I always keep a spare parking ticket in the car.  When I need to park in someplace stupid, I slap it on the windshield.  Most meter maids don't bother ticketing a car that's already ticketed.  But for those awkward buggers that will, or for parking in a really stupid place, I also strew the front seat with recent copies of Police News and Police Gazette.

    This ploy is basically a crock of frog brains, and I certainly met my match with one meter maid.  When I returned to my car after using this trick, there were two real tickets propped up next to my fake one.  "Well," I commented after thoughtfully considering all sides of the matter, "that certainly sucks the big one."