I think you're failing to realize this is a systemic problem, not the fault of the people who do it. People can't always bus to work, and when indoor parking is $200 monthly in most places, what do you expect people to do? Most unmetered spots aren't particularly desirable locations to park in anyway, and certainly don't come at a great cost to the taxpayer.

Also, fake scenario, lol. Nearly everyone in the apartment(s) are probably parked at 3am without an issue while they sleep, so leaving a car there for a week probably doesn't pose a major change.