How much cash do you usually carry with you?

[JayhawkCO]

In my experience, splitting a check is MUCH easier for the restaurant when you let the waiter know before you place the order. The pain comes when they bring out the check and then you ask to split it.

Depends on the restaurant. If you are at a restaurant where, when the food is brought out, the food runner says, "Who had the salmon?" then it's probably a pain. If you go to a restaurant where they just drop off the salmon to you because everything is rung in with seat numbers, then it's not anything more than a couple of button pushes.

[formulanone]

The conclusion I'm getting from most of us is that we don't carry $100-$150 "drop fee" in cash if our vehicle is towed. Thank goodness we all park legally and don't get ourselves in a situation which requires a tow.

-It seems like the majority of time I actually need to use cash is at roadmeet meals where the restaurant can't split the check.

There are no restaurants in the world that can't split a check. Maybe unwilling to, but 'can't' isn't a thing.

In my experience, splitting a check is MUCH easier for the restaurant when you let the waiter know before you place the order. The pain comes when they bring out the check and then you ask to split it.

That's how we do it on work trips - just tell the server immediately – I never have been told "no".

I suppose they don't like when individual items are split (could you put the steak half on mine and half on the other? divide up four drinks on five bills?) because I can sense that's annoying. Though I've heard that servers generally get decent tips from corporate travelers in groups and would prefer those tables 9/10ths of the time.

If someone else at my table went over their daily maximum, I just offer to swap bills if it's a nominal amount and they're not a problem child.

[SEWIGuy]

The conclusion I'm getting from most of us is that we don't carry $100-$150 "drop fee" in cash if our vehicle is towed. Thank goodness we all park legally and don't get ourselves in a situation which requires a tow.

Any illegal parking is unintentional. And its pretty easy for me to access cash if I need it.

[MATraveler128]

When I go on my trips, I always try to carry at least 100 dollars on me if something comes up.

[jeffandnicole]

The conclusion I'm getting from most of us is that we don't carry $100-$150 "drop fee" in cash if our vehicle is towed. Thank goodness we all park legally and don't get ourselves in a situation which requires a tow.

That's probably not a thought in most people's minds. 

In many cities, you'll be hitting an ATM or holding a cup for change anyway.  In Philly, the minimum towing fee is $175. 

You can say this about anything though.  Car trouble.  Illnesses.  Clothing.  If you find yourself in a situation, you'll find a way out of the situation.  Maybe you have to pay a little more, or pay a fee, or go out of your way, but it's impossible to prepare for every "what if" situation.

[ZLoth]

The conclusion I'm getting from most of us is that we don't carry $100-$150 "drop fee" in cash if our vehicle is towed. Thank goodness we all park legally and don't get ourselves in a situation which requires a tow.

That's probably not a thought in most people's minds. 

In many cities, you'll be hitting an ATM or holding a cup for change anyway.  In Philly, the minimum towing fee is $175. 

You can say this about anything though.  Car trouble.  Illnesses.  Clothing.  If you find yourself in a situation, you'll find a way out of the situation.  Maybe you have to pay a little more, or pay a fee, or go out of your way, but it's impossible to prepare for every "what if" situation.

It's not a question about having an emergency fund to cover an issue for this topic. It's how much cash you actually carry on you to cover a situation. The tow truck driver isn't going to sit around while you scurry to a nearby ATM to get the cash for the cash-only drop fee.

[jeffandnicole]

The conclusion I'm getting from most of us is that we don't carry $100-$150 "drop fee" in cash if our vehicle is towed. Thank goodness we all park legally and don't get ourselves in a situation which requires a tow.

That's probably not a thought in most people's minds. 

In many cities, you'll be hitting an ATM or holding a cup for change anyway.  In Philly, the minimum towing fee is $175. 

You can say this about anything though.  Car trouble.  Illnesses.  Clothing.  If you find yourself in a situation, you'll find a way out of the situation.  Maybe you have to pay a little more, or pay a fee, or go out of your way, but it's impossible to prepare for every "what if" situation.

It's not a question about having an emergency fund to cover an issue for this topic. It's how much cash you actually carry on you to cover a situation. The tow truck driver isn't going to sit around while you scurry to a nearby ATM to get the cash for the cash-only drop fee.

A number of events will need to occur.  A tow truck will only need 3 minutes or so to grab a car and leave. You would need to park in a no parking or restricted area, which is probably signed. You would need to keep an eye on your car.  You would need to run out to stop them.  You'd probably want to argue with them.  It seems more reasonable to just not park in a no parking zone in the first place, rather than have $150 every place you go to pay off a tow driver.

[ZLoth]

A number of events will need to occur.  A tow truck will only need 3 minutes or so to grab a car and leave. You would need to park in a no parking or restricted area, which is probably signed. You would need to keep an eye on your car.  You would need to run out to stop them.  You'd probably want to argue with them.  It seems more reasonable to just not park in a no parking zone in the first place, rather than have $150 every place you go to pay off a tow driver.

There is no disagreement with anyone on this board regarding this point... park legally. Don't park in the handicapped zones if you don't have the appropriate plate or placard.

[SSOWorld]

I do a 50 per week regiment for small stuff.  On trips I'll carry some 30 per day.  Who knows if I have to carry Quid Cash in the Fall, but definitely have to pull some Euro cash.

[vdeane]

The tow truck driver isn't going to sit around while you scurry to a nearby ATM to get the cash for the cash-only drop fee.

That feels like a VERY niche situation.  How often does your car get towed and you're there before the tow truck has driven off?  I think I can count on one hand the number of times I have ever heard of anyone ever being in that situation.

[ZLoth]

The tow truck driver isn't going to sit around while you scurry to a nearby ATM to get the cash for the cash-only drop fee.

That feels like a VERY niche situation.  How often does your car get towed and you're there before the tow truck has driven off?  I think I can count on one hand the number of times I have ever heard of anyone ever being in that situation.

Precisely. I only carry $20-$60 in my wallet, but usually pay with credit card or debit card. I'm just wondering if I was a outlier or it was common practice to keep such a low amount.

[1995hoo]

The tow truck driver isn't going to sit around while you scurry to a nearby ATM to get the cash for the cash-only drop fee.

That feels like a VERY niche situation.  How often does your car get towed and you're there before the tow truck has driven off?  I think I can count on one hand the number of times I have ever heard of anyone ever being in that situation.

I remember seeing it happen one time, back in 1995 when one of my college roommates was parked legally and then during the night they changed the signs such that his permit no longer covered that space and we came out in the morning to find a tow truck operator about to steal his car. I still think he was screwed. There was no advance warning that they were going to change the restrictions to allow people in those spaces to move.

[SEWIGuy]

The tow truck driver isn't going to sit around while you scurry to a nearby ATM to get the cash for the cash-only drop fee.

That feels like a VERY niche situation.  How often does your car get towed and you're there before the tow truck has driven off?  I think I can count on one hand the number of times I have ever heard of anyone ever being in that situation.

I remember seeing it happen one time, back in 1995 when one of my college roommates was parked legally and then during the night they changed the signs such that his permit no longer covered that space and we came out in the morning to find a tow truck operator about to steal his car. I still think he was screwed. There was no advance warning that they were going to change the restrictions to allow people in those spaces to move.

This is unconstitutional. And a little hard to believe.

[ZLoth]

It's called "Predatory Towing".

[JayhawkCO]

The tow truck driver isn't going to sit around while you scurry to a nearby ATM to get the cash for the cash-only drop fee.

That feels like a VERY niche situation.  How often does your car get towed and you're there before the tow truck has driven off?  I think I can count on one hand the number of times I have ever heard of anyone ever being in that situation.

I remember seeing it happen one time, back in 1995 when one of my college roommates was parked legally and then during the night they changed the signs such that his permit no longer covered that space and we came out in the morning to find a tow truck operator about to steal his car. I still think he was screwed. There was no advance warning that they were going to change the restrictions to allow people in those spaces to move.

This is unconstitutional. And a little hard to believe.

I mean, it's shitty, but I think you'd have a tough time arguing 4th amendment.

[SEWIGuy]

The tow truck driver isn't going to sit around while you scurry to a nearby ATM to get the cash for the cash-only drop fee.

That feels like a VERY niche situation.  How often does your car get towed and you're there before the tow truck has driven off?  I think I can count on one hand the number of times I have ever heard of anyone ever being in that situation.

I remember seeing it happen one time, back in 1995 when one of my college roommates was parked legally and then during the night they changed the signs such that his permit no longer covered that space and we came out in the morning to find a tow truck operator about to steal his car. I still think he was screwed. There was no advance warning that they were going to change the restrictions to allow people in those spaces to move.

This is unconstitutional. And a little hard to believe.

I mean, it's shitty, but I think you'd have a tough time arguing 4th amendment.

No, it's a violation of ex-post facto laws. You can't change the No Parking signs in the middle of the night, thus making a legal parking situation suddenly illegal, and get your car towed as a result.

[JayhawkCO]

The tow truck driver isn't going to sit around while you scurry to a nearby ATM to get the cash for the cash-only drop fee.

That feels like a VERY niche situation.  How often does your car get towed and you're there before the tow truck has driven off?  I think I can count on one hand the number of times I have ever heard of anyone ever being in that situation.

I remember seeing it happen one time, back in 1995 when one of my college roommates was parked legally and then during the night they changed the signs such that his permit no longer covered that space and we came out in the morning to find a tow truck operator about to steal his car. I still think he was screwed. There was no advance warning that they were going to change the restrictions to allow people in those spaces to move.

This is unconstitutional. And a little hard to believe.

I mean, it's shitty, but I think you'd have a tough time arguing 4th amendment.

No, it's a violation of ex-post facto laws. You can't change the No Parking signs in the middle of the night, thus making a legal parking situation suddenly illegal, and get your car towed as a result.

Fair enough. I am certainly not a legal scholar.

[kkt]

The tow truck driver isn't going to sit around while you scurry to a nearby ATM to get the cash for the cash-only drop fee.

That feels like a VERY niche situation.  How often does your car get towed and you're there before the tow truck has driven off?  I think I can count on one hand the number of times I have ever heard of anyone ever being in that situation.

I remember seeing it happen one time, back in 1995 when one of my college roommates was parked legally and then during the night they changed the signs such that his permit no longer covered that space and we came out in the morning to find a tow truck operator about to steal his car. I still think he was screwed. There was no advance warning that they were going to change the restrictions to allow people in those spaces to move.

This is unconstitutional. And a little hard to believe.

I mean, it's shitty, but I think you'd have a tough time arguing 4th amendment.

Don't argue 4th Amendment.  Argue "ex post facto law" from Article 1.

[Scott5114]

The tow truck driver isn't going to sit around while you scurry to a nearby ATM to get the cash for the cash-only drop fee.

That feels like a VERY niche situation.  How often does your car get towed and you're there before the tow truck has driven off?  I think I can count on one hand the number of times I have ever heard of anyone ever being in that situation.

I remember seeing it happen one time, back in 1995 when one of my college roommates was parked legally and then during the night they changed the signs such that his permit no longer covered that space and we came out in the morning to find a tow truck operator about to steal his car. I still think he was screwed. There was no advance warning that they were going to change the restrictions to allow people in those spaces to move.

This is unconstitutional. And a little hard to believe.

I mean, it's shitty, but I think you'd have a tough time arguing 4th amendment.

No, it's a violation of ex-post facto laws. You can't change the No Parking signs in the middle of the night, thus making a legal parking situation suddenly illegal, and get your car towed as a result.

Fair enough. I am certainly not a legal scholar.

Importantly, neither is the tow truck driver.

[CtrlAltDel]

No, it's a violation of ex-post facto laws. You can't change the No Parking signs in the middle of the night, thus making a legal parking situation suddenly illegal, and get your car towed as a result.

I'm no legal expert either, but I don't think this is ex post facto. Ex post facto would be when they give you a ticket for a time when there weren't any no parking signs because they put some up later on.

Digging a bit shows me Lambert v. California, a Supreme Court case finding that some degree of legal notice is required in certain circumstances, but this was found to be a violation of the Fourteenth-Amendment due-process clause.

So, there's that.

[jeffandnicole]

The tow truck driver isn't going to sit around while you scurry to a nearby ATM to get the cash for the cash-only drop fee.

That feels like a VERY niche situation.  How often does your car get towed and you're there before the tow truck has driven off?  I think I can count on one hand the number of times I have ever heard of anyone ever being in that situation.

I remember seeing it happen one time, back in 1995 when one of my college roommates was parked legally and then during the night they changed the signs such that his permit no longer covered that space and we came out in the morning to find a tow truck operator about to steal his car. I still think he was screwed. There was no advance warning that they were going to change the restrictions to allow people in those spaces to move.

This is unconstitutional. And a little hard to believe.

I mean, it's shitty, but I think you'd have a tough time arguing 4th amendment.

Don't argue 4th Amendment.  Argue "ex post facto law" from Article 1.

People can argue all the want...with the proper person.  The tow operator isn't the proper person. He doesn't know when the sign was posted (in theory; maybe he was informed) or when the car was parked there.  He was either driving around and noticed the violator, or he was given a call from someone saying a car isn't parked properly. Argue anything you want; the tow operator ain't going to care. Either bribe him, er, I mean pay the drop fee, or have the car towed. 

Then take it up with the proper authority who authorized the sign change and/or requested the vehicle be towed.

As for proper notice; I don't know how that worked in 1995 at your school (1995hoo). I think we saw signs taped on the building doors if there was going to be a parking lot change or closure.

[hbelkins]

^^^
The "overnight parking permit change" reminds me of someone who drives down a road that's signed for a 45 mph limit. Between that trip and the next trip, the limit changes to 35 mph and is properly signed. Said driver makes his next trip at 45 mph and gets a speeding ticket. What's unconstitutional about that? It's pretty crappy, but I don't see anything illegal or improper about it. But IANAL.

[7/8]

^^^
The "overnight parking permit change" reminds me of someone who drives down a road that's signed for a 45 mph limit. Between that trip and the next trip, the limit changes to 35 mph and is properly signed. Said driver makes his next trip at 45 mph and gets a speeding ticket. What's unconstitutional about that? It's pretty crappy, but I don't see anything illegal or improper about it. But IANAL.

That's not comparable IMO. In the parking example, the person leaves their car and doesn't see the sign change until they return (by which point it's too late). In your example, the driver will see the speed limit change the next time they drive the road and therefore can adjust their speed accordingly.

For the parking example, they should either have a sign informing people of the change beforehand, or not enforce the new signage for a bit to ensure that everyone who parked there before the change is gone.

[Rothman]

Another thought: The fact that vending machines now take credit cards shows that those that carry cash are in the minority.

[kkt]

Another thought: The fact that vending machines now take credit cards shows that those that carry cash are in the minority.

Or it shows that inflation over the decades has made coins useless, and automatic bill readers still don't work very well.