Warning: The city of Sarasota’s Palm Avenue parking garage may hoodwink you out of $50.
On Saturday, Nov. 22, no attendant was present as I entered the garage.
The entrance and exit gates were up, and I parked my car to attend a nearby show.
During past years when the gates were up, parking was free.
But when I returned to my car a citation was affixed to my windshield requiring a $25 fine payment.
On Monday, Nov. 24, I appealed the citation, which was denied – and an additional $25 was promptly added to my total fine.
The reason stated was “expired meter” – but there was NO parking meter at the garage!
In addition, I was informed that citations “cannot be dismissed based on lack of knowledge of the City’s parking regulations. You must pay to park upon arrival either at the meter or online. The old arm system has been discontinued to benefit traffic flow.”
But there has NEVER been a traffic flow problem in city parking garages!
The old system required you to push a button; then a ticket would come out and the gate was raised.
Upon returning to the parking garage, you would pay the ticket at a ground-floor kiosk and exit.
It was simple, and it worked beautifully.
I have since learned from friends that the “new” system requires you to use a cellphone.
But how can you pay if you don’t have a ticket?
And what is the advantage to the city if it can engage in unwarranted snooping of your data?
The city of Sarasota advertises itself as a proud “leader of transparency.”
But anyone can see right through this so-called transparency.
Or maybe it’s hidden somewhere in the Palm Avenue parking garage!
Robert Herickhoff, Nokomis
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: A Sarasota parking garage hoodwinked me. It cost me $50. | Letters
Reporting by Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
