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'X' Marks The Spot: Parking Challenges In Center City

By Jim Donovan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Plan on spending any time in Philadelphia this summer? Better watch out where you park! 3 On Your Side consumer reporter Jim Donovan exposes a confusing parking problem that could cost you.

Street parking in Center City can be downright challenging. Add kiosks into the mix and even figuring out what's a legal spot can require some thought.

You don't have to tell that to Steve Schwartz.

"With the parking meters, you knew where you space was. Here, it's left to my discretion," said Schwartz.

Heading to the movies one night, he thought he snagged a great spot right next to a theater in Society Hill.

"I saw a wide open space with the lines, it was dark," said Schwartz.

Steve paid at the kiosk and a few hours later returned to find his car had been ticketed and towed to the tune of over $200 bucks!

"I saw I had plenty of room in front of the "X" that's there and just thought I had a winning parking place for myself," said Schwartz.

While Steve had paid attention and steered clear of the painted "x" in a box next to a hydrant, he thought the space up to that point was okay.

He didn't notice the back of his car went beyond this parking authority sign which says "no stopping" to the left of it.

"I found out the hard way that the lines and the signs are not coordinated," said Schwartz.

Steve, like some other drivers, think the lines indicate where kiosk parking begins and ends.

"They should pay a lot of attention to parking signs," said Ed Thornton with the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

Thornton says when parking in Philadelphia, one thing is for certain, ignoring a sign can lead to a ticket.

"Park by the signs, not by the lines," said Thornton.

While the streets department doesn't coordinate its street line painting with the parking authority.

But a representative agreed the lines and signs could send a mixed message in this case.

And after 3 On Your Side's inquiries they did add an additional "x" to that parking area, to avoid any confusion.

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