The Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM) is urging the business community to close for one hour during a planned silent protest on Wednesday at City Hall.
During last Thursday’s protest by MAPM, a number of businesses closed their doors between midday and 1 pm as a mark of support for MAPM. Businesses in the paid parking zones have complained about diminished business as motorists have boycotted the meters.
In a social media post yesterday, the MAPM in its call to businesses said that it “recognizes the willingness of the business community to stand with us. Considering your challenge of getting to our protest venue in a timely manner, we propose this alternative: During our next silent protest at City Hall, close and stand in front of your businesses with placards in hand for the full hour…”
City Hall and Smart City Solutions (SCS) are to resume the paid parking system today despite concerns that at least one court case implied that the project should be suspended pending a final determination of the matter which seeks the quashing of the controversial contract.
The last three weeks have seen opposition to the parking meters swing into high gear. There have been three well-attended protests outside City Hall and two court cases against the project.
Under the severe criticism, the city and SCS have agreed to new tiered rates which will go into force when the bylaws are amended. As part of the easing of conditions, motorists will also now be able to use purchased time at any metered space.
At a press conference on Friday, SCS Director of Business Development Amir Oren said that while there has been no change to the costs attached to sanctions under the contract there will be a 15-minute grace period afforded to motorists and a one month “adjustment period.”
He said that a motorist who purchases one hour of parking time and parks at 1 pm will not be subject to the widely criticised immobilization/booting until 2.15 pm. This grace period has been granted in response to several complaints received that SCS staff had been booting cars immediately after the expiration of the time on the parking receipt or even before the expiration of this time.
Additionally, motorists will not be required to pay a booting fee for one month from today. This, according to Oren, is an “adjustment period” during which time vehicles booted for non-payment of parking fees will be required to pay only the parking fee and nothing else.
Under this system, a motorist booted at 2.15 pm who claims their vehicle at 3:15 pm is only required to pay the $200 plus VAT for the use of the space in that time.
After this month, there will be for six months a 50% reduction in the booting fee. During that period persons booted will be charged $4,000 plus VAT for the release of their vehicle. The booting fee remains $8,000 plus VAT, the full sum of which will be charged in October, 2017.
Booting for violations other than failure to pay for metered parking will during this seven-month period cost motorists $4,000 plus VAT. These violations include parking infringements such as double parking, parking in front of a fire hydrant or parking on a turn.
Additionally, motorists will no longer have to pay for the use of a particular parking space; rather, they will be paying for parking time for their particular cars.
