Detroit Cracking Down On Parking Violators

DETROIT (WWJ) - The city of Detroit is gearing up for a big crackdown on parking violators.

WWJ's Ron Dewey says drivers may want to keep a roll of quarters in their consoles. Starting Friday, meter readers will be out on the streets with a vengeance, scratching out parking tickets until 10:00 at night Tuesday through Friday. They'll also be on the job Saturdays, 2 until 10, as opposed to their current quitting time of 6pm. This is all to raise another $10 million for the cash-starved city, on the backs of violators who owe the city $35 million in unpaid parking tickets, dating back to 2004. City officials say this fair and not different from what other cities in the region already do in their downtown areas.

Some business owners wonder how the city can attract downtown visitors if they're also ready to slap parking tickets on their windshields.