Access Atlanta > The Newcomer > Archives > 2008 > August > 19
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
What’s your secret to parking in Atlanta?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A few things you oughtta know about parking in Atlanta…
- Lots of people don’t pay their parking tickets. The city is owed about $10.5 million in unpaid parking citations issued in the last 3 1/2 years.
- Seems easy to be one of the scofflaws. Haven’t paid? Well, debtors’ cars aren’t given a “boot,” vehicle registrations aren’t suspended, and only the police are empowered to tow in most areas — if and when they have the time.
- You might not be able to dodge that bill much longer. A private company with expanded enforcement capabilities might take over parking ticket collections after the city’s current contract with ACS expires Nov. 25. The proposed contract would give Central Parking the power to boot and tow, as well as other collection capabilities, said Public Works spokeswoman Valerie Bell-Smith. Current city parking enforcement employees would work for and be paid by Central Parking, she said.
All this info appeared in a story by reporter Mike Maciag, “Fined drivers owe Atlanta millions.”
Just after my move here, I half-heartedly hung up my car keys — who wants to pay $60 a month to park downtown when it costs half that to take the train and requires time in traffic? A few car-less months later, the very idea makes me queasy.
Of course, the packed streets of the city tell me a lot of you don’t see any option other than your car. How do you do it? What’s your parking strategy, your parking secret?
Pay for a pass, chance it on the street or find an unusually wealthy, kind employer with a free lot? Take MARTA to special events? Park ‘n’ Ride in? Pay your tickets, or ignore ‘em?
Here’s a link to a flyer from Atlanta’s Public Works office: Atlanta Parking 101.
Share your horror stories/wisdom/advice in the comments.
Here’s mine: my hatchback was pretty tiny, but it’s way easier to park a bike.
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