The Washington Business Journal reports that the city is now going to require any operation running valet service more than once to get a permit and pay the city for the spaces used. At $0.50 per hour per 20 feet of curb space – plus the going rate for any blocked-off meters – it’s not terribly prohibitive. The big question is, to me, what were they paying before? The obvious implication is “nothing.” I’d call this an improvement – if the quantity of street parking is diminished by someone operating a valet service then they certainly should compensate us (ie, the city) for it.
Also interesting in the D.C. code (1606.1) is the limit on anyone running an ongoing valet to “not park motor vehicles anywhere in the public space, including, but not limited to, on-street parking, on alleys, metered parking spaces, and areas designated as Residential Permit Parking zones.”
I feel like I see valets parking cars in street spaces all the time. Is that just me?
Well I used to say something in my profile about not quite being a “tinker, tailor, soldier, or spy” but Tom stole that for our about us page, so I guess I’ll have to find another way to express that I am a man of many interests.
Hmm, guess I just did.
My tastes run the gamut from sophomoric to Shakespeare and in my “professional” life I’ve sold things, served beer, written software, and carried heavy objects… sometimes at the same place. It’s that range of loves and activities that makes it so easy for me to love DC – we’ve got it all.
