A US airport has axed its free parking policy with a new fee introduced that could see drivers forced to pay out as much as $50.
Starting from October 1, parking fees of $5 per day or $25 per week will begin in a bid to reduce taxpayer subsidies and move toward self-sustainability.
Waco Regional Airport located in McLennan County, Texas, is expected to generate some $400,000 with a new parking policy[/caption]
Drivers could be forced to pay over $50 to park for two weeks at the site, which was previously free[/caption]
Airport bosses admit the change may put many customers off parking at the hub[/caption]
Changes to the airport’s parking policy has irked some locals who decry rising costs[/caption]
The change, coming to Waco Regional Airport located in McLennan County, Texas, is expected to generate some $400,000 in the first year, according to KXXV.
Payments for the new policy will be processed via ParkMobile – a popular app used across the US to pay for airport, street, garage and event parking.
This will, however, mean additional fees will be added; a ParkMobile fee, calculated as $0.20 plus 3% of the base parking cost, and a merchant fee of $0.40 per transaction.
That means, to park for a single day, the total cost will be $5.75 – which equates to a base fee plus the $0.35 ParkMobile fee and $0.40 merchant fee.
That means, for 14 days, the total cost would rise to $52.10, with the base fee added to the $1.90 ParkMobile fee and the$0.40 merchant fee.
Weekly base parking has been capped at $25, but the total cost rises with extended durations due to the additional fees.
Naturally, some Waco residents have expressed disappointment about the new charges – with many concerned over rising costs.
One resident told reporters: “It’s disappointing, really. I mean, everything’s already getting pricey.
“If that is the case, I would like to see that. I mean, if we do see it, I mean, I hate to say it, but I mean if it does, that’d be nice, but I don’t know if we’re actually gonna see it, or how that’ll actually manifest.”
James Harris, the recently hired airport manager, believes the change may even initially impact the airport.
“I think initially the shock of it will deter people,” he said.
“Just prepare, there could be delays once the implementation comes into effect.
“We’re not really sure how it’s going to affect the parking lot and the waiting times yet.
“Just give yourself extra time. Give us a chance. We’re working out the kinks as we go.”
Furthermore, the airport plans to increase parking prices by $2 each year through to 2027.
The city is also considering raising lease rates for commercial airport users – in a bid to generate additional revenue.
They will then evaluate the system’s performance and customer feedback.
How to spot a fake parking ticket
Thieves sometimes go to great lengths to squeeze money from drivers
With parking ticket scams on the rise, it’s important to know how to tell the difference between a bogus ticket and a legitimate one.
Many parking enforcement agencies, like those employed by cities, will never ask people to pay for their tickets via apps like Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle.
A QR code should always make drivers cautious, as many times they lead to fake payment websites built by scammers to access banking or personal information.
It’s also wise to pay close attention to logos, as some scammers will even use fake logos close enough to a city’s official logo fooling those who don’t look closely.
Emails or text messages regarding parking citations should always be ignored, as most parking enforcement agencies will never use those mediums to collect a debt.
Other helpful tips for spotting false citations:
- Do some research on the lot you’re parking in, as signs are legally required to be posted to inform drivers on who is enforcing parking rules.
- Carefully examine the citation for any flaws – misspellings, incorrect logos, links, QR codes, etc.
- Evaluate the contact information on the ticket. Websites that belong to cities will always end in either .gov.
- Finally, pay with a card, as disputing an illegal charge is easier. Avoid mailing checks or cash to a suspect parking ticket.
- Look at a city’s ticketing database to double-check that you’ve been cited by an official.
Source: CBS affiliate WHNT
