Blink courtesy notice

But what do you do when all the chargers are in use. It's happened to me 5 times in the last two weeks. Today I tried 3 parking lots before I found a vacant charger

 

Great Idea, TY

 

I just started working on a fake parking ticket because I got tired of seeing SUVs taking up these spaces (I don't use these spots myself, just thinking of my EV brothers/sisters). I want to give them a little scare, but also inform them. This is what I have so far, I want to add more info in the section where my logo is right now (just a filler right now), but do want to keep the QR code in place, so they can get more info.

3 of these fit on 1 regular sheet, and want to print them on colored paper. I'll post the PDF online (300DPI), so anyone can print them, but would love some input:



What do you think? I couldn't find any other EV ticket online, which is why I started this document. I'm aware of the Blink notices, but I don't think they do the job IMO.

 

Smart, I like it, a education process as well!

 

Ever since I started keeping some in my car, I haven't found an opportunity to use them, which I can't complain about. I guess it's like when you carry an umbrella.

There's a case they don't cover: when an EV is parked at a charger, but not charging! I encountered this for the first time recently and it struck me as even worse than being ICE'd. The EV owner ought to know better, while an ICE owner can plausibly claim ignorance.

 

I actually had a set of check boxes, including one for an EV which wasn't charging, but there could be so many reasons for this happening (EV finishes charging while the owner is watching a movie at the local theater, etc), so I figured I'll pick my battles and start with the most ignorant ones.

But I will put the check boxes back (allowing you to pick the type of infraction) if people would like this.

 

I meant an EV parked in an EV charging spot that wasn't plugged in. If the EV finished charging while the owner is away, most likely the EV would still be plugged in. I suppose the owner could have forgotten to plug in before walking away, which I've done before. I've also plugged in but inadvertantly didn't start charging b/c of Blink's unnecessary second step of zip code verification. Anyhow, perhaps the good Samaritan move would have been to plug them in.

 

Yea, problem is, you don't know if someone else unplugged them, just to be a jacka$$. Maybe adding those check boxes back isn't a bad idea, just in case it was an ignorant EV driver. I'm hoping/guessing that those are the minority tho.

 

Very nice!
I'd use it here on L.I. if you post the pdf file.
It wouldn't help with jurors ICE'ing the Chargepoint station- but it would help educate the everyday court employees who sometimes park in the EV spot just because...

 

bielinsk, I just realized you are the same guy, woops, sorry The blink notices have been out for a while, I guess I should have realized the same person was posting about them. Not stalking, I promise

The big ChargeNY logo will be removed, I just wanted to fill the white space for now. I do want to put more content in there, but it has to be something useful (maybe those checkboxes to indicate what infraction?), or something educational? I don't want it to sound mean.

Once I'm done with this, I'll post the PDF in 300DPI so you can print as much as you want. I am open to ANY change at this point, so please let me know what to change/add.

The 'casual' ICEer is the target audience. They just don't know better, and are the easiest to convince. They in turn might educate the rest of their family, etc.

 

It is OK for someone to be fully charged for a while. Part of having charging stations is to attract people into their business or location. You can't expect someone to get up in the middle of a movie to go unplug and move their car. What I do dislike is those people that treat a public charger like their own personal charger. There is a guy with a Chevy Volt that is always parked at one of the chargers at the Beverly Hills Library every weekday. When I go there the car is usually fully charged. I'm sure that the driver works in the area but they could make the effort to move the car once it is full so someone else can get a shot at charging.

Of course an EV or PHEV driver who blocks a charging station when they have no intention of charging is the height of uncool.

 

Hmm...

Really on one level why even bother?
I can understand fully wanting access to a public charging station and being upset by someone with an ICE vehicle or even a electric vehicle that is NOT using the charger, and being upset.

But real looking but fake violation tickets? Or other "notifications". I just think it's like firing bullets into a hornets nest. You might hit something but what happens as result might not make things better.

I think the ultimate REAL answer are real laws governing the useage of these spots, coupled with real law enforcement actually ENFORCING these laws. If people actually get real fines? It won't take long for the behavior to change.

If an inconsiderate idiot returns to his improperly parked vehicle to find a "fake" violation, I somehow don't think you are going to end up with an educated convert to better parking behavior. The whole action reminds me too much of a certain South Park Episode.

There are probably exceptions, but I am severely suspicious of the idea that many of these cases are simply born out of ignorance of either the parking space or the law. It's probably most often the case of someone who doesn't care. A fake violation or "helpful notice" isn't going to really change that behavior. In a way, it's only going to reinforce stereo types often associated with people who drive "alternative" automobiles.

It's kind of like the perfectly healthy person who takes the handicapped spot, without a permit or anything. I could write a note, point out the potential illegality of the choice, and the fact that the spot was not unavailable for someone who might REALLY need it....but jerk behavior is jerk behavior and I really don't think it would help.

 

Actually you just made my point. There are 2 types here. The ones that are just ignorant and don't know better (the ones I want to target), and the ones who simply don't give a #$% and park where they want to (handicapped spots, double park, etc).

Maybe I need to change 'parking violation' to something like 'parking problem/parking situation/parking infraction/parking problem/attention required'. I showed some ICE drivers this ticket, and their reaction was 'wow', and surprisingly positive. Mostly because it touched the personal side, about how someones family might get stranded, and how electric cars aren't rare anymore.

I'm working on an update right now, and am open to change (I truly WANT this input, no way I am getting this right by myself). I definitely don't want to sound like a jerk, but there is definitely a category of people out there would would adjust their behavior after learning about this.

Imagine if you got one of these, BEFORE you owned your first EV, wouldn't you adjust your parking behavior? Most of us here would.

 

I wouldn't adjust my behavior if I was an uncaring jerk. Which is what I assume most people with conventional ICE vehicles parking in a charging station parking spot actually are.

I still think the best evolution thus solution are real laws, really being enforced- by real law enforcement.

I'm probably being misanthropic here, and usually I'm all for hopeless crusades. Carry on...but I think you are more or less just wasting your time.

 

Right, but as I said, I'm not after the uncaring jerk, I'm after the folks who just didn't know better (2 types, remember).

If someone came out to me and told me 'hey this spot is for electric cars only' and actually explained why, I sure as hell wouldn't park there again. Then again, maybe I'm too nice of a guy (which I find hard to believe), but I refuse to believe others in this category wouldn't react the same way if treated with respect.

I'm going to make multiple versions (parking violation vs parking notice etc), so you can chose which one to deliver, depending on the mood you're in, or if it's a repeat offender, another EV driver, etc.

As for wasting time, it only takes a second to put one of these under the wiper. I'm open to find other ways to educate the public (such as coming up with infogram type flyers, and convince parking lot officers at the local mall to use these, etc.), but we have to start somewhere.

 

Well, that's the problem- in most areas- there are no laws covering EV parking. So it's up to us to solve the problems till such time that laws exist and they're enforced.
I was told flat-out by the Supreme Court Chief Clerk "there's nothing we can do to someone who's parked in the EV spot with a regular ICE vehicle, other than to ask them nicely to not park there again".

So far I've been ICE'd three times by regulars (court employees- not transient jurors), each time I've left a handwritten note on the offending vehicle. None of the three owners have parked in the EV charging spot since- and I see them in the lot every workday.... so the notes work.

 

Simply a matter of approach. I think the best efforts are to get the laws passed, and into existence, then work for their enforcement.

As it is now, You are "South Parking" vehicles uselessly....that evidently "technically"- aren't even breaking the law.

 

He's saying we all want the laws, but until these laws exist, why not? Not to mention he said he is getting success. Not sure what the harm is here. But do share how to get these laws on the books, I want to see them passed myself, but have 0 experience with doing this.

Explain it to me like I'm 5, and I'll go through the process, document it, and if it works, everyone here can copy the process for their local town/county