Monday, July 18, 2011

Deceptive Trade Practices Downtown?

So, you're running late for court and desperately looking for a parking place, and you come across this sign in front of a parking lot (which looks like it has been carpet bombed);


Your interpretation of the sign leads you to believe that:

A.  You can park at this lot for a flat fee of $5.
B.  You can buy the whole crappy lot for $5.
C.  You can park there for ten minutes for $5, but if you stay over an hour, it will be $15.

Well, if you guessed "C", you would be correct.  Sadly, I was running late and shelled out the additional $10 more than I expected rather than go look for another spot.

The non-apologetic parking lot attendant pointed out to me that the letters "MIN" are written above the dollar sign, so I should have known better.

As a side note, you may not want to park at the lot framed by Fannin, Preston, Prairie, and Main.  It's a rip off.

9 comments:

Paul B. Kennedy said...

Murray,

Try the parking lots off Austin. They range in price from $3 to $10 a day. There's also plenty of street parking available at $1 an hour.

Anonymous said...

Park in the civil courthouse garage, and take the tunnels to the CJC. You will have already gotten through security, and will be in the basement and can catch an elevator easier.

Rage

Howard said...

Mr. Newman,
I read one of your earlier postings regarding the proper behavior in the court room while the docket is being called. I had the opportunity to in be Joan Campbell's court while the docket was being called and noticed a very interesting behavior from the Judge. Whenever the defendent answered when his/her name was called, the Judge never looked up from her paperwork and just moved on to the next case. However, if the defendent's attorney answered, the Judge always made eye contact with the attorney and said "thank you". Somewhat disrespectful if you ask me.

Anonymous said...

That structure is not the "civil courthouse garage." It was there before the new civil courthouse was built.

Anonymous said...

But you knew exactly which one I was talking about.

Rage

Anonymous said...

Don't be a hater 7:49. Just cause you have to park on the bayou.

Anonymous said...

Take the bus and enjoy the new park over the Jury Assembly Building.
What a wonderful waste of tax dollars for prime parking real estate downtown.

Anonymous said...

Is the new jury assembly area the brainchild of Arthur L. Storey, Jr.?

Anonymous said...

Same thing happened to me. False advertising! I pulled out and parked elsewhere, not giving them the satisfaction. Frustrating and just plain wrong.

Episode Seven: The Voters Awaken - A One Act -Sci-Fi Play

SCENE:  The Death Star orbits over Downtown Houston. [INTERIOR] The Imperial Council Chambers. EMPRESS OGG sits at the head of a long table ...