Jan 2, 2009 4:42 am US/Central
New Parking Meter Laws Mean Confusion For Many
Many Parking Meters Left Unfed On New Year's Day
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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On Clark Street in Andersonville New Year's Day, many people were leaving parking meters unfed even though a new law says that's no longer acceptable.
CBS
The new laws regarding parking meters have left some motorists confused. In years past, New Year's Day was one of a small handful of holidays on which meters did not need to be fed.
That is no longer the case. Under Mayor Richard M. Daley's new plan to privatize meters, there are no more reprieves for holidays or Sundays, and at least in the Loop, meters must be fed 24 hours a day.
But CBS 2's Vince Gerasole found numerous cars along Clark Street downtown that had not been fed.
In the Andersonville neighborhood, a quarter should only have yielded 15 minutes at a meter as of Thursday. But on Thursday evening, the meters were still giving an hour per quarter.
Also on the busy stretch of Clark Street that runs in Andersonville, much like in the Loop, car after car sat at expired meters even though the meters are now to be fed every day of the year. But no one was ticketed.
"I think it's good that they compromise us for the holidays and nobody gave us tickets," said Liess Chikl of Andies Restaurant. "My car, myself, is parked on the street."
Signs on the parking meters Clark Street still outlined old policies, requiring motorists to feed the meters Monday through Saturday. The only signs about parking restrictions said parking is forbidden when snow is more than 2 inches deep.
Those pulling up to meters seemed uninformed.
"My sister lives in the city, so she knows it really, really well, and she's always freaked out about the meters," said Suzie Azalea of Bolingbrook. "But I'm hoping today, it's a holiday, so I don't get busted."
"I had no idea what was going on today," added Kashan Malak of Evanston. "I just assumed since it was New Year's Day, it was free."
Closer to downtown, a quarter was still buying 15 minutes of parking. It should now cost 50 cents.
Chicago's metered parking system operates under six different zones with varying rates and time limits. Motorists have paid anywhere from 25 cents an hour in outlying neighborhoods to $3 an hour downtown, with overnights, Sundays and holidays free.
Seventy percent of Chicago's meter rates have been frozen for 20 years. On Jan. 1, the bargains will end.
In addition to the possibility of "congestion pricing," the deal calls for meter rates in the Loop to rise to $3.50 in 2009, $4.25 in 2010, $5 in 2011, $5.75 in 2012 and $6.50 in 2013. Central business district rates outside the Loop will go from $1 an hour to $2 in 2009, $2.50 in 2010, $3 in 2011, $3.50 in 2012 and $4 in 2013. Rates will be cut in half between the hours of 9 p.m. and 8 a.m., but meters would have to be fed 24/7.
Neighborhood parking rates that now range from 25 to 75 cents an hour will rise to $1 in 2009, $1.25 in 2010, $1.50 in 2011, $1.75 in 2012 and $2 in 2013.
Meters in most commercial districts outside downtown will operate between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Neighborhood meters will operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Parking enforcement is also expected to get tougher. Not only will the partnership that includes Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners and LAZ Parking have the right to issue parking tickets to "supplement" the city's efforts, but the so-called "broken meter" defense will be more narrow.
It can only be used by motorists who report the meters "inoperable or malfunctioning within 24 hours" of the incident.
There are 36,000 meters in Chicago, and when it comes to feeding them, motorists are advised not to take chances.
CBS 2's Vince Gerasole and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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