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PARKING: Honest error is punished

| August 8, 2014 9:00 PM

My husband and I went downtown to meet some old friends for dinner at the Iron Horse on Friday, July 25. We went through the Iron Horse parking lot, but it was full. We were running late and went further down Lakeside and finally pulled into the Republic Parking lot. We found the payment receptacle and put in our cash and tapped in our space number. I was in such a hurry and put the receipt in my purse, thinking that since I had put in our space number that it was recorded, not even noticing that it said to put it in your car window.

After dinner we returned to find a payment envelope on our car stating we owed $30 for not paying. The next day I mailed the receipt and an apology note, stating we made a mistake but that we had paid. In just a few days we received a letter from Republic in Spokane saying that the notice was still valid and to avoid further collection action, we must pay. I called their office and spoke to a very nice lady who seemed to understand but that she would have to transfer me to another person. The next lady I spoke to said the notice was valid and we would have to pay the fine.

We will pay but are saddened that our hometown has become so commercial. Business is business. So, learn from our mistake.

JIM and SUE STILLINGER

Dalton Gardens