City Guide
City Parking
Impoundment Towing
If your vehicle vanishes, call the Ann Arbor Police Department front desk (794-6920) to find out whether it was towed. If it was towed by the city, go to the Justice Center, 301 E. Huron 2nd floor. You must be a registered owner of the vehicle and present your driver’s license. After paying a $60 processing fee (waived if your vehicle was towed from private property) plus any unpaid parking tickets, you must pay the impoundment charges at the towing company before your vehicle is released. For more information: a2gov.org; select Police from the Departments drop-down menu and then click on Towed/Impounded Vehicles under Frequently Needed Information.
The city uses 3 towing companies: Brewer’s, 1763 Plymouth (665-8888); Sakstrup’s Towing, 3055 Packard (971-5400); and Triangle Towing, 191 Hiscock (761-5696). Towing charges average $150 for a standard wheel-lift tow, plus additional fees for each day the vehicle is stored, and further charges for dollies or other special circumstances.
Parking Lots & Structures
City-owned and Downtown Development Authority (DDA)-managed parking facilities are marked by white signs with a green letter P (lots) or blue signs with a white P (structures). A private company, Republic Parking (761-7235), operates the system. About 100 downtown businesses validate customers' parking . See the number of open spots at lots and structures Mon.-Sat. at a2dda.org/parking__transportation/available_parking_spots
Rates in parking structures are 50- / half hour and will be increasing to 55- Sept. 1, 2011. In surface lots, parking is 60- / half hour for the first three hours and 70- for each subsequent half hour, increasing to 65- and 75- Sept. 1, 2011. Operating hours vary. The Liberty Square structure (on Washington west of State) and the Ann & Ashley structure have a flat fee of $2 between 4 p.m. and 6 a.m. weeknights and all day Sat. The lot at the southeast corner of First & Washington is open to the public between 4 p.m. and 6 a.m. for a $3 entry fee. All city parking is free on Sun.
A 717-space underground structure is under construction next to the Ann Arbor District Library on S. Fifth Ave. The city's first since 2001, it is expected to be completed in March 2012.
Parking Meters
Rates at the 1,750 metered curbside spaces in the downtown and campus area increase to $1.40/hour Sept. 1, 2011. Street meters are enforced Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Meter cash cards can be used instead of coins at every city parking meter; buy them at a Republic Parking office at 324 Maynard or in the Ann & Ashley structure.
Many meters have been converted to solar-powered "e-park" pay stations. Each pay station is located near a grouping of spaces, but you can pay and add time at any machine or by phone (1-888-450-PARK: first-time users must be parked in a space and set up an account). E-Park machines accept coins and credit or debit cards (but not meter cash cards).
For $15/day and a deposit, Republic Parking can reserve metered parking spaces for private occasions such as weddings (call 761-7235). Businesses may also temporarily reserve spaces for construction access or other needs.
Parking Permits
Parking permits allow 24-hour access to specific lots and structures. As of Sept. 2011, permits cost $140/month for a nonreserved space, $175/month for reserved. Permits are issued 1st come, 1st served; call the Downtown Development Authority at 997-1310 to inquire about availability.
Parking Violations
The fine for an expired city meter is $10 if paid before the next business day and $20 after. Fines for most other parking violations are $35 if paid within 14 days. The fine for unauthorized parking in a handicapped parking space is $115. All fines increase after 14 and 30 days. Other penalties may include default fees or impoundment charges if your vehicle is towed. The fine for violating city snow- removal parking restrictions is $115.
Parking tickets can be paid in 5 ways: on the city’s website, a2gov.org (credit card only, $3.50 additional charge per citation); by telephone—call (866) 890-4982 (credit card only, $3.50 additional charge per citation); in person at the Customer Service Center, City Hall, 301 E. Huron; at drop boxes at E. Ann and S. Fifth (drive-by 24-hour access), the police desk on the 2nd floor of the Justice Center, or on the north end of the lobby (check or money order only); or by mail, addressed to City of Ann Arbor Processing Center, P.O. Box 2066, Tarrytown, NY 10591 (check or money order only). Postmarks are accepted as evidence of timely payment.
Parking tickets can be contested in 4 ways: in writing to the Parking Referee, 100 N. Fifth Ave., P.O. Box 8647, Ann Arbor, MI 48107; in person during session hours at the Parking Referee office located temporarily at 2000 S. Industrial while City Hall is being renovated; by phone to Parking Referees, 794-6549; or online at a2gov.org. For recorded information, call the Parking Referee information line at 994-9172.
Related Topics:
