This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Most people like Salt Lake City's new digital parking system where users pay at kiosks by punching in the number displayed at the stall they parked.
But it has had growing pains.
I wrote about problems early on when people would pay the fee at the kiosk but would get a parking ticket anyway because the hand-held sensors used by parking enforcers would misread the information in the kiosk. Then, in July, the summer heat caused a system meltdown that left the kiosks disabled for several days.
Now, there is the much-touted "QP" QuickPay app offered by Salt Lake City's Parking Services "that helps you quickly and conveniently find and pay for parking using your mobile phone," according to the news release.
"You can use QP in on-street parking spaces in downtown Salt Lake City marked with blue parking space number signs and where you see green QR code and NFC ID tiles on parking space posts," the release said.
But one reader who quickly took advantage of the offer by getting the app found that it, too, has growing pains.
He parked at a stall on 200 South between 300 and 400 West on Aug. 29, pointed his phone at the appointed spot on the meter and paid electronically with his credit card.
But when he returned from having lunch, a parking enforcement officer was writing him a ticket, explaining there was no record that he had paid.
When he protested that he paid with his mobile phone using the new app, she said, "I wouldn't trust those things if I were you."
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Another point of view • After I wrote in my Wednesday column about the woman who was disgusted at seeing an American flag hanging upside down at the home of a neighbor on the 2100 East block of Meadowlark Lane in Sandy, I received a number of reader responses who said she was the one in the wrong.
She had taken the flag down, rolled it up and placed it next to the neighbor's garage. She wrote to me that she was aghast at the display because her father and husband were veterans who fought for the right to display the flag.
But several readers responded that the owner of the flag had the right to display it upside down, which is the sign of distress, as protected free speech and that she was the one who disrespected the flag by putting it on the ground.
One of those readers identified himself as a veteran who fought for the right of that homeowner to display his protest of the government that way.
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Readers respond • I asked readers to send me suggestions on what Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, should put on his cardboard sign while standing at a freeway ramp because of the shameless way he has been begging for money in emails recently.
Here, dear readers, is what you came up with:
"Soon to be unemployed. Please give money." — Dee Burton
"I apologize for continually being insensitive to those in need." — Ira Sachs
"Will obstruct and posture for food." — Dennis Kezar
"Will work for NO thing. Need money to shut down the government. Need money to pay for mortgage. Need money for a Tea Party." — Bill Revene
"Will bloviate starboard rhetoric for money." — Bill Williams
"My bank gave me $400,000, can't you spare a few pennies?" — Noel de Nevers
"Lost my home and had to take a job as a U.S. senator making only $14,500 per month (not including benefits!) Will vote against anything that Obama wants. Please donate now." — Rick
"Please help fund my continuing ineptitude. Planning to shut down USGovt soon and won't have enuf money to continue to do nothing." — Margaret Hancock
"Need $$ for psychiatric help!" — Lisa Brothman
"Clinically Obsessed. Any Amount Helps.God Bless." — Sherelynn Gray
"Brainless anything will help." — Al Luckart
"I have no marketable skills. Please help me run for reelection." — Chris Fassler
"Help, we've fallen and we can't get up!" — Doug Wittenbach
"Don't need food, will stonewall the senate for cash." — Rick Graham
"Have Job. Have House. Have Boat. Need Plane." — Doug Lockman
"Scarecrow needs brain. Every contribution helps." — Anonymous