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CARTA To Enforce Parking in Chattanooga

204 views · Published 2 October 2012 · 2:46 · Indexed 1 November 2026

Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2012 · News & Politics

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By Jerry Askin  No longer will you see Chattanooga Parking Enforcement workers writing citations to drivers who park illegally.In a few weeks, CARTA is taking over - hiring a new set of people to enforce the rules. The good news, there are no changes to parking fees or hours at parking meters. But, now, CARTA is working with Republic Parking to enforce the regulations.  Their hope is the new company will help improve parking and increase revenue downtown.Parking.... It's frustrating for many drivers downtown."I don't like the fact that the people who work downtown hog the spaces," says driver Annette Evans."A lot of its reserved... A lot of times you've got to pay 5 or more bucks to park," says driver Jeff Kennedy."The fees are a bit exceeding," says driver Gary Mitchell.Effective October 22nd, drivers will see a group of 10 workers in green shirts known as ambassadors. You'll find them walking downtown enforcing parking.  CARTA will pay Republic Parking 5,000 a year for at least 5 years - to enforce parking.  The ambassadors will be fully trained....And able to do more than just write tickets."They've been through training with the Convention and Visitors Bureau on hospitality training. We've instructed them where possibly to pick up trash, basically be good citizens as well as doing their job of enforcement," says CARTA Director Tom Dugan.CARTA expects to make 80,000 dollars a year from parking citations. For the first 2 years, they plan to give the city all the funds.  The third year, they plan to give the city half and keep the other half to make parking improvements....like their current plan to add more than 600 new parking meters downtown by the end of this year...many of which will take credit cards. CARTA officials say they're still working to find new and creative ways to improve parking and make it more convenient for drivers. For now, they're urging drivers who will park more than 2 hours to park in lots and garages. They're also cracking down on drivers who get multiple tickets.  Something Annette Evans is all for."That's a great idea because when you got the first one, you didn't pay attention, you got the second one, you didn't pay attention. The third time....no other place gives you that many opportunities," says driver Annette Evans.Drivers will have 10 days to pay their citation before fees increase. The current policy gives drivers 7 days to pay. CARTA is also adding a parking store near Shuttle Park South for drivers to pay tickets and appeal citations.As for the current Parking Enforcement officers, Tom Dugan says they'll be used in other ways at the police station.

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