Montreal Parking: To Park or Not to Park

Montreal, I'd like to share a duh moment that could save you and your tourist friends (at least they have an excuse to botch this up) $42 in parking fines as well as an oppressive moment of shame and self-deprecation.

My Jazz Fest companion and I, two born and raised Montrealers, parked on Ste. Élisabeth near the corner of Ste. Catherine, a diagonal bee-line from Police Station #21. It was around 4:30 p.m., and it was like we were touched by the gods, finding a free parking space downtown, a spot available to non-permit holders any time after three, but blocks from Montreal's most popular festival of the season.

We both looked up at the designated parking sign, then looked at each other, confirming our auspicious find. "Yep, that's a three."

Three indeed.

Parking Ticket Hint #1: available parking spaces in a prime location coupled with a Texan driver parked in front of us experiencing the same "odd-defying luck."

Parking Ticket Hint #2: a pair of Station #21 cops chuckling across the street may have been laughing for reasons beyond good humor and job satisfaction.

Parking Ticket Hint #3: we've been living our entire lives in a city that runs on military time.

Eugh.

More on:
• Military Time: A Definition
• Reserve A Downtown Montreal Parking Space Ahead of Time