The city of St Petersburg has come up with a great idea. If you spend more than $25 downtown and get a parking ticket, they will void your ticket. Read about it here.
Well, why not -=- basically the city is paying for your parking, if you purchase some goods or services nearby. A card is put in with your ticket and if you bring it to the city hall along with proof of purchase, you get the ticket voided.
So far (a ‘few weeks’) the city is out $4k, but that seems like a small amount for a city to pay for a great PR program and to support local merchants.
Personally, I would have set the threshold amount higher, but hey, it was their idea. It only works for expired meters and not for “red curb” violations.
Way to go St. Petersburg.
JVH
