To my Summit friends:<br><br>This change in Providence parking enforcement policy was posted on the Journal's news blog today. Note that parking limits and metered times will now be enforced six days a week, not just M-F.<br>
<br>- Anne<br><br><div class="entry" id="entry-637461">
<h3 class="entry-header">Providence to enforce parking laws strictly</h3>
11:34 AM Wed, Apr 27, 2011 | <a class="permalink" href="http://newsblog.projo.com/2011/04/providence-to-enforce-parking.html">Permalink</a><br>
<span class="authorname">Thomas J. Morgan</span> <a href="mailto:tmorgan@projo.com"><img src="http://news.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/images/email.gif" border="0" height="12" width="14"></a> <a href="mailto:tmorgan@projo.com">Email</a>
</div>
<p>PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- To generate additional revenue, parking
enforcement officers will step up their efforts to target cars parked at
expired meters or beyond parking time limits, it was announced on
Wednesday by the administration of Mayor Angel Taveras.</p>
<p>According to a press release, the parking regulations will be
enforced fully from Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Posted one- and
two-hour parking limits will be enforced and drivers will have to "feed
the meter" during the enforcement time posted on signs.</p>
<p>Fully enforcing the city's parking ordinance has the potential to
generate much needed new revenue, the press release declared. Last year,
parking meters generated $1.3 million, the administration said, and the
city is losing at least 35 percent of its meter revenue annually due to
under-enforcement. </p>
<p>According to the press release, full enforcement was made possible in
part by the city's recent agreement with Public Employees Local 1033,
which will create flexible work schedules for parking enforcement
officers without additional overtime. In the past, the city did not
issue parking tickets on Saturdays and weekdays after about 3 p.m. to
avoid overtime costs that would exceed income generated by parking
enforcement.</p>
<p>Drivers don't need to carry quarters in their pockets: the city
offers a smart card that can be used to pay meters. The ProvPass parking
card is available in $10 and $20 denominations. Users swipe the card in
the meter when they arrive and when they leave. The meter calculates
the amount of time used and deducts the appropriate amount from the
card. </p>
The ProvPass can be purchased at City Hall, the Public Safety Complex
or at the downtown AAA office. In May, the City will expand and promote
the program to make cards even more readily available. <br>