Add “Paying More for City Parking” to Your List of New Year’s Resolutions

Things are getting ugly in parking lots all over the world.  The mayor of Lithuania’s capital has been punishing illegal parkers by bulldozing them clear off the streets.

Luckily, cities in the US are a little more forgiving to illegally parked drivers, but not by much.  Across the country, cities are raising parking rates in 2012 in order to help solve the fiscal problems that have continued to plague cities everywhere.

Drivers in the Fort Worth and Dallas areas will be facing increased parking fees as high as 60% in some locations, and some businesses are concerned the fee hikes are so significant that it will impact their sales.

According to Chicago Parking Meters, LLC, the price to park in Chicago’s downtown area will jump to $5.75 an hour. That’s up from $5 in 2011. Overnight parking will also increase to $2.85.

Chicago Loop parking rates have nearly doubled since the city privatized its meters in 2008, while rates outside the city are up $1.50. They’re scheduled to continue going up through 2013.

In California, drivers in the Bay Area can expect to pay increased parking for 2012 as well, and LA drivers will be looking at increased traffic ticketing and surveillance along with it this new year.  But no matter where you are in the country, ParkWhiz will always allow you to pick your parking spot and provide you with the cheapest guaranteed parking options.  So instead of paying more for parking in 2012, just park smarter.

Watch the video of an illegally parked car getting a Lithuanian makeover here:  Illegally Parked Cars Get Destroyed By Tank