After Hours Change, Vandals Target Downtown Sacramento Parking Signs

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — If you're ticked off about parking or being greeted by the envelope slapped on your car, you're not alone.

"It's making it hard to come down here and enjoy a show," said Dan Pate who was downtown for the evening.

It seems some apparent vigilantes have taken the parking frustrations into their own hands and tampered with the new signage.

"People are just sick and tired of it," said Austin Hofmans, who lives in midtown.

In September, the city increased parking rates and hours from midtown to downtown just in time for the new arena.

Free parking that used to begin at 6 p.m. is now pushed back to 10 p.m. Instead of changing the sign all together, the city put a sticker over the 6 p.m. and apparently that didn't stick with some fed up parkers.

Even more confusing, situations like the sign on 15th Street not matching the meter right in front of it. The sign reads till 6 p.m., but if you look a little closer, the meter reads till 10 p.m.

How can a driver tell which time is right?

A city spokeswoman said what's on the meter reflects the true parking hours, even if the sign doesn't match up.

"Do you need to take a picture of the sign before you leave your car?" asked Pate.

If you want to contest the ticket, absolutely. While many can understand the frustrations, they don't agree with the freeloaders peeling back the hours.

"Eventually someone is going to get a ticket because of that," said Pate.

To those vandals damaging the extended hour stickers, the city spokeswoman said those are only temporary.

They're working on a plan to replace 4,000 parking signs around town.

If you are still worried or concerned whether you're in the right with your parking spot, you can always call 311.