Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/285258
Lyons says nighttime enforcement of parking regulations is virtually nil, but he is consid- ering shifting some of his staff to evening duty. "It's unfortunate to see the degree of non-compliance," he said. "Some crazy things are going on at night." For example, Lyons' staff busted a valet parker working for a downtown restaurant, fining him $500 for lack of a city permit. And staff levied another $100 per car that the valet firm had illegally parked in a city garage. However, there is a limit to the powers of enforcement. Lyons was asked how many vio- lators get ticketed in the St. Armands Circle area, a notorious hotbed of truly zany park- ing. He estimated the figure to be about 20 percent. But he warned that nailing 35 percent of all violators is about the best benchmark. "If we're catching 35 percent of the violators at any one time, we're doing a good job," noted Lyons. "Anything higher causes public backlash." PREPARING FOR THE STATE STREET GARAGE This summer the surface parking lot on State Street will be taken over by construction of a new city parking garage. One morning, 139 parking spaces will vanish. Lyons explained he is trying to find replacement spots, and he believes he has identified as many as 100 new spots within 600 feet of the soon-to-dis- appear lot. The city's Parking Department chief says staff tries not to be too heavy-handed with enforcement on St. Armands Circle. File photo Sarasota News Leader March 28, 2014 Page 25