Man pays parking ticket 58 years later

HOUSTON, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Parking ticket payment and procrastination just go together, but a man took 58 years to pay Houston the $1 citation he received the day he joined the U.S. Army.

Dale Crawford, now 79, said he found the citation while going through memorabilia, KHOU-TV, Houston, reported. He said he didn't know the ticket existed, but when he saw the date -- Feb. 3, 1953 -- he remembered he "became a member of the United States Army on that day."

Crawford went off serve his country and left the 1946 Nash at a parking meter for his dad to pick up. But dad was late. Hence, the $1 parking fine.

City officials say parking tickets now cost $35, plus $1.50 for every hour they're late.

"We are so impressed with him coming forward that we have waived penalties and interest," Mayor Annise Parker told KHOU Dec. 21. "No, it will not make any dent in the city's budget problems, but I hope his example is one other Houstonians will follow."

It's a matter of personal responsibility, Crawford said, explaining, "It's only a dollar. But it's still a debt."