I got a parking ticket a few weeks ago while we were on vacation in the Hamptons. I had parked in a lot metered by the new "parkmobile" app, which I guess is becoming very popular in many towns (including my own), probably because it requires only minimal infrastructure at the site -- really just a sign with the lot number.

I had a boat tour to catch, so I was furiously trying to set up payment through the app for the first time ever on my phone on the walk over to the pier, but I kept getting timeouts connecting to their site. I was able to access other internet sites just fine, but the parkmobile app kept timing out.

Finally, when I got to the boat, my wife was able to arrange for payment from her phone (she'd had some problems with the app, too). This was about half an hour after we had parked.

When I returned to my car, I found a ticket on the windshield. It had been written out _three minutes before_ the payment receipt came through to my wife's e-mail.

Of course, when I returned from vacation I sent a letter to the town court explaining the situation and requesting that the ticket be waived. Cynical codger that I am, I didn't really expect them do so, or even necessarily to reply in a timely manner. So I was pleasantly surprised yesterday when I received a letter from them curtly informing me that the charge had been dismissed!

Sometimes we win :-)