St. John's readies downtown crackdown on parking spaces

St. John's cityhall is planning to enforce the two-hour limit on many of its downtown parking meters, in a bid to free up coveted spaces near retailers.

Starting Nov. 13, traffic enforcement officers will start ticketing cars who remain in street-based spaces past two hours— whether or not there is time left on a meter. Each ticket carries a $15 fine.

Mayor Andy Wells said the tough policy is necessary to prompt downtown workers to park instead in lots and garages, and free up spaces for downtown shoppers and visitors.

"Our traffic enforcement officers know these people," Wells said.

"They know their cars, they know their vehicles, so we're going to go after them and we're going to force them to get off these meters," Wells told CBC News.

Salem Ali, owner of the First Western Boutique on Water Street, said parking problems have plagued his business since he launched it eight years ago.

"It's a good idea," he said. "It gives a chance to more people to come to downtown … At least you'd know you'd have a better chance of finding a parking spot."

Jodie Collins, who works at a downtown coffee shop, parks directly outside because her shift starts at 6 a.m., when it is usually dark. Tickets have become so routine that she pays about $1,100 each year in fines.

"If I'm a minute late, there's a ticket on my car," said Collins, who has appealed to city hall for help for downtown workers.

"There's no one to speak up for the staff down here. Nobody."

Dawn Goodyear, who brought her mother downtown for some shopping on Tuesday, said the time-limit is far too short.

"It's not long at all, because our plan for the morning is to come down, have coffee, do some shopping, do some browsing and then grab lunch," Goodyear said.

"We certainly wouldn't be able to do that in two hours."