across Japan and giving tickets to all the idiots who turn on their hazard lights to park illegally

These aren't policeman, and (sadly) don't have the power to do what the police should be doing, other than issue tickets for cars that aren't displaying a correct ticket, or at a meter that has expired (apologies for earlier statement, there are still some left around).

I think it is semi privatised too, and hence have targets. If you are 5 mins over, you get a ticket. No ifs or buts, your time is up, and the fine kicks in. Changes behaviour (as a person who has received two (one for out of hours, one for delivering the MIL to a hospital, and overstaying by 15 minutes - no mercy, even for helping the aged!). Don't do it anymore - too expensive!

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The introduction of these wardens has made a big difference to parking in Tokyo. I see way less totlally selfish parking now than before - although it is not yet completely gone. There are hotspots where these wardens work that people know they are likely to get caught. Having said that, they do often seem to also go for cars or bikes that are not causing any obstruction or hazard. also, I have a yak office near my place and notice that big black mercs and BM's seem to be immune from tickets. There are 2 of them because 1. this is Japan and 2. to provide evidence in case the ticket is contested. My guess is this motorist's ticket )placed on windscreen) ran out. Finally, while i have sympathy with delivery people and so on who put on hazards to make a drop, there are also plenty of casual motorists who think it is ok to stpo andywhere, stick on hazaerds and then yak on phone or sleep, or eat or wait for missus to have her hair or nails done. Selfish!! And definitely not in front of no stopping sign.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

This is to inform you that your message on JapanToday.com has been removed for the following reason: Off Topic

"Wouldnt surprise me one bit if the caption for the picture is a mistake and the car is not being ticketed at all."

Maybe next time you'll post a picture of it actually being towed, then we'll all know it's accurate!

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You obviously don't drive a car in Japan, otherwise you would not make this comment. It is not illegal to stop at the side of the road providing there is someone in the car. I suppose taxis shouldn't stop at the roadside with the hazard lights on. Perhaps delivery trucks should find "Times Parking" and carry their goods a few hundred meters.

On a separate note, you obviously don't know the street signs and traffic laws in Japan. Better to learn than be sorry.

http://housingjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/japanese-road-signs.jpg

0 ( +2 / -2 )

It is not illegal to stop at the side of the road providing there is someone in the car.

I hope you never get a ticket for this one because YES it is illegal if it is marked.

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I might have known... Jaguar drivers are so arrogant and selfish...

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smithinjapanMay. 01, 2013 - 07:57AM JST Get these wardens spread across Japan and giving tickets to all the idiots who turn on their hazard lights to park illegally ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You obviously don't drive a car in Japan, otherwise you would not make this comment. It is not illegal to stop at the side of the road providing there is someone in the car. I suppose taxis shouldn't stop at the roadside with the hazard lights on. Perhaps delivery trucks should find "Times Parking" and carry their goods a few hundred meters.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Since they can't catch cars easily anymore, they go after scooters and motorbikes..be warned I got done twice in one week.

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Who knows. I parked my motocorcyle next to a bunch of other motorcycles in Nagoya once. We all got 10,000 yen tickets. The tickets said we parked under a no parking sigh. There was none to be seen ANYWHERE.

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there doesnt look to be a parking meter in sight either. Mmmmmm......

No more individual meters anymore, you buy a ticket from a machine and stick it in the window. To stop people sharing tickets (e.g. 30 minutes each) you now need to enter your car number on the ticket too!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Wouldnt surprise me one bit if the caption for the picture is a mistake and the car is not being ticketed at all.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It looks like a good and nice place. I can think of some really bad places where people park their cars, where these inspections and subsequent removal would greatly improve traffic flow and safety. Of the top of my head: every red light district in most cities!

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When local governments need money they hand out parking tickets.

I think you mean public universities.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

When local governments need money they hand out parking tickets.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Get these wardens spread across Japan and giving tickets to all the idiots who turn on their hazard lights to park illegally -- the government would literally make a fortune in a single day. At least in this case the guy seems to be parked in a genuine parking spot.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Why does it take two wardens to write one parking ticket?

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YubaruMay. 01, 2013 - 07:22AM JST I wonder why they are giving this car a ticket?

Probably because police thought it's a Korean car. The back end of the car is slightly beyond the line, and it's a safety hazard in Japan.

-19 ( +1 / -20 )

I wonder why they are giving this car a ticket? Seems like it is parked in the proper spot and from this angle at least, there doesnt look to be a parking meter in sight either. Mmmmmm......

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

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