Credit: LevittownNow.com
A Bristol Borough councilmember is asking residents to learn from his mistake.
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Councilmember Louis Quattrocchi recently traveled from the Trenton Regional Rail station in the borough to Philadelphia. He returned to the parking lot to find a $10 ticket from SEPTA on his car.
Quattrocchi said he was unaware of the newly instituted fee.
“I pulled my car in, went into the city, and when I came back a few hours later there’s a $10 ticket on my windshield,” he said.
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The councilmember expressed frustration with the lack of clear signage informing commuters of the change.
“The signage is horrible,” Quattrocchi stated, noting that the few signs present are not easily visible to drivers entering the parking lot.
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According to Quattrocchi, the main driveway has a sign indicating parking is for SEPTA train station use only, with a warning that unauthorized vehicles may be towed. However, information about the new fee is less prominent.
“On the side of those stairs were two signs about the size of our ‘do not enter’ signs. And it says that there’s a parking fee involved, and you can pay by the kiosk or online or something else,” Quattrocchi explained.
In the fall, SEPTA announced there would be a $2 parking fee applies on weekdays. The train station lot parking will remain free on weekends and major holidays including New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
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At the time, SEPTA officials said the fees were being increased and enforced to make up for a funding gap.
Enforcement of the new parking fees are being managed through vehicle-mounted cameras that read license plates.
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The councilmember has taken steps to address the issue, paying his fine but also sending a letter with photographic evidence to SEPTA’s customer service department. He suggested improved signage and a grace period before ticketing begins.
Councilmember Lorraine Cullen asked aloud about the policy’s effect on a popular local custom.
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“People park there to take their wedding pictures across the street,” she said.
“Rather than paying a $10 ticket, you’re better off paying the $2 fee,” Quattrocchi stated.
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“They shouldn’t ticket cars until they get signage to make people aware that there is a parking fee required,” Quattrocchi said.
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