Caltrain Cracking Down On Parking Fee Evaders
SAN MATEO (CBS 5) Caltrain riders should think twice before deciding deciding not to pay for parking.
In the first half of 2011, Caltrain more than doubled the number of parking tickets from the same period a year earlier from 988 to 2,144.
"A lot of people know Caltrain is in tough financial times, one of the things they wanted us to do was focus on generating more revenue," said Mark Simmons of Caltrain.
Part of the problem could also be Caltrain's new way of having people pay for parking. You now pay at the ticket kiosk, where you just push daily parking and you have to enter the space number where you parked your car. That means, if you pay the daily rate, you no longer need proof of purchase on the dash of your car. So sometimes, especially later in the day, people just pull into a spot assuming somebody's already paid for that day.
The system went into effect in 2009. Drivers who took advantage during the first two years are now the target of transit officials.
There have also been some complaints that the numbered parking spaces are difficult to read.
"I don't think it's so complicated you can't figure out how to follow the law," said Simmons.
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