24-hour parking enforcement coming to Atlanta?

ATLANTA —
Twenty-four hour parking enforcement may be coming to Atlanta.

A proposal before Atlanta City Council suggests increased enforcement could help the city generate an extra $4 million a year.

ParkAtlanta took over Atlanta's parking enforcement in 2009.

At that time, the city was guaranteed $5 million a year from enforcement – double of what the city collected prior to signing a contract with ParkAtlanta.

In 2010, after hearing complaints about the company's aggressive approach, Atlanta called for a moratorium and reduced enforcement hours.

In the months that followed, an arbitrator ruled because of the restrictions Atlanta put on ParkAtlanta the city was only entitled to $1.5 million a year.

"I get so tired of paying for parking," said Ann Hunter, a northeast Atlanta resident told Channel 2's Erica Byfield.

Under the current regulations, for instance in the Virginia Highland neighborhood a 4-hour maximum parking limit is enforced Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The new suggestions call for parking enforcement from 7 a.m. to midnight and a $2 flat fee for overnight parking.

"I wouldn't come down here if I had to pay overnight to park," said Janet Harrell. Harrell lives in Gwinnett County, but visits northeast Atlanta often.

Seventy-five percent of the parking meters in Atlanta are on Councilman Kwazna Hall's district.

"It's not New York, it's not D.C., we might want to think that we are, but we are not as dense or developed," he said.  Hall added he understands the city wants to make up a $4 million shortfall, but thinks 24-hour enforcement goes too far.

"We really, need put a little more time into this and see if we can come to a different solution," Hall said.

The proposal is headed to Atlanta's Transportation Committee.

If approved, there would be 24-hour enforcement almost everywhere in the city.

ParkAtlanta could not be reached for a comment.

WSBTV