Business owners: Photo-enforced meters scaring away customers
<p>Business owners in Downtown Bridgeport say they are struggling because of the city's new photo-enforced parking meters, which they say are scaring away customers who don't want to risk getting a ticket. </p>
News 12 Staff
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May 2, 2017, 11:57 PM
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Updated 2,548 days ago
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Business owners in Downtown Bridgeport say they are struggling because of the city's new photo-enforced parking meters, which they say are scaring away customers who don't want to risk getting a ticket.
The city rolled out the meters late last year with the hope of improving business in the downtown area.
It said the meters would improve the flow of traffic and facilitate the payment process, but some business owners tell News 12 it had the opposite effect.
During the day, they say the spots are almost always empty due to the high number of people that have been issued tickets.
Many customers and merchants say up until March, there were no signs on the meters saying they were photo-enforced.
Several people received $40 tickets after violating the five-minute grace period, which they say they were also unaware of.
The city has since posted decals warning about the photo enforcement. There have also been hearings for residents to appeal the parking tickets.
