Free parking perk out of favor
In Boston, diplomatic immunity is getting a bit passé.
Yesterday's Globe reported how Boston city councilors have "mostly abandoned" their nine-year practice of having unpaid parking tickets dismissed. From 2000 to 2007, councilors were able to fend off 160 tickets they received while on city business, such as attending community meetings.
But the council was scared off in 2007 after Michael Ross paid back $1,000 in tickets he had dismissed over a four-year period. Ross was also fined $2,000 by the State Ethics Commission (read the archived article here). Last year, only about a dozen tickets were dismissed from four councilors.
Unlike treasury secretary Timothy Geithner and health secretary nominee Tom Daschle - who withdrew earlier today - Ross didn't get away with his "mistakes."
Neither do the rest of us.
(For more parking war stories, read our earlier post on the behavior of parking officials and Peter DeMarco's latest column on excruciating tickets.)
About Boston Overdrive
Video
Contributors
|
Clifford Atiyeh is an automotive writer and car enthusiast . He has spent his entire life driving cars he doesn't own. In the garage: 1995 21-speed Iron Horse, 2002 Jeep Wrangler X (by association) |
|
Bill Griffith is a veteran Boston Globe reporter, having reviewed cars for more than 10 years and serving as assistant sports editor for 25 years. He was also the paper's sports media columnist. In the garage: 2006 Subaru Baja |
|
John Paul is public affairs manager for AAA Southern New England, a certified mechanic, and a Globe columnist. He hosts a weekly radio show on WROL.
In the garage: Hyundai Sante Fe, Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible |
|
Craig Fitzgerald has been writing about cars, motorcycles, and the automotive industry since 1999. He is the former editor of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car. In the garage: 1968 Buick Riviera, 1996 Buick Roadmaster, 1974 Honda CB450 |
|
Keith Griffin is president of the New England Motor Press Association and edits the used car section on About.com. He also writes for the Hartford Business Journal and various weekly newspapers in Connecticut.
In the garage: Mazda 5, Dodge Neon |
|
George Kennedy is a senior writer for WheelsTV in Acton, which produces video reviews for Yahoo, MSN, and other auto websites.
In the garage: Lifted 1999 Jeep Cherokee |
|
|
Boston.com racing coverage
