It's never fun to return to your car after time out with your friends to find a parking ticket plastered under your windshield wiper. It might seem fairly avoidable (just don't park there; remember to check the meter), but it happens more than I'd like. In NYC, a single parking violation can run you $65, while Philadelphia starts at $31 and can run up to $65 if unpaid. In Portland, Oregon, where I live, tickets start at $44 and can run even higher.