Those little blue and white jeeps with flashing lights on top that say "Caution this vehicle makes frequent stops" should really say "Watch out, i'm coming to ruin your day."

I have lived in the city of Milwaukee for four years now and paid my fair share of parking tickets — reluctantly, but promptly. I will take responsibilty for my negligence becuase every so often I do get a break and escape an unnoticed expired meter. I get it — people have a job to do and the city needs to make money. 

However, on a bitter cold, windy Friday afternoon I was a victim of pure malice. I had plugged the meter in front of my office building until 3:30 pm and at 3:30 pm on the dot I approached my car to get in. To my surprise, there was a woman waiting to put a ticket on my car at that exact second we locked eyes and I hit the unlock button. Also at that exact second, this area changes from an expired meter to a tow-away zone, causing the fine to skyrocket.

I ran to my car and grabbed the ticket. Sure enough, it was issued at exactly 3:30. I was outraged. The fine was almost triple the cost of an expired meter ticket.

I feverishly followed this evil blue and white jeep, but took an alternate route home fearing that my I'd succomb to the temptaion to rear-end her and ruin her afteroon like she had ruined mine.

Does the city really need money that bad? I would rather give a donation to clean up the streets then have someone sweep in and spitefully slap me with an unexpected fine.

With the state's unwmployement rate at its highest in years and people desperately waiting on hold uanable to get through to talk to someone for help, I think there is a better place for city employees.

Maybe I am totally wrong to think that this in unfair, but the fact that she sat there and waited for me, for the fine to escalate to give me a ticket made me feel so victimized. Be warned, those parking checkers have no mercy.